The article explores the growing trend of 'microefficiencies' – small, time-saving habits like making two cups of tea at once or wearing slip-on shoes – adopted by individuals to streamline daily routines. It discusses whether these are fun life hacks, symptoms of an overwhelmed society, or an obsession with productivity, examining the psychological impacts and diverse motivations behind them, from health management to simply saving mental energy.
The secrets of self-optimisers: why ‘microefficiencies’ are on the rise
Life and styleTime managementHealth & wellbeingSociety
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️The article explores the growing trend of 'microefficiencies' – small, time-saving habits like making two cups of tea at once or wearing slip-on shoes – adopted by individuals to streamline daily routines. It discusses whether these are fun life hacks, symptoms of an overwhelmed society, or an obsession with productivity, examining the psychological impacts and diverse motivations behind them, from health management to simply saving mental energy.
Trending- 1 Veronica Pullen has been perfecting her tea efficiency for two years
- 2 Jennifer Babey replaced her regular shoelaces with elastic ones six years ago
- 3 Geoffrey Shalet's wife died in 2020
- 4 Geoffrey Shalet was diagnosed with dementia, making his microefficiencies even more helpful
- Increased personal efficiency and perceived time savings
- Potential for burnout, high-functioning anxiety, OCD tendencies, anxiety, and depression due to an obsession with output
- Feelings of not being good enough
- Improved coping mechanisms for individuals with health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and dementia
- A societal shift towards valuing productivity and busyness over other aspects of life
What: Individuals are increasingly incorporating 'microefficiencies' into their daily lives, which are small, time-saving habits aimed at optimizing routines and conserving mental energy.
When: This is an ongoing trend, with examples of individuals practicing these habits for several years.
Where: Primarily observed in the UK (Isle of Wight, Hampshire, Birmingham, Gloucestershire, Merseyside, London), but also discussed as a global phenomenon reflected on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Reddit.
Why: Motivations include a desire for simplicity, increased capacity and energy, avoiding decision-making, and a societal emphasis on productivity and achievement. Some individuals, like Veronica Pullen (rheumatoid arthritis) and Geoffrey Shalet (dementia), use them to manage health conditions, while others simply seek more time for leisure or are 'bloody lazy'.
How: People implement tiny, incremental changes to their daily tasks, such as pre-making tea, laying out clothes the night before, using elastic shoelaces, stashing multiple pairs of glasses, batch-replying to messages, or creating tools for convenience (e.g., a bamboo pole to switch off lights).