Thanks for this, I think it gives us all (hopefully) pause for thought. And I am 100% with you on capitalist extraction of work. But: sometimes certain ways of working fit some people better - I used to feel the same about Huel as you, and I do still think I need to take time out more, but since I have been diagnosed with ADHD recently in middle age I have realised how easily I get overwhelmed (which leads to executive paralysis and eventually depression) - and reducing decisions is one way to manage that: Huel at lunchtime has allowed me to free my brain up for the thinking I want to do (about writing!).
Ive let go of the feeling that I should do things a certain way, whether fast or slow, with the value judgements attached to each, and just allowed myself to do what works for me.
I absolutely agree that it's about what works for you; this post isn't meant to shame anyone for doing anything (I make shakes most mornings for breakfast!), more to critique the idea, pushed by companies like Huel, that you can give up everything around cooking and food and eating and replace it almost 100% with meal replacements that are, after all, geared towards making people more productive in a capitalist system—and it's also a reflection on how that urge towards capitalist productivity damaged my health. But I do appreciate, as mentioned, that circumstances—disability, parenthood, poverty—make convenience more necessary and more helpful, and this isn't intended as a criticism of that, or indeed of the concept of Huel. H x
Hi Heather, this is a wonderful essay and something that post-cancerland I am trying to implement in my own life. I have to admit I do often drink instant coffee and use the microwave :) I paradoxically find that my e-bike, purchased to improve my carbon footprint, has created more convenience for me as parking is the biggest invisible inconvenience there is! My work involves automation, but the automation saves a lot of time and tedium for the people who would have to do the work manually. In effect I am paid money to streamline processes and make them *more* convenient. And it's work I enjoy and take pride in, because the technology is changing a lot and I get to level up my skills. The nature of my employment is in logistics and arguably serves the engine of capitalism - and yet when I was ill, it was capitalism that came through for me. My employers worked with me and gave me the time and space to heal - they hadn't dealt with cancer before in that team so it was a learning process for both of us. I know this comment is wandering about a bit, but I think the words of your essay that inspired my reply was when you discussed "alienated labour" - because it reminded me of this article https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40044995.html where a writer speaks disparagingly about work in the Civil Service as "alienated labour" and was glad to get an Arts Council grant instead. It made me want to throw my phone at the wall when I read it as it's so typical of a very closed and hostile Irish arts institution which I honestly hold partly responsible for my descent into illness in the first place. I too am a writer whose work has been disrespected and overlooked by those same institutions and honestly it's why while I agree with your essay and love knitting and making notebooks and cycling around on my bike, I want to put down my thought that sometimes capitalism comes through and arts world stuff can destroy you. But thanks for writing this Heather and I really enjoy your substacks!
Hi Susan. Thanks for the kind words and I really hope that the post-cancer landscape is treating you well! I definitely don't think automation is a bad thing in itself, nor convenience in fact—if we didn't have either we'd be spending all our days fetching water and cleaning clothes, after all. I'm also so glad your work supported you when you were ill—but I guess what I imagine is a society which is built on socialist values, where the state itself supports those who are sick and need time off, or who can't work at all through disability or mental ill health, or wish to have time and space to be artistic, etc etc, so we aren't dependent on the choices of our employers to support or not support their workers (speaking as someone who is, like you, lucky enough to have a supportive employer). And I can definitely appreciate the feeling of being crushed by the arts world—which is also a capitalist system! Here's to us getting the space we need for more knitting and cycling and writing and making notebooks ❤️
Thanks for this, I think it gives us all (hopefully) pause for thought. And I am 100% with you on capitalist extraction of work. But: sometimes certain ways of working fit some people better - I used to feel the same about Huel as you, and I do still think I need to take time out more, but since I have been diagnosed with ADHD recently in middle age I have realised how easily I get overwhelmed (which leads to executive paralysis and eventually depression) - and reducing decisions is one way to manage that: Huel at lunchtime has allowed me to free my brain up for the thinking I want to do (about writing!).
Ive let go of the feeling that I should do things a certain way, whether fast or slow, with the value judgements attached to each, and just allowed myself to do what works for me.
I absolutely agree that it's about what works for you; this post isn't meant to shame anyone for doing anything (I make shakes most mornings for breakfast!), more to critique the idea, pushed by companies like Huel, that you can give up everything around cooking and food and eating and replace it almost 100% with meal replacements that are, after all, geared towards making people more productive in a capitalist system—and it's also a reflection on how that urge towards capitalist productivity damaged my health. But I do appreciate, as mentioned, that circumstances—disability, parenthood, poverty—make convenience more necessary and more helpful, and this isn't intended as a criticism of that, or indeed of the concept of Huel. H x
The way they push it is indeed ridiculous.
Hi Heather, this is a wonderful essay and something that post-cancerland I am trying to implement in my own life. I have to admit I do often drink instant coffee and use the microwave :) I paradoxically find that my e-bike, purchased to improve my carbon footprint, has created more convenience for me as parking is the biggest invisible inconvenience there is! My work involves automation, but the automation saves a lot of time and tedium for the people who would have to do the work manually. In effect I am paid money to streamline processes and make them *more* convenient. And it's work I enjoy and take pride in, because the technology is changing a lot and I get to level up my skills. The nature of my employment is in logistics and arguably serves the engine of capitalism - and yet when I was ill, it was capitalism that came through for me. My employers worked with me and gave me the time and space to heal - they hadn't dealt with cancer before in that team so it was a learning process for both of us. I know this comment is wandering about a bit, but I think the words of your essay that inspired my reply was when you discussed "alienated labour" - because it reminded me of this article https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/people/arid-40044995.html where a writer speaks disparagingly about work in the Civil Service as "alienated labour" and was glad to get an Arts Council grant instead. It made me want to throw my phone at the wall when I read it as it's so typical of a very closed and hostile Irish arts institution which I honestly hold partly responsible for my descent into illness in the first place. I too am a writer whose work has been disrespected and overlooked by those same institutions and honestly it's why while I agree with your essay and love knitting and making notebooks and cycling around on my bike, I want to put down my thought that sometimes capitalism comes through and arts world stuff can destroy you. But thanks for writing this Heather and I really enjoy your substacks!
Hi Susan. Thanks for the kind words and I really hope that the post-cancer landscape is treating you well! I definitely don't think automation is a bad thing in itself, nor convenience in fact—if we didn't have either we'd be spending all our days fetching water and cleaning clothes, after all. I'm also so glad your work supported you when you were ill—but I guess what I imagine is a society which is built on socialist values, where the state itself supports those who are sick and need time off, or who can't work at all through disability or mental ill health, or wish to have time and space to be artistic, etc etc, so we aren't dependent on the choices of our employers to support or not support their workers (speaking as someone who is, like you, lucky enough to have a supportive employer). And I can definitely appreciate the feeling of being crushed by the arts world—which is also a capitalist system! Here's to us getting the space we need for more knitting and cycling and writing and making notebooks ❤️