Jenny Odell, a multidisciplinary artist, discusses breaking from the attention economy to feel fully alive. She shares stories of encounters with nature, valuing creativity over productivity, being less useful to survive, the real reason for art and rest, and staying human in a world that wants us to become machines.
Creativity allows us to break free from the pressure of productivity and immerse ourselves fully in the present moment.
Taking breaks from technology and engaging in activities that allow us to appreciate our surroundings can cultivate a deeper sense of fulfillment and connection.
Recognizing the creativity in maintenance tasks and valuing the preservation of existing things can foster a deeper sense of sustainability and joy.
Deep dives
The importance of embracing creativity over productivity
In this podcast episode, Jenny Odell discusses the importance of shifting our focus from productivity to creativity. Productivity, she argues, is often associated with industrial assembly-line work, while creativity is linked to encounters and experiences that take us out of the confines of the industrial mindset. Creativity allows us to immerse ourselves fully in the present moment and engage with the world around us. It involves encountering the non-human world and appreciating the beauty and complexity of nature. By embracing creativity, we can break free from the pressure to constantly be productive and instead cultivate a deeper connection to our humanity.
Reclaiming time and attention
Jenny Odell expounds on the concept of reclaiming our time and attention from the attention economy. She highlights the detrimental effects of being constantly connected to screens and social media, which can disconnect us from the present moment and our own humanity. Odell emphasizes the importance of taking breaks from technology and engaging in activities that allow us to fully experience and appreciate our surroundings, such as spending time in nature or engaging in creative pursuits. By consciously choosing how we spend our time and attention, we can cultivate a deeper sense of fulfillment and connection in our lives.
The value of maintenance and care
The podcast episode explores the often overlooked value of maintenance and care in our lives. Jenny Odell discusses how maintenance tasks, such as repairing and mending, can be creative acts that contribute to our well-being and the well-being of our communities. She challenges the notion that creativity is limited to producing new things, highlighting the importance of maintaining and preserving what already exists. By recognizing and valuing the creativity in maintenance, we can foster a deeper sense of connection, sustainability, and joy in our lives.
The power of encounters and observations
Jenny Odell discusses the power of encounters and observations in sparking creativity and cultivating a sense of connection. She shares examples of encounters with nature, such as watching birds or experiencing a sunset, that can bring us into the present moment and open our eyes to the beauty and wonder of the world. Odell emphasizes that these encounters can lead to transformation and shifts in perspective, allowing us to appreciate the intricacies and interconnectedness of life. By embracing these encounters and observations, we can find inspiration and a deeper sense of meaning in our lives.
Choosing creativity and encounter over productivity
The podcast episode emphasizes the importance of choosing creativity and encounter over productivity in our lives. Jenny Odell encourages listeners to question the dominant cultural narratives around productivity and challenge the pressure to constantly produce and achieve. Instead, she encourages embracing creativity, encountering the world around us, and finding moments of joy and fulfillment outside the constraints of productivity. By prioritizing encounters and creative experiences, we can reclaim our time and attention, deepen our connection to our humanity, and cultivate a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
Author and artist, Jenny Odell, discusses how to break from the attention economy long enough to feel fully alive in a culture obsessed with productivity. She shares stories of her encounters with nature, how to be creative instead of productive, how to be less useful in order to survive, and the real reason for art and rest. This is a deep dive about how to stay human in a world that wants us to become machines.
About Jenny:
Jenny Odell is a multidisciplinary artist and the New York Times bestselling author of How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy and Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock. Her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, Sierra magazine, and other publications. She lives in Oakland, California.
