There’s a lot of motivational talk going around (which the New York Times tackled here) and while I myself am guilty of being a bit of a goal setter and productivity freak, I’d like to argue the other side of the coin for a change…

YOU KNOW, SEEING AS HOW THE WORLD HAS COME TO A SCREECHING AND WEIRD HALT, OR SOMETHING.

You are under no obligation to pick up a new hobby, become a professional baker, cook every meal from scratch, exercise everyday, or finish your To Do list. This goes double if you have children or other dependents for which you are responsible. A pandemic is not a reason to “up your game” or “maximize your output.” If you’re hyper or looking to channel your anxiety or feelings in a healthy way, that’s one thing, but if you are allowing yourself to spiral down into self-recrimination and flagellation, stop.

Let the kids watch movies all day. Eat cookies for dinner. Binge a trashy show for fun. Reread a comic you’ve read a million times already. Log off if you’re done with work for the day and leave the dishes in the sink tonight. Moderation in all things, kittens, and that means optimization too.

In the long haul ahead of most of us, saying “**** it” every once in a while is a perfectly acceptable option on the spectrum of choices.