EoR No. 27: Slow it down

Plus, rejecting toxic productivity, money forecasting, how to support public schools, “professionalism” as discrimination and more

Top of mind

I’m craving a lack of urgency. I don’t know if it’s aging or burnout or what, but I need things to slow down. I’ve been quiet quitting social media, moving my Substack reading back into my email inbox (away from the app, which is officially just more social media), giving myself nothing to do on my phone but read, listen to music or (increasingly, nostalgic) podcasts, do yoga or practice Spanish. I’m reading physical library books. Enjoying evergreen content. I read news digests a day late, and guess what? It’s fine to know about stuff 24 hours after it happens!

It’s been about a decade-long process of stripping away social media and seeing all the ways our culture tries to keep me frantic. I’ll always fight it — always be occasionally sucked back in — but I don’t buy the urgency anymore. I don’t believe life has to move that fast. I don’t believe I have to move that fast. I’ve been slowing down for a long time, but I’ve just recently realized I’m not a failure for doing it.

News and upcoming events:

• There’s still time to get digital freebies and enter to win $1,000 in the Frugal Friends Fall Financial Giveaway!

Here’s what you might have missed at Healthy Rich and other places online lately!

🥑 ICYMI at Healthy Rich

Getting laid off showed me how to push for independence as a worker

Money doesn’t always have to grow

Money date No. 32: Wallowing in the portal

‘The data told my own story back to me’

Managing changing values around work and money with Kathy Oneto

Should I stop using the label ‘middle class’?

🔗 Things to catch

• “Contrary to what toxic productivity wants us to believe: Humans are not machines designed to maintain consistent output from dawn to dusk,” says ADHD writer

  Kelly Banks
  .

• In a disaster, will $100 tucked inside an envelope in your nightstand make the difference? Financial educator

  Barbara J. Isenberg
  ponders.

• I was back on Kathy Oneto’s Sustainable Ambition podcast to talk about the intertwined realities of work, money and wellness — catch it wherever you get podcasts!

• Financial coach

  Martha Menard, PhD
  shares how to use money forecasting instead of budgeting.

• Thanks to

  Patrick Geary✨
  for passing this my way — and to
  River Kenna
  for teaching me that “dana” is a Buddhist concept for basically how I try to live my life: “The time, money, and resources I find myself with aren’t mine in any meaningful way, at this level. They’ve simply landed with me for the moment.”

• Love these ideas from

  Lisa Sibbett
  on how to support public schools even if you’re not a parent (because good public schools are good for everyone!!).

• “What if setting limits isn’t about restricting ourselves or fixing ourselves, but about rebellion?” and other cognitive reframes against a world that wants to keep you buying and scrolling, from

  Pauline
  .

• A good reminder from

  Nan Tepper
  to worry less.

• “All discrimination needs to do to go on discriminating is redefine “unprofessional” to be synonymous with whoever it’s working to exclude,” writes

  Stefanie O'Connell
  in How to Hide Discrimination.

• “The race for Governor in Wisconsin is not just about one state. It is about the direction of our country.” Thanks,

  Amanda Informed
  , for supporting my favorite state rep, Francesca Hong!!

💬 Let’s discuss

What’s slowing down — or could slow down — in your life? Where do you feel frantic? Which plates are you spinning that need to drop?

---

This newsletter is reader-supported and ad-free. Paid subscriptions keep this one of the only personal finance spaces not paid for by banks, creditors, fintech companies and investment firms. Thank you for your support!

---