BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Δ’Ή½ΚΣΖ΅//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:Life in times of self-optimization METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20250515T153000 DTEND:20250515T171500 DTSTAMP:20250515T153000 UID:2025/life-in-times-of-self-opt@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20250502T035825 LOCATION:3D SUMMARY:Life in times of self-optimization X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Δ’Ή½ΚΣΖ΅

Wonder about the extent to which the pressure to self-optimize impacts your life, and about how to resist it? Want to experience what it's like to embrace your s ub-optimality together? Come and experiment with us!

The problem 
We will readily admit that achievement at study and work plays a central role in our lives. The freedom and flexibility inherent in studying, too, can make it difficult to 'call it a day'. But even when we do – when we close our books, hand in our papers – we may still feel other kinds of pressures lingering.. . We have to use our free time 'wisely', we have to keep 'working' on ourselves.  

If we come to understand our mental and physical wellbeing, our relationships, hobbies, relaxation, even spi ritual practice and flourishing as sources of self-improvement - how can we find true rest? How do we make space for another kind of exper ience?  

Rest and resistance In recent years books have appeared that attempt to answer these qu estions: Byung-Chul Han, for example (discussed at the NEWConnective reading club), argues for a revaluation of rituals, and urges us to b e lazy, go out more often, get drunk, embrace our hangovers, sleep in … 

During this gathering we will explor e together ways to resist the incentive to self-optimize.  

3:45PM – 4:30PM During the first part of th e gathering, we will dwell on the incentive itself (e.g. its history) and share experiences.  

4:30PM – 5:15PM During th e second part of the program, we will do an experime nt in which we can explore – perhaps, just for a moment – other w ays of being. It will be a kind of meditation with a 'theatrical' twi st (but don't worry; there will be no need to act or perform in front of each other). We will reflect on our experiences until 5:15PM. If you have to leave at 5:15PM, you can! 

5: 15PM – 5:45PM This second experiment involves a jam session on inst ruments we can't play...  

Location: 3D, VU

DESCRIPTION: The problem 
We will readily adm it that achievement at study and work plays a central role in our liv es. The freedom and flexibility inherent in studying, too, can make i t difficult to 'call it a day'. But even when we do – when we close our books, hand in our papers – we may still feel other kinds of p ressures lingering... We have to use our free time 'wisely', we have to keep 'working' on ourselves.   If we come to understand our mental and physical wellbeing, our relationships, hobbies, relaxa tion, even spiritual practice and flourishing as sources of self-impr ovement - how can we find true rest? How do we make space for another kind of experience?   Rest and resistance  
In recent years books have appeared that attempt to answer these questions: Byung-Chul Han, for example (discussed at the NEWCon nective reading club), argues for a revaluation of rituals, and urges us to be lazy, go out more often, get drunk, embrace our hangovers, sleep in…  During this gathering we will expl ore together ways to resist the incentive to self-optimize. &nbs p; 3:45PM – 4:30PM During the first part of the ga thering, we will dwell on the incentive itself (e.g. its history) and share experiences.   4:30PM – 5:15PM During the second part of the program, we will do an experiment in whic h we can explore – perhaps, just for a moment – other ways of bei ng. It will be a kind of meditation with a 'theatrical' twist (but do n't worry; there will be no need to act or perform in front of each o ther). We will reflect on our experiences until 5:15PM. If yo u have to leave at 5:15PM, you can!  5:15PM – 5:45PM This second experiment involves a jam session on instruments we can't play...   Location: 3D, VU Wonder about the extent to whic h the pressure to self-optimize impacts your life, and about how to r esist it? Want to experience what it's like to embrace your sub-optim ality together? Come and experiment with us! END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR