The Case for Slowing Down

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Something that’s been on my mind recently is the idea of friction. 

As a society, we’ve become too accustomed to getting everything quickly. We get immediate answers to our questions from Google. We get our work completed with the help of ChatGPT. We always feel the need to “do more,” to constantly “be productive,” and to “optimize” everything we do. 

In other words, we’ve eliminated the friction in everything. As we’ve become more technology-dependent, the idea of friction has been sold to us as an obstacle we must overcome, not as something we need to keep intact. Apps and software promise a “seamless” experience designed to make our lives easier. 

It’s made it so we’ve moved past the “attention economy”—where the emphasis was keeping us glued to our screens—to the “simulation economy”—where we’ve been convinced that any sort of real-world effort is unnecessary, rendering friction completely obsolete. 

We’re so afraid of having idle time or being bored that we’ve innovated ourselves out of it. Because after all, time is money in a late-stage capitalistic society. 

Instead of seeking content out, the algorithm tells us what to read, watch, and listen to next. Instead of aimlessly browsing, we’re given product recommendations. We can get groceries, food, and more with a tap of a button. Every part of our lives is on autopilot. What this does is eliminate our ability to discern, think, and ponder. 

When there’s no friction, there’s also no emotional stimulation that goes along with that. We’re missing the “tangible tension,” the emotional yearning for something. 

Part of it is a substance problem. We’ve lost the art of complexity in the content we consume (and create). 

It’s why we’ve seen more 8-10 episode mini-series than 22-epsiode seasons. We don’t have the patience to sit through layered plots, filler episodes meant for character development, or delayed plotlines. 

We also see it in books. And a lot of the trending novel categories (rom-coms specifically) are all formulated around the same plot that’s told in 300 pages (usually grumpy guy and sunshine girl). Most of us can get through in a few sittings. We’re left with nothing of substance, other than the satisfaction of marking it done in Goodreads. 

Friction adds novelty to our experiences. There’s been a massive resurgence of analog and physical media among Gen Z, like magazines, retro tech, and more. And for good reason: it’s harder to get, takes up space, and is more unique and exclusive, hence making it more desirable. 

Friction also means less curated and more unique, which is a huge driver of developing taste. When we have to go seek something out rather than have it fed to us, it forces us to filter it through a lens of perspective and interests. 

The more friction we create, the more meaning something holds. 

So how do we create it? We learn to slow down. 

And that means sacrificing convenience for time. 

This means taking the time to experience new things, whether it’s driving further to a restaurant or taking longer to read a book. It’s seeking out more complex content that forces us to pay attention rather than scroll mindlessly on our phones. 

Friction makes things harder. But that’s the point. It forces resistance, and for us to make an effort. But when we do, it’s so much more rewarding. 

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I’m so grateful for all of your support!

Alexa Phillips is a writer, brand strategist, and multi-passionate creative. She is the founder of Bright Eyes Creative, a Seattle-based brand consultancy and media company that helps founders and creators own their voice and build a platform.

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