Why You Should De-Optimize Your Life | Maria Cano, MBA ’25

In the midst of our fast-paced lives, we find ourselves entangled in the pursuit of constant optimization - squeezing every moment dry. However, what if, instead of optimizing every second, we dared to de-optimize parts of our days? Embracing the seemingly unproductive aspects of life and incorporating more downtime into our schedule hold the key to curiosity and creativity.
Speaker: Maria Cano, MBA ’25
The LOWkeynotes Program features a series of nine-minute ‘keynote-style’ presentations from Stanford Graduate School of Business students about an idea they think could change lives, organizations, and the world. This presentation was delivered for the March 2024 LOWkeynotes season.

[@rsumanaruban]

I am watching this video at 1.5X speed in order to optimize my time.

[@AmericanInspirators]

Nice. You got about 3 minutes of extra downtime with the time you saved

[@HaHa-by3lh]

Watching this on 2x

[@CaCa-di9lz]

Unlucky to me. As an English learner,I over and over spent almost 30 minutes just listening and trying to understand the speech and her intentions.

[@amirrezajamadi4179]

​@@CaCa-di9lz you will catch up bro, just keep going... But don't over think every word or structure. Love from Iran

[@youtuber-cc8sx]

2x

[@kenhtinhthuc]

“Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.” ― Lao Tzu When you are busy de-optimizing, that's not doing nothing (wu wei).

[@mytruthbekind5793]

Downtime is a privilege that not everyone has but everyone needs! It helped me with my MBA program. Whenever I got stuck, I would do nothing and a few minutes later, I got a revelation that solved my problem. Every single time.

[@deathb3rry]

lol the thing about telling busy people this is, now they will set aside that 15minutes in hopes that they will get an epiphany and improve productivity everywhere else in their lives, and it backfires on them because they turned it into an activity. Epiphanies will only come naturally, you cant force it out. The most important thing is to give yourself a break.

[@RKLearnsForever]

00:00 🤫 Silence and downtime are often uncomfortable in our noisy, hyperactive world. 02:18 🧠 Our brains need downtime for creativity and productivity, as constant activity depletes cognitive resources. 03:20 🛋 True downtime is unstructured and without a specific goal or focus of attention, allowing for reflection and unexpected connections. 04:52 💡 Downtime fosters integration, connecting disparate thoughts and leading to insights and epiphanies. 06:32 🚶‍♂ Incorporate small breaks into your routine, engaging in activities like walking or mindless tasks to promote downtime. 07:31 ⏳ Downtime is crucial for busy individuals, enhancing achievement rather than hindering it. 08:31 🌟 Embrace downtime to reconnect with childhood curiosity and foster creative thinking about shaping the world.

[@arieschen8672]

thank you!

[@dusttodaylight1709]

Thank you, RK

[@paulpease8254]

I recently realized I have ADHD and this talk made me wonder if it’s related to this unstructured “integration” mode. I feel like my brain resists focus and actively tries to go into integration/day dreaming state. I make a lot of connections others don’t make, but I have a hard time completing goal-oriented tasks.

[@rongzhangable]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@rongzhangable]

😊

[@arushbartaria]

I came down to the comments section to say exactly this, and found yours.

[@christinecamley]

Interesting.

[@navdeep-soni]

same here

[@MaddyIndia]

It's true. All these social media videos envangalising Productivity. Man is not a Robot.

[@squamish4244]

And now we know what the ultimate optimizer himself, Andrew Huberman, was using all that optimization for. I can't take him seriously on any of that stuff every again.

[@knw-seeker6836]

Simple and not complicated So easy to listen and very well presented

[@wilma.espiritucrowley]

Her explanation of downtime reminded me of the Pomodoro technique wherein you are taking a break from studying after a set period of time to give your brain some time to process and integrate what is being learned. Although when doing the Pomodoro doesn’t necessarily mean you are taking a downtime, I just found it to be a good analogy.

[@WeylandLabs]

As a man with adhd this comes natural for us. Research that and why I was able to accomplish so much in such little time. Great speech BTW! ❤

[@Jigolpets]

Thank you 🥰🌸

[@felipemanriquez5715]

I believe downtime is necessary for optimizing. Even just a few minutes in the passing.

[@i_youtube_]

Silence is the language of the wise; it is the angle from which we understand ourselves.

[@KashifKhursheed-ng1vk]

Silence is wisdom.

[@emergenceclement]

Great speech 👏🏼😊

[@abhishekkaushik8868]

Down time possible but with constant practice.. even switch off or restart both are possible but again by constant follow ups of the same.. Good topic to share in modern era adding hectic person and professional life...

[@Madhuri-tw6el]

Downtime to get Aha ! Wow ! Thanks Maria

[@shreyatripathi5827]

Best Insight Ever✅🙏

[@antoinegamberini]

Brillant talk. Thank you for sharing. Down times to be up to much more!

[@chamirchamir9421]

cool presentation ,listener also feeling relax . My brain switch one task to another all day ,this stress leading to anxiety.now i divide day in work and to do nothing or just walk.Free time is better than productivity all time.

[@amrishkumar5895]

Clearly explained why downtime is must in this cluttered and optimized life ... Will implement the same on me for 15 mins at least in day from tomorrow.. and will be back in few months with how affective it was ..

[@Dr-CAPT-Bret]

Bravo - great to see you grown up and bright Proud parents I’m sure

[@Neuronalchannel]

Great talk! Thanks.

[@aranguren12]

Great subject, even better presentation!! So we should totally cultivate downtime and silence for... being more productive? Wait what?

[@truthalonetriumphs6572]

Studies show that yesterday's studies are wrong yet we still get excited about studies.

[@DontKnowDontCare]

Wow, a smart ass.

[@bjorneisenseite9482]

Guess you have no clue how science works…

[@santiagoaparicio619]

Studies show that the #1 cause of death is being alive

[@videos_not_found]

Even trying to approach the truth is a majestic challenge.

[@KenjiEspresso]

No.

[@gotenksjd]

Congrats Mari! Muy interesante! 🙌🏼

[@faisalalalawi]

Fantastic speech!

[@mariaclarapombo4860]

Excellent talk...my "aha" moments are in the shower!

[@dhanish3702]

same, that's the first thought that popped in my head when she said "aha"

[@JuanCZarruk]

+1

[@BigE-wf6zo]

I'm the most experienced worker in my work section. For some of my co workers, this is their second job or third job. Yep, they are all younger than me. So, I've told them, when there's not a lot to do, is to enjoy the time, relax, catch your breath, enjoy the moment. I've even suggested to go outside and walk around. I enjoyed your talk. Thank you 😊

[@davidleker9482]

very insightful great vid

[@dhanish3702]

Brilliant!

[@videos_not_found]

Impressively calm. Downtime will only help if we do not desire its good effects....

[@alanross2243]

Bingo. That’s where she was incorrect about meditation. You don’t do it for effects. You literally do it for it.

[@mhfrank]

Excellent talk. Makes me think of a great book: “A Whack on the Side of the Head” by Roger von Oech.

[@dr3amboy3657]

Yes, great insight. As i get older, I starting to understand being good enough is not that bad. Average is a bad word to describe it but not everyone is going to have an uber life and that's ok. You don't need the perfect partner, career, house, car, social media, etc. The chase for perfection is also contributing to the massive increase of disappointment and depression in the modern world.

[@Thebeefcakemcgee]

Loser

[@JuanFlores-ss4el]

esos tiempos que pide nuestro cerebro hay que dárselos, es como cuando un deportista pide descanso, gracias por recordarmelo ., from mexico city

[@user-rj4lf4ms5c]

thanks a lot, it's helpful for me.

[@christophvonballmoos6068]

I rarely heard a less convincing introduction to a speech at such a level. I felt not uncomfortable at all when she stopped speaking. Her facel and body language expressed confidence, and it was very clear that she was up to something. She even announced it (which was not necessary). Maybe people should watch at not only listen... In my personal life, I do not feel uncomfortable at all, when there is silence. Instead, I feel privileged to get some time for my thoughts. I am 49 and I work at university as a teacher, so I am used to stand in front of people or listening to them. It feels awkward that in 2024, 10 seconds of silence are awkward..

[@JuanCZarruk]

I was there in person, and it did feel awkward

[@ThanosSofroniou]

Yes that's what Barbara Oakley calls as diffused mode thinking. It's nothing really new but I guess it's a tip that those in the workplace forget or undervalue.

[@JuanCZarruk]

Completely agree. Sometimes we just need to be reminded!

[@lakncreations]

thanks for this video

[@virendrapratapsingh2270]

Great 👌👌

[@mooripo]

Ty, nice speech, cheers from Rabat Business School

[@suichiao3222]

Turning downtime into an intrument for making new innovations is still optimizing, just in a smart way.

[@paldepind]

Note that while the speaker talks about "de-optimizing" the basic argument really is that you should spend time doing nothing to be more create and innovative. In other words, you should perform "downtime" to optimize your performance. As such, this talk only pretends to challenge the idea of optimization, but actually ends up presenting an argument based on the internalized idea of optimization anyway. To me this shows how immensively difficult it can be to break free from deeply held beliefs, such as a belief in performance and optimization. I'd highly recommend the book "How To Do Nothing" by Jenny Odell as a piece of work that _actually_ challenges the idea of optimization and constant desire to increase onces utility.

[@peachxblue]

I feel like she’s trying to speak to her audience of Bay Area folks because they can’t understand anything that’s not about optimization. It’s like trying to speak a foreign language , you have to translate for the audience first. Maybe she’ll speak more about this in the future in a more direct way.

[@DuduOhsson]

Think it dream it do it!

[@jurgen129]

the question is what you optimize for!

[@frozenrats]

Great video

[@vladimirjuranic5621]

I’d like to hear more. Also you are a real rest for the eyes too… ❤

[@Carlos72797]

I’m more creative in the summer when I spend (mindless) time mowing the lawn.

[@FM-ij7iu]

Thank you for sharing this. I’m constantly distracting myself. I’m curious how cleaning would be considered down time. I was thinking it needed to be time when nothing was actually being accomplished.

[@ankurchauhan21]

There are probably 2 levels here: 1.Ideal: idle brain where the body is resting like sitting and doing nothing. 2. Slightly less ideal: idle brain but the body is doing some muscle memory activity like walking, cleaning, showering etc

[@shauncooper9942]

Thank you

[@CluelessEngineer]

Can i come in for some extra tutoring on this subject. Thanks. Watching at 5x speed. She can fix me tho

[@CuchBe]

U R awesome.

[@HealthyThinkingsubstack]

I suppose if you’re in your teens or 20s, then this is a good lecture of commonly repeated, clichés and common sense

[@StreetPhilosophyTV]

I think the video is taking off because the title of the video is really strong. It got me, ha

[@JoshuaVarghese]

Now I will force myself to take breaks at the most optimal moments between other activities

[@szczepanthil1574]

It recalls me quote “To be successful, you need leisure. You need time hanging heavily on your hands.” - George Soros

[@fundiserame9531]

🙏🏿

[@JasonLee-pr4sx]

Maybe another way to call it is to get relaxed, have some free time everyday. Don't be too pushy, or anxious.

[@peterruszel5389]

Sounds like the speaker is saying that we should optimize our lives by adding or protecting down time.

[@StreetPhilosophyTV]

I am looking for the book spinoff from her, which will be a 200 page version of this 10 minute presentation 😆

[@T1Oracle]

Got it, take a daily moment of silence. Next video! 👍🏽

[@manishyeolekar]

To further optimize your life, you need to learn to deoptimize!

[@MinglingwithAI]

Its only when a stanford graduate says that on a youtube video, such a point of view matters! When a common person says/does it, they will be labelled as timepass/jobless or even worse, an entrepreneur.

[@kibirangodouglas9167]

Down time is crucial

[@geasderlinasdwsxcdeasd]

sometimes we should just don't push ourself too much but just relax for a bit

[@JuanCZarruk]

agree

[@KrishnaKumarGreenPepper]

Me: Watching the video to optimise the 10 minutes between booking an Uber, and its arrival.

[@pranitmane]

You deserve a break, mate! (just a reminder)

[@etsukofly]

ok i love that someone who goes to stanford is talking about this. normalize this moreeee.

[@larifari4371]

What's the difference between downtime and daydreaming? The restless mind wanders, yes it does and sometimes it needs to. But it wanders on a much deeper level if educated not to wander when ordered so. Thats meditation. I can't imagine that my brain uses more glucose focussing simply on my breath than wandering and exploring. Is there any research on that?

[@kerrinnaude2777]

Optimization is fragilization. De-optimizing is good risk management

[@pandecocojam]

Some people need to do a lot because they're poor and they need to support their families. Can Stanford MBA graduates focus on sharing wealth to the poor instead of making life more comfortable for the rich and powerful?

[@abinbaby4044]

I take so much downtime that people think I'm broken.

[@videos_not_found]

Only 1 like? People are hypocrites😂

[@iainmackenzieUK]

hmmmm - I do find mindfulness meditation pretty close to "down time". I mean - my 'purpose' is to pay attention to the present moment (breathe, body, thoughts etc) but, to be honest, in a 30 minute meditation, I am only effective in that task for maybe 2% of the time. The rest feels like downtime. I certainly get more motivation and clarity afterwards. So, maybe its the down time that happens between the 'focussed' times that give the benefits????

[@marthaserrano59]

WOW! you are a 🪨⭐️

[@vineeshhere]

Are you saying mind chattering is good during downtime?.

[@mndflctzn]

Not having a goal during meditation is the goal of meditation.

[@raverali154]

Additional Points: Neurotypical brains might develop dissociation as a coping mechanism due to various societal pressures or expectations. 2e brains, due to their unique information processing, might not have the luxury of "disconnecting" and remain hypervigilant to navigate their environment effectively. It's important to challenge the societal construction that dissociation is the "norm," as it can be detrimental to mental health. Supporting 2e individuals in understanding their hypervigilance and developing healthy coping mechanisms is crucial.

[@raverali154]

The potential link between dissociation in neurotypicals and societal construction is very important, especially when considering the impact on Twice-Exceptionals (2e) who might not dissociate as readily. Here's a breakdown of your argument: Dissociation and Victimhood: Dissociation as a Coping Mechanism: In some cases, dissociation can be a way of coping with negative experiences, especially during childhood play that might have been misguided or lacked proper supervision. Loss of Agency: Dissociation can lead to a feeling of helplessness or victimhood, as the individual detaches from the experience. Impact on 2e Individuals: 2e individuals who don't dissociate as readily might face the full brunt of negative experiences without the protective buffer dissociation can provide. Misguided Play and Innocence: Importance of Play: Play is crucial for healthy development, but misguided play experiences can lead to confusion, frustration, and a sense of helplessness in children. Loss of Innocence: Negative experiences during play can shatter a child's sense of security and innocence. Impact on 2e Individuals: 2e individuals might be more sensitive to negative play experiences due to their heightened awareness and emotional processing. The Importance of Understanding: Understanding Dissociation: Raising awareness about dissociation and its potential consequences can help individuals who dissociate understand their experiences. Validating 2e Experiences: Acknowledging that 2e individuals might not dissociate and face the full impact of negative experiences is crucial. Importance of Safe Play: Promoting safe and structured play environments is essential for healthy development in all children.

[@raverali154]

The Logic Behind Your Argument: Lack of Guided Play: 2e individuals might not have had the same opportunities for guided play during childhood, which is crucial for developing certain cognitive skills. Creative Thinking: To compensate, they might rely more on creative thinking strategies, which could potentially require a different energy usage pattern in the brain compared to those with strong foundational skills. Scientific Neglect: The lack of specific research on 2e brain function makes it difficult to definitively say how they utilize energy differently, but it's a logical area for exploration.

[@raverali154]

Discrimination: Misunderstanding: If the unique needs and experiences of 2e individuals are not understood, they might face discrimination in educational settings, workplaces, and social interactions. Misdiagnosis: Misguided play opportunities in childhood could lead to learning difficulties that might be misdiagnosed, further marginalizing 2e individuals. Focus on Deficits: Focusing solely on the challenges faced by 2e individuals can lead to a deficit-based approach, overlooking their exceptional strengths and talents. Assimilation: Pressure to Conform: 2e individuals might feel pressure to conform to neurotypical expectations in order to avoid discrimination or social isolation. Masking: They might mask their true selves to fit in, which can lead to anxiety and a sense of inauthenticity. Loss of Identity: The pressure to assimilate can lead to a disconnect from their unique identity and strengths as a 2e individual

[@armagtube]

what is downtime? why its down or dawn?

[@Raaviolis]

Downtime is when you don’t need spreadsheets plain and simple

[@hugoibanez]

But you did It again 😅. The goal of downtime is to just do nothing but you want to use it for the next breakthrough 😕 it misses the goal again.

[@user-qp4ek9ey2x]

That is why the Creator gave us to rest on Shabbat.. these are the instructions of the maker of the world to benefit humans.

[@shfizzle]

train and bus rides are perfect for doing nothing and i've come to prefer that than checking my phone

[@videos_not_found]

Watching people swipe away Facebook like every 2 s, apparently the new hard labour.

[@andreascabreira]

haha this been my lifestyle my wholelife

[@yurydmorales]

00:44 🤫 Silence and downtime are often uncomfortable in a noisy, busy world, but they offer opportunities for reflection, clarity, and creativity. 01:15 ⏳ Society's pressure to constantly optimize our lives can lead to a fear of downtime, but embracing moments of silence and reflection is crucial for mental well-being and creativity. 02:49 🧠 Our brains need downtime to thrive, as unstructured time allows for integration of information, fostering creativity and problem-solving abilities. 04:23 💡 Downtime enables non-linear thinking, leading to unexpected connections and "aha" moments, which can spark creativity and innovation. 06:02 🔄 As AI advances, creativity becomes increasingly valuable in the workplace, making it essential to prioritize and cultivate downtime for enhanced problem-solving abilities. 07:31 ⏰ Despite busy schedules, prioritizing downtime is crucial for mental rejuvenation and unlocking creativity, even for those with numerous commitments.

[@atitshah7820]

She still made the downtime about a goal of getting aha moments... thought this was about taking it easy 😂

[@wenyunie3575]

hahahh I was thinking the same thing, so basically there is still a second-order goal there, and eventually the downtime is still for optimizing life.

[@Tkhan90s]

The starting of the presentation the “silent moment” have seen this similar presentation before on another TED Talk. It would be appreciated if something different can be introduced not a copied idea/presentation.

[@vecernicek2]

Perfect 10 babe from Stanford telling me that I need to deoptimize?

[@calledasaj]

Watch the video again replacing "Downtime" with "Smoking pot".

[@12ds14]

She optimised each and every one of her words, gestures, facial expressions, ... but but but 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@user-yv4gg7jb2f]

Without deoptimizing there are no valid indicators to monitor optimization basically it is the reset before the transition and from a data perspective it is the easiest way to implement ai in daily routines having a basic value which then can be refered to as zero. No just kididng.

[@fishandfun]

I let my brain roam free and what I found is very weird. I was just thinking about you. And I thought about all possible ways through which I can say how beautiful you are without sounding creepy and I couldn’t find a good one.

[@ppg123p]

"Down time"

[@user-wr4yl7tx3w]

It’s something you want to hear but you know the benefit don’t outweigh the cost. What is creativity was never defined. Is ChatGPT creative?

[@MiguelHernandez-pt1kl]

does juggling a soccer ball count as downtime?

[@pedrorego8953]

The best ideas come when one is in the shower.

[@Karocki]

beauty

[@waltwood5394]

Luckily I never started optimizing...

[@faizanm4100]

Damned if you do and damned if you don’t -

[@mehowkielan1984]

Let's optimise de-optimisation, be the best at it and make a fortune by monetising!

[@yupengliu2464]

De-optimizing for the goal of achievement and creativity, and to be someone like Newton, Jobs and JK, then it is not true de-optimization

[@pranitmane]

does watching this can be considered as downtime?? cause i don't have any intention.. joking obviously.. anyways thanks for reminding the importance of doing nothing..

[@kommentar8114]

Realizing that I’ve just watched a video about how to optimize my life by deoptimizing it.

[@caiusKeys]

Why de-optimize when you'll just have to re-optimize?