We live in a world built for efficiency. Every system, every invention, every shortcut is designed to save us time and energy. On the surface, that sounds like progress. Who wouldn’t want things to be easier and faster?
But here’s the problem: efficiency is killing us.
Think about it — escalators instead of stairs, parking spots as close to the entrance as possible, cars for every short trip, sitting all day because our work is digital. We’ve created a culture where movement has become optional. And when movement becomes optional, most people will opt out.
I’ve always been the opposite. Whenever I can, I park farther away. I’ll bike instead of drive. I’ll take the stairs even if the escalator is right there. Not because I’m trying to prove a point, but because I know that small, consistent choices add up to a stronger body and a healthier life.
It’s not about making every single moment a workout. It’s about choosing the less efficient route on purpose. Walking instead of riding. Standing instead of sitting. Carrying instead of pushing a cart. These little “inefficiencies” are exactly what our bodies are built for.
When we design all the effort out of our lives, we pay the price with our health. Joints get stiff. Muscles weaken. Energy drops. The irony is that in chasing efficiency, we’ve made ourselves less effective as human beings. The very thing we thought would save us is quietly eroding our capacity to live well.
Now, I get it — sometimes efficiency matters. If you’re late for a flight, take the escalator. If you’ve got kids to juggle and only ten minutes to spare, grab the closest parking spot. I’m not against convenience when it’s truly necessary.
But most of the time, we’re not in a rush. Most of the time, the “efficient” choice is just habit. And those habits compound. Over years, they shape the way we move, the way we feel, and the way we age.
That’s why I’ve made it a rule for myself: unless there’s a real time demand, I choose the less efficient option. The one that keeps me moving. Because that’s the option that pays off long-term.
Here’s the challenge I’ll leave you with: look for places where you can add a little inefficiency back into your day. Take the stairs. Walk to the store. Park a block further away. Carry your groceries instead of pushing a cart all the way out.
Efficiency might save you a few minutes in the moment, but those minutes aren’t what add up. What adds up is the way you treat your body. Movement is medicine, but only if you give yourself the chance to move.
So — where can you choose inefficiency today?
Luke A.
Owner
MVMT Strength