We’ve been duped. Here in America, we have been led to believe that more hours in a classroom will make our kids more successful; more profitable businesses will make our communities more prosperous; and buying more things will make us happier. It wasn’t just one person who told us these lies. It was societal shift that started slowly, probably around the 60s and swept up corporations, the government, and much of the nation’s inhabitants. MORE was glorified by then-successful corporations, advertising companies, and celebrities.
But we’ve been living this illusion for too long. Now that generations of people have followed this thinking, we have decades of evidence that prove it is not working. Our schools are graduating kids whose skills aren’t meeting the needs of employers; our communities struggle even while corporate profits are at an all time high; and despite the constant rise in consumer spending, rates of anxiety and depression are skyrocketing.
What everyone seeks now is balance, but we can’t achieve it if we dedicate too much time to one thing (e.g. sitting at a desk, or standing in a check-out line)
More hours in a classroom will not make our kids more successful. The way to make kids more successful is to encourage them to make connections across disciplines, to give them opportunities to recreate and explore, and to give them tools they can use throughout their lives.
Sure, learning about history and mathematics and science are important, but as Barbara Kingsolver asks in her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, “is the story of bread–from tilled ground to table–less relevant to our lives than the history of the thirteen colonies?” Only focusing on the traditional disciplines ignores large elements of our society that are vital to our success as humans: mental health, communication, and food production, to name a few. (Now that sexual harassment is in the spotlight, business schools are finally starting to integrate the topic into their curricula.)
Making connections between all facets of life must involve getting out of the classroom sometimes too. Kids need opportunities to move while they are thinking, to learn about their surroundings, and to get their hands dirty. Taking tests is not a practical way to prepare for life in the real world. Recreation–from Latin recreatio (restoration to health) and recreare (to create anew, restore, or refresh)–is necessary for us to be successful. Through recreation children (and adults) make connections to their natural world and their fellow humans; in turn, they uncover answers to problems and build networks that strengthen their communities.
We must learn how to make space to replenish our minds and bodies.
It’s also important for children to be exposed to different situations so that they may learn how to manage challenges they encounter. They need to build up a toolbox that they can carry with them into adulthood. Everyone should develop skills in how to look at problems from different angles, how to calm anxiety, and how to act with empathy. We need to know when to check in with themselves and our values, and how to find support when we’re dealing with tough stuff.
These lessons should be taught by schools… AND churches, AND parents. If everyone can contribute to fostering these skills in our nation’s children, then the next generation will be much more successful at solving complex problems and building more connected communities.
More profitable businesses will not make our communities more prosperous. Businesses that support their workers make our communities more prosperous. Instead of putting the bottom line as the primary focus, businesses should focus on employee well-being. Encouraging creative endeavors, allowing flexible working hours, and supporting healthy lifestyles are what businesses need to do to help their communities prosper. When employees are taken care of, communities thrive and companies become more profitable, too.
If employees are given opportunities to be creative they develop new designs, re-engineer processes, and implement technology that increases efficiency. They also have more fun! It’s no surprise that Apple and Google–two organizations known for their creative approaches–have been named Best Places to Work for ten years in a row. They are also listed as #1 and #5 most profitable companies in the Fortune 500, respectively.
While it may seem counter-intuitive, allowing employees more flexible work schedules can actually benefit both parties. Employees with more free time can engage in more civic activities, strengthen bonds with their families, and improve their well-being. These less stressed workers make better contributions at their jobs. Companies also benefit from higher employee satisfaction (lower turnover and training costs) and access to a broader pool of talent around the globe.
More supported employees have more to give to their jobs and their communities; in turn, companies benefit: “When organizations develop positive, virtuous cultures they achieve significantly higher levels of organizational effectiveness — including financial performance, customer satisfaction, productivity, and employee engagement.” (HBR, 2015)
Buying more things will not make us happier. Spirituality, gratitude, and connection make us happier. That’s why studies have shown that spending money on experiences, and giving money to others, can increase happiness. We have also discovered that consuming more products has the opposite effect. “[A material purchase] fades into the background and becomes part of the new normal. But while the happiness from material purchases diminishes over time, experiences become an ingrained part of our identity.” (https://www.fastcompany.com/3043858/the-science-of-why-you-should-spend-your-money-on-experiences-not-thing)
When we feel more connected to our environment and the people around us we are happier.
In Ted Talk Less stuff, more happiness, Graham Hill points out that less stuff equals more freedom, more time, and more money in your pocket (for something that is really worth the expense). Maybe the slow, intentional process of doing the dishes by hand or digging a hole with an old shovel can bring us more joy than the mindless time, energy, and money spent on going out to purchase a machine to do it for you?
If you’re an educator (or a parent), please re-think the myth that more time in the classroom will make our children more successful. Consider how we can support more outdoor activity, more gardening, more connection, in our schools. Even if you don’t have kids of your own, think about how you might be able to provide something for them that they are missing in their lives.
If you’re a business owner, please re-think the myth that solely focusing on profits is the best way to prosper. The health of your community has a direct effect on the health of your business. Make sure your company is supportive of the community and its people (your employees).
If you’re a consumer, please re-think the myth that more stuff will make you happier. Instead of wandering around a box store looking for things you “need”, consider spending your time volunteering or taking an outdoor adventure (even if it’s just a front-lawn picnic or an exploratory walk down the sidewalk.) Whenever you’re about to purchase something think “is this product or service going to bring me lasting joy?”
If we all make small steps towards improving our schools, our companies, and our own well-being, we can make a huge difference in our society. If we want to stop getting hoodwinked we need to choose to take our blinders off. Think about what is most important to you and help it shine in your world!