We need to stop this structural thinking that’s focused on productivity and optimizing workflows. People are building home gyms because they can save time and focus. At-home movie theaters so they can enjoy films in the comfort of their home. We’ve engineered away every reason to leave the house and we deem it efficiency. What happened to going out of your way to be a part of communities and intentionally foster more conversations? That friction of forcing yourself to leave the house is exactly what our culture needs to break out of this meaning crisis. I think that’s why groups like run clubs and pickleball sessions are making a comeback, because we’re waking up to the fact that the digital age is isolating us, and that reality doesn’t exist on our screens. Don’t put your energy into this device that was created to steal your attention and energy. It’s a parasite, someone built a model for the sole purpose of grasping your attention for as long as possible, to make sure you don’t want to pick your head up.

Sartre said the most dangerous thing a person can do is pretend they have no choice. He called it bad faith, the act of surrendering your freedom to a system, an external force, and telling yourself this is just how things are. We wake up and check our feeds before we have original thoughts, and let an algorithm — which probably knows you better than you know yourself — dictate our moods, feelings, and ideas. The taste that you’ve been cultivating your entire life, whether you are proud of it or not, is now being outsourced to this infinite library. We let this tailored comfort take over the friction that should be caused through our interactions and day-to-day. The very difficulties that force us to adapt and grow, can all be avoided by just laying in your bed and scrolling. But Sartre also argues that existence precedes essence, we are who we are based on what we choose to do. When you choose to sit inside by yourself, you’re adding layers to the version of yourself that you don’t want to be. Be so aware. Create friction, and consume intentionally, don’t let that aimless consumption dictate who you end up becoming. It may be the hard thing to do, but leave the house, go to that coffee shop, sit in the park, and join that social group. The digital consumption eats away at our humanity, so do everything in your power to avoid becoming a robot. Share the laugh, be beautiful, creative, loving, and show up, because that is what we were meant to do.