Is The Obsession With Optimization Ruining Our Lives?

He said he just wanted to test it out since he had taken some time off from it. He enjoyed a few glasses of wine, likely in the company of friends, but didn’t get drunk. This happened two years ago when he was 31 years old, and he said, “It ruined three days of my life.” He didn’t sleep well, he didn’t make it to the gym the next day, and he felt like his “cortisol system was all messed up.” He even claimed he “podcasted worse.” He tracked all of it on his Whoop tracker. Some people agreed that alcohol is a poison and should never be consumed. Others were annoyed at how dramatic Steven sounded, wondering how a bit of wine could do this much damage to a man. Like many other podcast hosts and wellness influencers of his kind, Steven is all about optimization. No drinking, go to bed early, eat a meticulously clean diet, manage cortisol levels, and track everything on your watch so you know how many minutes of deep sleep you got and what your resting heart rate is. It’s certainly a trend, and in many ways it’s a worthy one considering how unhealthy our society has become and the bad habits that most Americans find themselves stuck in. But there comes a point where I really do wonder whether this obsession with optimization is getting in the way of people living their lives fully. Alcohol Consumption Is on the Decline For decades, alcohol was considered a nearly universal part of adulthood. Happy hours, college parties, sporting events, and social gatherings often revolved around drinking. But a significant cultural shift is taking place. Data from the United States and around the world shows that Gen Z and younger Millennials are drinking substantially less alcohol than previous generations did at the same age. According to research from Gallup , young adults ages 18–34 have become progressively less likely to consume alcohol over the past two decades. In the early 2000s, approximately 72% of young adults reported drinking alcohol. By 2021–2023, that number had fallen to 62%, representing a significant decline in participation. More recent Gallup data suggests the trend has continued, with only about half of young adults reporting that they drink alcohol at all. Young adults are now the age group most likely to believe that even moderate alcohol consumption is harmful to health. This decline appears to be driven by several factors, with health consciousness leading the list. Younger generations are growing up in an era where information about nutrition, fitness, sleep, mental health, and disease prevention is readily available. Many young adults are increasingly aware that alcohol consumption is linked to a higher risk of cancer, liver disease, poor sleep quality, anxiety, depression, and metabolic dysfunction. Gallup found that young adults are now the age group most likely to believe that even moderate alcohol consumption is harmful to health. Financial considerations also play a role. Rising costs of living, student loan debt, and expensive nightlife have made alcohol less appealing to many young consumers. A night out involving multiple drinks can easily cost hundreds of dollars, leading many to seek alternative forms of entertainment. The no-alcohol trend is particularly popular among the wellness-minded podcasters and influencers. They interview experts about all the ways that alcohol ruins your cognitive function and metabolic function, especially if you're trying to lose weight. This aligns well with the increasing availability (and affordability) of wellness tracking devices, such as the Oura Ring, the Apple Watch, Fitbit, Whoop, and many more. We’re listening to the experts talk about the data of wellness and health—your resting heart rate, your sleep score, your breathing variability, etc.—and we’re watching these numbers meticulously, hoping that our life (and perhaps happiness) will improve along with the data. Do the Healthiest, Happiest People Abstain From Alcohol? If people are quitting alcohol for health reasons, it begs the question: what are the healthiest, happiest people in the world doing when it comes to booze? Have they sworn it off? Around the world, researchers have identified several regions where people consistently live longer, healthier lives than average. These areas, often referred to as “ Blue Zones ,” include places such as Okinawa, Sardinia, Ikaria, Nicoya Peninsula, and the community of Loma Linda. While these populations come from different cultures and backgrounds, they share several common lifestyle habits that appear to contribute to exceptional health and longevity. One of the most consistent factors is a diet centered around whole, minimally processed foods. Long-lived populations tend to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes, potatoes, whole grains, and healthy fats while consuming relatively small amounts of ultra-processed foods. Their diets are naturally rich in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that support metabolic health and reduce chronic inflammation. Another common denominator is regular physical activity. Unlike modern exercise programs, movement is woven into daily life. Strong social connections also play a major role. Long-lived populations typically have close-knit families, strong friendships, and a deep sense of community. Studies consistently show that social isolation is associated with higher rates of disease and earlier mortality, while meaningful relationships improve both physical and mental health. And here is where the piece of alcohol consumption becomes particularly interesting. The people who are living the happiest, healthiest, and longest lives are doing the very thing that Steven Bartlett said ruined three days of his life. Contrary to popular belief, most of the world’s healthiest populations do not abstain from alcohol. In places such as Sardinia and Ikaria, moderate alcohol consumption—particularly red wine—is often part of social gatherings and meals. However, alcohol is typically consumed in small to moderate amounts, alongside food, and within a strong social context. They stay up late, share wine, and enjoy time together. This kind of behavior is a huge element of the stress management that contributes to their long, healthy, and happy life. No trackers or fitness watches. Zero concerns with optimization. None of these cultures drink copious amounts of alcohol, but they certainly drink a lot more than Steven Bartlett did on that one fateful night. One of the longest-running studies ever conducted over more than 80 years, called Harvard Study of Adult Development , hypothesizes that the number one most important factor that contributes to health and longevity is not physical activity or diet, and it’s certainly not alcohol consumption. It’s the presence of warm relationships. The researchers theorize that having a strong network of family and friends with whom you spend a lot of quality time with helps to reduce and ward off stress, which is a huge source of inflammation, which we know is heavily correlated to sickness and premature death. So the people who are living the happiest, healthiest, and longest lives are doing the very thing that Steven Bartlett said ruined three days of his life: hanging out with friends and drinking a couple glasses of wine. What Good Is Optimization Doing Us? I do not believe it’s coincidental at all that the rates of loneliness and isolation , depression and anxiety , and psychiatric drug use are rising rapidly while the rates of alcohol consumption are declining. By no means do I think that people should be drinking alcohol profusely and bingeing on the weekends, but there is no denying that a primary element of enjoying a glass of wine is being social and conversing with others. Ever since the Covid lockdown days, the normal rates of socialization never quite caught up to what they once were. People are not going out and grabbing drinks together like they used to. They’re sending Snapchats to one another, watching Netflix marathons at home, and “ bed rotting .” Part of the no-alcohol trend is related to health, but there is no denying that another part of it is just that people are not as social as they used to be. People are meeting on dating apps rather than at parties or local bars. They’re texting and sending TikToks to each other instead of throwing parties and potluck dinners with wine. Besides, is our health actually improving as our optimization numbers increase? And perhaps just as importantly, is our happiness also increasing alongside the optimization of our health data? These questions are significant because what’s the point of staring at our trackers every day if they’re not helping to make our lives better? Then you look at the rising popularity of people like Bryan Johnson, a tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist who spearheads the extreme anti-aging and longevity project called Project Blueprint . He sold his company Braintree to PayPal and now dedicates his life (and millions of dollars a year) to scientifically reversing his biological age and optimizing his body’s health markers. It’s gotten to the point where he doesn’t even go outside without using an umbrella in order to protect his skin from the sun. Each meal and supplement is precisely measured and tracked. He even tests his girlfriend’s vaginal microbiome before engaging in certain sexual activities together. Granted, Bryan is at the extreme end of optimization, but the fact that he has gained this much popularity and has been featured on so many podcasts leaves me wondering, when did our lives become so sterile? So data-driven? So AI-like? And even if this optimization grants you an extra 3-5 years of life, do you expect that you’ll be living those years as joyfully and fully as the Italian grandmothers on the coast of Sardinia, wrinkly from smile lines and surrounded by doting family members and a bottle of cabernet? I don’t expect that these individuals have any idea what their sleep score is. When did our lives become so sterile? I was never much of a drinker, but I pretty much gave up drinking alcohol a decade ago, far before the anti-alcohol trend began (mostly because I get the Asian glow when I drink and it’s very uncomfortable). Since then, I've enjoyed a few glasses of wine here and there, but each one of those times I remember being fondly surrounded by loved ones, at a wedding or over Christmas Eve dinner. I really do wonder whether the obsession with optimization and the concern with ruining your Whoop score is stopping people from living their lives to the fullest. We're not robots. There will always be off days when we don't feel our most optimized. Wait until you're blessed with parenthood. You'll learn quickly that those early years are full of sleepless nights and failed Whoop scores, and that you'll feel exhausted and sub-optimal along the way. But there's no greater joy than raising the children who will become the next generation of our society, and no metric on earth that can capture it. We experience what we focus on the most. And if our minds are preoccupied with fitness trackers and wellness data most of the time, we will miss the beauty and joy around us. The fullness of life is to be found in the messiness and blurred edges, the late nights and belly laughs, the rich meals and abandonment of a rigid schedule. Friendship and love can never be defined by numbers, and I do believe that many of the people who are struggling with loneliness and isolation would benefit from getting dressed up for a dinner party or cocktail soiree, where they can enjoy some wine and conversation that lasts late into the night, long after their Whoop’s recommended bedtime.