De-Automating to Reclaim Creative Opportunities
I used to push a button when the house was chilly, and within moments, warm air would fill the space. Many of us are accustomed to the modern luxury of central heating, but as I huddle by my woodstove this fall, I am grateful to have de-automated the process of heating my home. Each morning I step into the chilly air outside to grab some kindling, bring it in, and start the work of building a fire. I get to start my day slowly, tending the fire closely, feeding it little by little as it gains energy.
My husband and I creatively collaborate to keep our house cozy, and we feel lucky to be able to heat our home with labor we enjoy. Wood is abundant on our homestead, and selectively thinning out the trees on our property improves the forest structure to support all the living things in it. My husband does most of the forestry work, and we always have plenty of wood to keep us warm thanks to him. The kindling stack stays high and the fire stays well stoked thanks to me. Our little dog Mini shows us her appreciation by curling up next to the woodstove all winter. We would miss out on the opportunity to work toward a common goal together if we still had the technology of central air in our home. This to me is the beauty of de-automation - deliberately choosing the slow way over the modern efficiency available to enhance your experience.
Now, I could wax poetic all day about the joys of having a woodstove, but the value is not specifically in tending a fire, but in de-automating something that our modern world has transformed into the push of a button. Any time you selectively refuse an available automation, you give yourself a chance to be present, meditative, or creative. This can apply to wandering through a quirky gift store to find a gift for a loved one instead of one-click buying something online. It could be sitting down with a friend to brainstorm themes for your next party instead of asking ChatGPT to give you ideas to pick from. Maybe you try baking bread from scratch instead of buying it. Perhaps you choose to walk home and enjoy the scenery rather than taking an Uber. We can create things, experiences, connections, and moments of peace in this way. By de-automating certain processes, we reclaim creative opportunities and glean more joy and meaning from our lives.
It’s important to remember that automation isn’t the enemy, in fact, it can beautifully complement de-automation. We can automate areas of our life that don’t bring us joy to free up time to de-automate areas of our life that deepen our experience of our limited time on Earth. If you don’t enjoy grocery shopping, get your groceries delivered and spend that hour you freed up crocheting a custom outfit for your cat (or whatever else sparks joy!). We can use technology to our advantage, but the key is not to let modern advances rob us of opportunities for connection, creativity, and meaning.
Each person will find value in de-automating particular areas of their life, and it entirely depends on the kinds of things they enjoy. Personally, I find more meaning in a meal when an element of it comes from my garden. I pour hours into prepping, planting, weeding, and watering a garden just to enjoy some homegrown food that probably would have cost less at the store. Similarly, I have a deeper attachment to a piece of pottery that came out of a woodkiln carefully tended for days than a pot that went in an electric kiln which ran automatically with a push of a button. Someone else may rather spend hours animating cartoons, coding videogames, knitting, hosting elaborate dinner parties - you name it! I have de-automated what I love to do, and encourage you to do the same.
In a hyper-efficient and tech-obsessed society, it can be challenging to choose to slow down. Finding the value in cultivating those meditative and creative moments will allow you to reclaim the opportunities that convenience can replace. So ask yourself: Where have I automated away opportunities for creative expression? Where have I settled for something easy when I would have enjoyed the challenge? Where am I outsourcing my passions to increase efficiency? How can I reclaim those opportunities?
