25th January 2025
Telos is a Greek word meaning purpose, end or goal.
From this root, philosophers have conceptualized that there are 2 types of activities in life:
Telic: Activities with a purpose, end, or goal.
Atelic: Activities with no purpose, end, or goal.
Telic activity is like reaching a destination, where the goal is the focus, while an atelic activity is like enjoying the journey itself, where the process is the pleasure.
Telic activities have a clear endpoint, aimed at achieving a specific goal & are considered “complete” once the goal is reached (e.g., finishing a marathon, writing a blog).
Atelic activities lack a defined end point, are done for their own sake & focus on the ongoing experience rather than the outcome, e.g., taking a walk in nature, listening to music, spending time with loved ones.
The joy of atelic activities lies in the present moment, not the future achievement.
When consumed by telic activities, you might miss the beauty of simply being.
A well-lived life requires a balance between pursuing ambitious goals & appreciating the simple pleasures of everyday life.
Traditional thinking would suggest that atelic activities are not productive or valuable, whereas telic activities are.
This traditional thinking leads to a several flawed behavioral patterns wherein we feel a deep guilt for engaging in periods of rest, solitude, or free time.
That creeping dread as we linger a bit too long in bed with our spouse & children, the sense that we need to start moving when we stop & stare at some birds for too long, or the stress that arises from an afternoon snooze that lasted a bit too long.
We prioritize the urgent & consistently believe everything is far more urgent than reality. The hold that the illusion of urgency has over us is insane.
We desire to be busy, because it makes us feel good about ourselves. Busyness has become the modern day flex—but it’s a trap.
We embrace busyness because it feels like progress, when more often than not it is movement for movement’s sake.
We keep ourselves on a treadmill of progress & achievement. The completion of each telic activity simply moves us into the start of the next one.
We never leave space for liminal moments, because the stillness terrifies us.
It’s time we fight back against this traditional thinking.
We need to embrace atelic activities—not for the progress they may create, but for their own sake & create a balanced life.
Too much focus in either direction is undesirable.
I think of the restless ennui I experience towards the end of an Atelic vacation, or after an extended weekend, where I’m itching to get back to the grind.
Conversely, every day at work is an onslaught of Telic things to get done —urgent schedules, managing appointments, keeping on top of notifications, working & working to achieve the goals.
Let’s try & create that balance, let’s reclaim the glory of boredom along with the high of achieving goals & stay blessed forever.