Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean we’re all doomed or that we need to throw our phones in a river to avoid becoming brain-fried zombies. But it does suggest that maybe we should stop making everything so easy for ourselves.
This is something columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton calls “friction-maxxing.” She coined the term in an essay for The Cut earlier this year, and the idea is pretty simple. Build up a tolerance for inconvenience. Choose the harder option more often and in doing so, make life a bit more enjoyable and fulfilling.
For example, instead of sharing your location with everyone at all times, you could turn it off. That way, the people who actually want to reach you have to put in a little effort and talk to you. And in return, you get something valuable back: privacy.
Or instead of ordering takeaway on a delivery app every time, you could actually go out to a restaurant or a cafe. Even if it takes more energy to get there. Invite someone along or go solo.
As a reward you get to enjoy a fresh meal. Have a real conversation with someone. Thank the staff in person and see an actual smile on their face. Just feel more connected to the world around you. A little friction goes a longer way than you’d think.
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