What does chasing infinity get you?

The amount of labor is exceeds the hours in any given day.

Even the maximum effort still can’t bridge the gap.

But the answer isn’t to reconcile your labor deficit. You can attempt to calculate how much more effort or time would theoretically be needed to meet your expanding workload.

Although it’s still just a theory. One that doesn’t account for real life nuances.

That’s the fascinating thing about effort. It’s not linear. The assumption that it can be maximized and directly scale to productivity is flawed. Variables like fatigue, emotional stress, and diminishing returns mean that hundred percent effort doesn’t necessarily equate to getting one hundred percent of tasks done.

This is the inherent impossibility of keeping up with everything. It bothers me, because I like finishing things. I optimize for efficiency wherever I can.

At the same time, I also acknowledge that some tasks simply won’t get done, and that’s okay. It’s helpful to view it through a mathematical lens.

I took calculus twice, once in high school and once in college. Barely passed both times. I was dangerously close to failing, but somehow I managed to cheat my way to a good enough grade.

Although one concept did stick with me.

Asymptotes. These are lines on a graph that approach zero, but never quite reach it, so they extend towards infinity.

Now, I can’t explain their significant from a mathematical standpoint. But I don’t need to, since the lesson is bigger than calculus. This is about being a human being, where reaching for everything is futile. May as well acknowledge the gap, and help ourselves mentally let go of unrealistic expectations about closing it.

Where are some of the asymptotes in your life? What does chasing infinity get you?

Look, if you can leave something undone without catastrophic consequences, go ahead. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Believe me, closing open loops is one of my favorite things to do. It’s the fastest and most effective way to eliminate stress in my life.

And that’s why I’m okay with asymptotes. Because I trust my effort and progress enough to leave some things be.

It ain’t going nowhere. It will be there tomorrow. Or next week. Or even next month.

I am not a procrastinator by nature, so I’m not worried about the slippery slope towards inefficiency.