Rediscover the Joy of Doing Nothing

We live in an age of self-optimization — a time when seemingly everyone is striving to squeeze more from our already packed days. But what are we sacrificing with all of that productivity? On this episode, we talk with two former overachievers about how the search for perfection impacted their lives, and how they decided to do less and find more joy.

• We talk with writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo about learning to embrace inefficiency — and how, after a lifetime of perfectionism, letting go helped her rediscover joy. Her new book is “How to Be Less Useful: The Joy of Inefficiency.”
• For years, entrepreneur Pat Croce was best known for his boundless energy, business successes, and a can-do attitude that helped rocket Philadelphia’s 76ers from a losing record to the NBA finals. It wasn’t until more recently, though, that Croce realized that his lifelong pursuit of achievement had left him feeling unfulfilled. He harkens back to the moment that he reached that epiphany and explains how he finally found peace in meditation and spiritual exploration. His new book is "Enjoy Your Self Now!: 66 Sacred Shifts to Instantly Awaken the Peaceful Presence within You."