“I Don’t Want to Do It Efficiently, I Want to Do It Stupidly”
Recently, while getting ready for a camping trip with my 7-year-old son, he asked if we could bring an axe to cut down a tree for firewood. I laughed and explained we’d probably just buy firewood on the way to the campsite.
He looked at me seriously and said, “Mom, I don’t want to do things efficiently. I want to do them stupidly.”
It was hilarious, of course, but it also stopped me in my tracks. Because there’s a lot of wisdom packed into that little line.
Efficiency Isn’t Always the Goal
Most of us spend our adult lives trying to make things more efficient. Get the groceries delivered. Automate the bills. Meal prep for the week. Buy firewood instead of chopping it.
And yes, efficiency matters. It frees up time, lowers stress, keeps life moving. But if everything becomes about efficiency, we risk stripping away the joy of doing.
Some people love baking bread from scratch. Others, like me, are perfectly happy to pick up a loaf from the store. Neither is right or wrong — it’s just a question of what brings you joy.
Where Do You Draw the Line?
The real balancing act is asking yourself: Is this a task I want to do efficiently, or is this one I want to do “stupidly” and savor?
Groceries delivered vs. walking the aisles — is it about saving time or enjoying the process of picking out fresh produce?
Buying gifts on Amazon vs. shopping locally — do you want pure efficiency, or the experience of browsing neighborhood shops and supporting small businesses?
Setting the coffee maker on a timer vs. grinding beans and pulling espresso shots by hand — is your priority convenience or savoring a slow ritual?
Ordering takeout vs. cooking from scratch — sometimes it’s about survival, sometimes it’s about the joy of creating a meal together.
Streaming a movie vs. going out to the theater — do you want comfort and ease, or the magic of a night out?
Sending a quick text vs. writing a handwritten note — fast connection, or something tangible and lasting?
Cleaning with a robot vacuum vs. tidying by hand — time saved, or the satisfaction of seeing order unfold under your own care?
Driving straight to your destination vs. taking the scenic route — speed, or the joy of slowing down to notice the world around you?
It’s not about eliminating efficiency. It’s about choosing where it serves you — and where it might actually rob you of joy.
The Tackle List Angle
When you start with how you want to feel at the end of the day, you can decide:
Which things deserve to be done efficiently so you can move on quickly.
Which things are worth doing “stupidly” (as my son would say), because they’re rich with meaning, memory, or fun.
It’s not about always doing more, or always doing less. It’s about doing the right things in the right way — even if that means chopping a log instead of swiping a credit card.
