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The appropriate amount of effort is zero

expandingawareness.org · 1,066 words · saved by 1 readers

Most people put too much effort into everything they do. Here’s a good example from Kristijan around tension in his hands when touching and holding things: It’s a great example, because gripping too tightly, as we might with the hands, is a great metaphor for what it’s like everywhere else in your system. There’s a pattern of pervasive over-gripping that, once you start to look for it, you will find everywhere. There is an appropriate amount of energy required for each activity. Holding a cup, turning a steering wheel, or writing a blog post all need exactly the amount of energy that they need. This may sound like a truism, but if it were so obvious, why do many drivers often realise they are driving with a vice-like grip, with tension running up into their shoulders and jaws? Let me share my slightly unusual definition of “effort”: it’s the felt experience of expending energy beyond what an activity requires, like tensing your brow when you try to understand something, or the excess t

The appropriate amount of effort is zero The appropriate amount of effort is zero By Michael Ashcroft | 5 min read 28th August 2025 --> Image credit: Adam Cai (@caid), Unsplash Most people put too much effort into everything they do. Here’s a good example from Kristijan around tension in his hands when touching and holding things: Something clicked about inhibition and non-doing (in Alexander Technique), and the strongest effect has been a relaxation of my hands. Like I was touching and holding things with 40% more tension than required for that object or activity. @m_ashcroft any thoughts? —

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