Embracing Friction: A New Year’s Resolution for 2026

The concept of "friction-maxxing" has emerged as a response to the pervasive influence of technology in daily life, particularly regarding how it affects our interactions and experiences. Friction-maxxing is not merely about reducing screen time; it involves cultivating a tolerance for inconvenience and discomfort, which can lead to a deeper appreciation for everyday life. This approach encourages individuals, especially parents, to model this tolerance for their children, fostering resilience and independence.

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Modern conveniences, such as location-sharing apps and generative AI tools like ChatGPT, have significantly altered how families interact and manage daily tasks. The ease of these technologies often leads to a diminished capacity for handling life's inherent challenges. For instance, the reliance on AI for meal planning or constant connectivity can strip away essential experiences that contribute to personal growth and family bonding. The author argues that without embracing friction, children may struggle to develop critical thinking skills and a love for reading.

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To embark on a friction-maxxing journey, individuals can adopt several practical strategies. These include:

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• Limiting location sharing with family members to promote privacy.

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• Avoiding AI tools for everyday tasks, such as meal planning, and instead opting for traditional methods like cookbooks or personal communication.

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• Encouraging children to take on small errands, allowing them to experience both success and failure.

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• Inviting friends over without the pressure of a perfectly clean home, thus embracing the messiness of life.

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These actions, while seemingly minor, contribute to a broader cultural shift towards valuing the discomfort that comes with authentic human experiences.

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The author raises critical questions about identity and humanity in the context of technological advancements. For example, the use of GLP-1 medications, while beneficial, prompts reflection on what it means to experience hunger and appetite. Similarly, the reliance on generative AI challenges individuals to consider the implications of outsourcing cognitive processes. The author posits that this moment presents an opportunity to reassess what it means to be human in an age increasingly defined by convenience.

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The author emphasizes the importance of maintaining friction in family life as a counterbalance to the encroaching ease provided by technology. They express a commitment to friction-maxxing as a means of fostering resilience and critical thinking in their children, highlighting the need for a conscious effort to preserve these experiences.

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• “Without friction, most kids will have no reason to love reading, let alone thinking for themselves.” — Author

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• “We bear the responsibility of keeping friction intact as part of our families’ lives and to notice the ways that it’s being sanded away for profit.” — Author

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• “Maybe this is an opportunity to think more clearly than we ever have about what is interesting and essential about being human.” — Author

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In conclusion, the friction-maxxing movement advocates for a deliberate embrace of life's challenges as a means to enrich personal and familial experiences, ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of what it means to be human in a technology-driven world.

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