A few weeks ago, I listened to this episode of Rich Roll’s podcast: David Epstein On Why Constraints Drive Creativity, The Myth of Productive Freedom, and How Limits Make Us Better. They talked about being a “satisficer” vs. a “maximizer” (or, “optimizer”). I thought Gretchen Rubin coined those terms but it was actually a man named Herbert Simon. A saticficer is someone who can say “good enough!”, whereas an optimizer is searching for perfection.
According to David Epstein, “good enough” is the ultimate life hack. When I listened to this episode, I understood why MayBloPoMo was a great way to get out of a blogging rut.
When I committed to posting every day, it stands to reason I’m not going to have 31 perfect posts. At some point each night, I have to say “good enough!” and hit publish. In that way, the constraint of publishing every single day was freeing.
Having said that… oof. I’m limping to the end here! Just like I’m limping to the end of Caroline Girvan’s Iron Series (three workouts to go!) I’m running out of steam on MayBloPoMo. I’ll get there, with both challenges, but I’m looking forward to new adventures in June.
Are you a satisficer or an optimizer?- I guess I’m a satisficer!
Are you looking forward to June?
Top photo by Tim De Pauw on Unsplash.
23 Responses
I’m way too much of an optimiser and I know it isn’t good!
The concept that constraint drives creativity is an interesting one and I see it being promoted to get out of slumps with for example photography. I haven’t had any great success when I’ve tried but maybe I should try again. I do however have a plan to post every day (except possibly during travel days or when I’m with my sister in Göteborg) in June! Just to see if it’s possible for someone like me.
Ooh! It’s definitely possible. Now I’m tempted to post every day in June with you (noooo! Do not let me!!!)
I used to be an optimizer in some thjngs; now I’m a satisficer. Life has a way of making one realize chasing perfection is too stressful! ( I am married to a perfectionist and he’s going to have a stroke one day if he doesn’t learn to accept good enough.)
Just post cat pictures!!! I’m sure Foxy, Sylvie, and Muffin would happily pose to fill these last days of May. Or do kitten flashback pictures. ( It’s the internet- cats rule!) I’m sure you’ll come up with something- the finish line is in sight!
Thank you!!! Yes, life sometimes has a way of dictating these things. And there might be some cat-heavy posts coming up!
Well, first of all, you fooled me! I was actually just thinking yesterday, wow, Jenny is crushing this- she never misses AND somehow she always comes up with such interesting blog post topics! Secondly, I think you’re the only one who actually has posted every day, so, you win!!! lol. I definitely “failed”, although I definitely posted MOST days- but I know I’ve missed a good handful, too. I also failed at my goal of having all my posts be short, more journal type posts… I ended up posting about some meatier topics, longer posts, etc. Ah, well.
Kae, no one is complaining about the meatier topics! Also no one except you has counted the number of days that you posted in May!
Well, let’s just say we all succeeded in MayBloPoMo in our own ways! And I’m glad that was your reaction to this post, rather than ‘Yes, Jenny, we’ve noticed!”
Team Good Enough for sure! The problem with being perfect is that it sets you up for being an under achiever.
Right now you’re at mile 69 of the 70 mile race! Keep pushing, the finish line and your Coke Zero are within reach!
Ha, you definitely know how to motivate me! Thanks : )
I’m a Type B personality so I’m a satisficer for sure! I do get annoyed sometimes when I don’t meet the goals I set for myself but in many areas of life, I’m ok with good enough.
I think you’ve been doing great with the blog posts! I would like to post more on my own blog but I’d probably have to write them during work which I have time for, but I’d have to type them all on my phone which would be annoying to do.
WHAT IS THIS BLOG, Ashley? I know you mentioned you used to have one- are you posting again? I know people write blog posts on their phones, but I’ve never done it. It would be annoying.
I started a new one earlier last year (linked it to my comment here). My latest post is kinda a downer though so you may not wanna read that one but I’d like to post a couple times a month going forward! Maybe I just need to set aside some time on the weekends to post from my laptop.
Oh, man, I am team “everything will work out” which drives my husband crazy. Sure, I make typos, the floor isn’t 100% spot free after I mop and/or vacuum, and I probably don’t know what type of transportation I’m going to use when I get to the airport, but my life is more serene for not having those perfectionist tendencies, you know?
I wouldn’t have known you’re running out of material. Your posts all seem fabulous to me!
Oh, thank you Engie. Now if I can just think of something to write tonight…
First of all, I’ve enjoyed your posts! Second, I’m with you on running out of steam on posting. I missed yesterday because I once again fell asleep. Maybe blogging right before bed isn’t a winning blogging strategy… I am a satificer mostly.
I also often write my posts at night, which I agree has its pitfalls. But I don’t have small kids, so that makes it a little easier!
I have been actively working on NOT being an optimizer/perfectionist. These days, I simply can’t do everything the way I used to, and the things I *can* do, I have to balance my energy with my goals. It’s been very hard for me! Maybe I should check out that podcast.
I thought the podcast was excellent. And yes- sometimes life circumstances force us into being more of a sacrificer. Maybe not entirely a bad thing.
I used to be a perfectionist, and it’s fucking exhausting. I am very much … the other thing now, it’s a weird word and I can’t figure out how to pronounce it and it’s making me annoyed. Okay, I looked it up and I am less annoyed. Somehow I missed Mayblopomo, but I feel the same way about posting every day loosening up your blogging skills because not every post has to feel polished. I guess I have a bunch of your posts to catch up on!
Yes, you have to go back and read 28 posts! Just kidding.
I think I am an optimizer but strive to be a satisficer. Can we be both in like a balanced way? Is that too much to ask? 😉
I am mostly a sastisficer, but I can be an optimizer with some things. I think I’m a bit more perfectionistic about my blog posts than I should be! But in many other areas of my life, I’m very “go with the flow.”
I’m so proud of you for this blogging challenge!
I am a satisfier, but my husband is an optimizer. It always takes him 2x as long to complete a task, but his tasks are always done SO WELL. Unlike mine…which are done, but not always done well. I think that there are pros and cons to both ways!