That is the fact based on my everyday observation, especially during the last few years. I am not exaggerating or imagining things. If you did not notice it, wake up or pause your run for a while. We will be on the same page.

You do not need to be an expert or some exceptional researcher to notice that something is not right. I would even say it is wrong!

The vast majority of people no longer behave as they once did. They are no longer acting in ways that were previously considered “normal.”
I’m talking about things like walking slowly, chatting with strangers during train rides, and engaging face-to-face with others in the neighbourhood, or broader community.

But apparently, norms and standards no longer exist, or so we’re led to believe. I don’t buy into that.

We’ve been conditioned to accept this “new normal,” as if the old-school version I grew up with no longer matters. I’m still an old-school practitioner and follower. Furthermore, I am proud of it.

Sometimes I think that our habits have been subtly reprogrammed to fit someone else’s design.

Nevertheless, as far as I am aware, we are still human beings built on organic bodies and beautifully constructed spiritual minds.

But these days, running around like crazy (or driving like maniacs) just to say, “Sorry, I’m running late,” is slowly making us less human… and more like zombies.

I’m observing how people drive on the freeway. How they are pushing others, weaving between lanes, and turning the driving experience into something almost unbearable.
They think they’re getting ahead by doing this, but in reality, we’re all traveling the same distance and arriving around the same time.
The only thing they’re really achieving is chaos and discomfort for disciplined, experienced drivers.

And that’s not even mentioning how difficult it becomes to properly use cruise control, or any driving optimisation systems, when constantly dealing with “pushers” and “zippers.”
Their erratic behaviour forces others out of rhythm, making calm, efficient driving nearly impossible.

Similarly, working faster, whether by moving quicker, typing faster, or talking at high speed doesn’t necessarily mean you’re performing better, being more efficient, or doing your best.

Running at maximum speed and multitasking might be great in bed (or so some say), but in everyday life and work, it doesn’t really improve quality – at least not in my honest opinion.
Still, many people continue to believe in this pushy, always-on-the-move, multitasking mindset.

Stress? Mistakes? Burnout?

I’m referring to the real quality and dignity of life and work.
Though honestly, I’m not even sure if terms like that are still considered relevant in this so-called “new normal.

This crazy lifestyle is taking its toll. We’re slowly becoming autopilots, constantly chasing time, yet feeling almost nothing.
Like sleepwalkers in daylight, the vast majority rush through life without ever arriving.

This is hard to categorise as anything close to “normal.” It’s more like a form of behavioural pathology, according to me.
I say that with confidence, backed by my professional background in pathology and years of diagnostic experience.

Even robots are programmed to complete each task at the right speed, in a specific manner, finishing on anticipated time, with everything carefully calculated and planned.

Planning usually includes optimisation. Please note, optimisation does not mean maximisation.

I’m arguing that even for a robot, getting stuck in “more and more loops” wouldn’t be healthy.

Constantly pushing ourselves to the limit affects everything around us and slowly erodes not only our own lives, but the lives of others too.
I remember being told at one of my former jobs: “Good – but just a little bit more.”

Every time, it was a little bit more expected.
To this day, those words still ring like a horror bell in my mind.

In this piece, I’m focusing on modern technology and the “new normal” rat race.
Like it or hate it – but please, just read it.

Maybe we’ll wake up together and slow down a little before the end of life comes knocking at our door. Don’t think you’ll be safe because you’re too busy to answer. The angel of death carries a universal key and operates quickly and efficiently.

Hopefully, just in time, we’ll realise that we’re truly alive. Just in time to wake up, slow down, rethink everything, and step out of this crazy rat race.
To minimise binge‑scrolling and endless headset listening.
And instead, enjoy time with friends and family just eating together, talking together.
Sounds weird? It shouldn’t.

I have noticed a long time ago that life has just turned into a big treadmill. Like, no matter how fast we are running, the scenery does not actually change. That has been the vibe of the last thirty years.  I also explored it more deeply while studying emerging technologies at RMIT.

We have been sprinting after promotions, bigger houses, gadgets, likes, followers, status symbols, etc.
Many people, regardless of age or gender, are constantly chasing everything and still feeling like something is constantly missing.

It’s as if society signed us all up for a super marathon no one asked for, and the worst part is, there’s no finish line. So, what’s the point?

In the meantime, the disruptive race goes on and on – only accelerating.

There are two possibilities:

We are being retrained to call chaos normal.

 or

We live in a world where distraction is designed.

In both cases, it’s definitely not my world! I don’t accept it, and I’m saying “no” to it. How about you, mate? Are you okay with it? Hopefully, your answer is “no” too.

Back in the 90s, the world starts to quickly shift gears. The internet showed up, globalisation was growing, and suddenly the competition was not just the person in your office cubicle. It was someone across the planet hustling just as hard.

I remember being told when I was living in Melbourne that people in Australia couldn’t afford lawn-cutting services like they used to. Apparently because of Greece’s financial crisis. Sounds insane, but a lot of people heard similar stories, told to make us believe in that kind of nonsense.

We got sold this dream: work harder, climb faster, earn more, consume endlessly. Upgrade your car, your phone, your wardrobe, your identity. Success was redefined as acceleration, and the rat race picked up a super turbo boost.

At first, it felt like progress. Who wouldn’t want instant information, faster connections, cheaper flights, and the world at their fingertips

But very soon, the promise of freedom turned into a trap. We were not actually moving toward anything meaningful; we were just running faster on the same wheel, competing with shadows. Sort of auto-competition!

Life shouldn’t be seen only as constant competition and a daily struggle. It can be good without all that. A fair distribution of resources and time might just make it possible.

The common dream has shifted from owning what we truly need to constantly chasing the latest inventions and trends only to upgrade again a year later, just to feel up to date.

And then, all of a sudden, came the “great” pause: lockdown. The world came to a brutal halt, and for the first time in decades, millions of us were forced to sit with ourselves. No commute. No office hustle. No external noise, at least for a while.

People started baking cakes, reading books, and spending time with their kids. They commonly binged Netflix and scrolled TikTok, but many also realised how much of life had been on autopilot.

The rat race paused only for some time, and in that serenity, some people asked themselves: do I even like this game I’ve been playing?

But here is the trick in this by design. Lockdowns did not just give us reflection; they also doubled or tripled down on digital living. Remote work went mainstream, Zoom fatigue became a new trend and standard, classrooms went virtual, and TikTok turned from a niche app into a global addiction.

For every person who discovered the joy of slow living, there was someone else who got trapped in a new digital grind.

An avalanche of endless video calls, constant Slack pings, and infinite binge-scrolling. The race didn’t disappear; it just changed form and tracks.

On top of that, we had compulsory QR code scanning “to keep us safe,” as they said. How awesome.

Apparently, it would’ve taken 15 years to reach this level of online activity and dependence under normal circumstances. It took just two years during the SARS-2-demic and the forced lockdowns.

Interesting, indeed.

In 2025, it feels like we were sprinting harder than ever. Hopefully, 2026 will shake and wake up many of us.

Disruptive technologies like AI, Web3, and blockchain has completely reshaped how we may live and work. On the surface, it looks like freedom. You can start a business from your laptop, trade NFTs in your pyjamas, let AI handle your admin, or work remotely from Bali.

But look closer, please. We’ve just created a shinier version of the rat race. Instead of competing for promotions, we’re competing for algorithms. Instead of impressing the boss, we’re optimising for engagement. Instead of climbing a corporate ladder, we’re hustling for side gigs, content creation, and “passive income streams” that aren’t so passive after all.

Don’t get me wrong, please. I’m a tech optimist and practical everyday user. I like AI, and I genuinely believe in blockchain, decentralisation, and the idea that, when used properly, AI can free us from outdated systems.

But if we’re not careful, these tools could become new cages disguised as opportunities.

It’s the same cycle: constant comparison, endless optimisation, and the low-key anxiety that you’re falling behind while everyone else is somehow winning the game. Except the game itself has no finish line again!

Maybe it is the highest time to pause and reflect. To notice and ask where exactly we are running? And why?

Do not be scared to ask “Why” and “Who”.  They are both very important and relevant question!  

Combining “Why” with “Who” may lead to discovering the root of the problem. Knowing and understanding the problem from the root is the best way to find a working solution.

What if success isn’t more speed, more hustle, more tech, but more presence, more meaning, more quality, more balance?

This context of “more” does not sound so bad, does it? But in this case, it is not associated with greed and greedy people.

We don’t have to ditch technology to escape the rat race. We just must stop letting it dictate the pace of our lives. Picture using AI not to cram more work into your day, or taking someone’s jobs as you do it, but to create more free time for art, rest, or just watching the sunset without feeling guilty.

Try to picture Web3 not as another speculative hustle, but as a way to build genuine communities where value isn’t measured in likes or dollars alone. With proper decentralisation and better value distribution.

The point isn’t to drop out of society and go live off the grid (unless that is your thing). The point is to reclaim the steering wheel.

To realise that the race is optional, and stepping off the treadmill is actually the real flex.

We’ve been running for decades now.
Maybe the real revolution is realizing we don’t need to run so fast, so hard.
Maybe the finish line isn’t some distant point in the future, but right here.
Here, in the choice to slow down, take a breath, and live with dignity and a proud, human purpose.

Time to notice.
Time to change.
Time to act.

What I’m trying to do is shake you, wake you, and encourage you to act now!

Happy Acting,

Cheers, the Author.

Oryginally published on: https://spektrumlab.io/were-running-nowhere-time-to-wake-up-and-reclaim-real-life/

That is the fact based on my everyday observation, especially during the last few years. I am not exaggerating or imagining things. If you did not notice it, wake up or pause your run for a while. We will be on the same page.

You do not need to be an expert or some exceptional researcher to notice that something is not right. I would even say it is wrong!

The vast majority of people no longer behave as they once did. They are no longer acting in ways that were previously considered “normal.”
I’m talking about things like walking slowly, chatting with strangers during train rides, and engaging face-to-face with others in the neighbourhood, or broader community.

But apparently, norms and standards no longer exist, or so we’re led to believe. I don’t buy into that.

We’ve been conditioned to accept this “new normal,” as if the old-school version I grew up with no longer matters. I’m still an old-school practitioner and follower. Furthermore, I am proud of it.

Sometimes I think that our habits have been subtly reprogrammed to fit someone else’s design.

Nevertheless, as far as I am aware, we are still human beings built on organic bodies and beautifully constructed spiritual minds.

But these days, running around like crazy (or driving like maniacs) just to say, “Sorry, I’m running late,” is slowly making us less human… and more like zombies.

I’m observing how people drive on the freeway. How they are pushing others, weaving between lanes, and turning the driving experience into something almost unbearable.
They think they’re getting ahead by doing this, but in reality, we’re all traveling the same distance and arriving around the same time.
The only thing they’re really achieving is chaos and discomfort for disciplined, experienced drivers.

And that’s not even mentioning how difficult it becomes to properly use cruise control, or any driving optimisation systems, when constantly dealing with “pushers” and “zippers.”
Their erratic behaviour forces others out of rhythm, making calm, efficient driving nearly impossible.

Similarly, working faster, whether by moving quicker, typing faster, or talking at high speed doesn’t necessarily mean you’re performing better, being more efficient, or doing your best.

Running at maximum speed and multitasking might be great in bed (or so some say), but in everyday life and work, it doesn’t really improve quality – at least not in my honest opinion.
Still, many people continue to believe in this pushy, always-on-the-move, multitasking mindset.

Stress? Mistakes? Burnout?

I’m referring to the real quality and dignity of life and work.
Though honestly, I’m not even sure if terms like that are still considered relevant in this so-called “new normal.

This crazy lifestyle is taking its toll. We’re slowly becoming autopilots, constantly chasing time, yet feeling almost nothing.
Like sleepwalkers in daylight, the vast majority rush through life without ever arriving.

This is hard to categorise as anything close to “normal.” It’s more like a form of behavioural pathology, according to me.
I say that with confidence, backed by my professional background in pathology and years of diagnostic experience.

Even robots are programmed to complete each task at the right speed, in a specific manner, finishing on anticipated time, with everything carefully calculated and planned.

Planning usually includes optimisation. Please note, optimisation does not mean maximisation.

I’m arguing that even for a robot, getting stuck in “more and more loops” wouldn’t be healthy.

Constantly pushing ourselves to the limit affects everything around us and slowly erodes not only our own lives, but the lives of others too.
I remember being told at one of my former jobs: “Good – but just a little bit more.”

Every time, it was a little bit more expected.
To this day, those words still ring like a horror bell in my mind.

In this piece, I’m focusing on modern technology and the “new normal” rat race.
Like it or hate it – but please, just read it.

Maybe we’ll wake up together and slow down a little before the end of life comes knocking at our door. Don’t think you’ll be safe because you’re too busy to answer. The angel of death carries a universal key and operates quickly and efficiently.

Hopefully, just in time, we’ll realise that we’re truly alive. Just in time to wake up, slow down, rethink everything, and step out of this crazy rat race.
To minimise binge‑scrolling and endless headset listening.
And instead, enjoy time with friends and family just eating together, talking together.
Sounds weird? It shouldn’t.

I have noticed a long time ago that life has just turned into a big treadmill. Like, no matter how fast we are running, the scenery does not actually change. That has been the vibe of the last thirty years.  I also explored it more deeply while studying emerging technologies at RMIT.

We have been sprinting after promotions, bigger houses, gadgets, likes, followers, status symbols, etc.
Many people, regardless of age or gender, are constantly chasing everything and still feeling like something is constantly missing.

It’s as if society signed us all up for a super marathon no one asked for, and the worst part is, there’s no finish line. So, what’s the point?

In the meantime, the disruptive race goes on and on – only accelerating.

There are two possibilities:

We are being retrained to call chaos normal.

 or

We live in a world where distraction is designed.

In both cases, it’s definitely not my world! I don’t accept it, and I’m saying “no” to it. How about you, mate? Are you okay with it? Hopefully, your answer is “no” too.

Back in the 90s, the world starts to quickly shift gears. The internet showed up, globalisation was growing, and suddenly the competition was not just the person in your office cubicle. It was someone across the planet hustling just as hard.

I remember being told when I was living in Melbourne that people in Australia couldn’t afford lawn-cutting services like they used to. Apparently because of Greece’s financial crisis. Sounds insane, but a lot of people heard similar stories, told to make us believe in that kind of nonsense.

We got sold this dream: work harder, climb faster, earn more, consume endlessly. Upgrade your car, your phone, your wardrobe, your identity. Success was redefined as acceleration, and the rat race picked up a super turbo boost.

At first, it felt like progress. Who wouldn’t want instant information, faster connections, cheaper flights, and the world at their fingertips

But very soon, the promise of freedom turned into a trap. We were not actually moving toward anything meaningful; we were just running faster on the same wheel, competing with shadows. Sort of auto-competition!

Life shouldn’t be seen only as constant competition and a daily struggle. It can be good without all that. A fair distribution of resources and time might just make it possible.

The common dream has shifted from owning what we truly need to constantly chasing the latest inventions and trends only to upgrade again a year later, just to feel up to date.

And then, all of a sudden, came the “great” pause: lockdown. The world came to a brutal halt, and for the first time in decades, millions of us were forced to sit with ourselves. No commute. No office hustle. No external noise, at least for a while.

People started baking cakes, reading books, and spending time with their kids. They commonly binged Netflix and scrolled TikTok, but many also realised how much of life had been on autopilot.

The rat race paused only for some time, and in that serenity, some people asked themselves: do I even like this game I’ve been playing?

But here is the trick in this by design. Lockdowns did not just give us reflection; they also doubled or tripled down on digital living. Remote work went mainstream, Zoom fatigue became a new trend and standard, classrooms went virtual, and TikTok turned from a niche app into a global addiction.

For every person who discovered the joy of slow living, there was someone else who got trapped in a new digital grind.

An avalanche of endless video calls, constant Slack pings, and infinite binge-scrolling. The race didn’t disappear; it just changed form and tracks.

On top of that, we had compulsory QR code scanning “to keep us safe,” as they said. How awesome.

Apparently, it would’ve taken 15 years to reach this level of online activity and dependence under normal circumstances. It took just two years during the SARS-2-demic and the forced lockdowns.

Interesting, indeed.

In 2025, it feels like we were sprinting harder than ever. Hopefully, 2026 will shake and wake up many of us.

Disruptive technologies like AI, Web3, and blockchain has completely reshaped how we may live and work. On the surface, it looks like freedom. You can start a business from your laptop, trade NFTs in your pyjamas, let AI handle your admin, or work remotely from Bali.

But look closer, please. We’ve just created a shinier version of the rat race. Instead of competing for promotions, we’re competing for algorithms. Instead of impressing the boss, we’re optimising for engagement. Instead of climbing a corporate ladder, we’re hustling for side gigs, content creation, and “passive income streams” that aren’t so passive after all.

Don’t get me wrong, please. I’m a tech optimist and practical everyday user. I like AI, and I genuinely believe in blockchain, decentralisation, and the idea that, when used properly, AI can free us from outdated systems.

But if we’re not careful, these tools could become new cages disguised as opportunities.

It’s the same cycle: constant comparison, endless optimisation, and the low-key anxiety that you’re falling behind while everyone else is somehow winning the game. Except the game itself has no finish line again!

Maybe it is the highest time to pause and reflect. To notice and ask where exactly we are running? And why?

Do not be scared to ask “Why” and “Who”.  They are both very important and relevant question!  

Combining “Why” with “Who” may lead to discovering the root of the problem. Knowing and understanding the problem from the root is the best way to find a working solution.

What if success isn’t more speed, more hustle, more tech, but more presence, more meaning, more quality, more balance?

This context of “more” does not sound so bad, does it? But in this case, it is not associated with greed and greedy people.

We don’t have to ditch technology to escape the rat race. We just must stop letting it dictate the pace of our lives. Picture using AI not to cram more work into your day, or taking someone’s jobs as you do it, but to create more free time for art, rest, or just watching the sunset without feeling guilty.

Try to picture Web3 not as another speculative hustle, but as a way to build genuine communities where value isn’t measured in likes or dollars alone. With proper decentralisation and better value distribution.

The point isn’t to drop out of society and go live off the grid (unless that is your thing). The point is to reclaim the steering wheel.

To realise that the race is optional, and stepping off the treadmill is actually the real flex.

We’ve been running for decades now.
Maybe the real revolution is realizing we don’t need to run so fast, so hard.
Maybe the finish line isn’t some distant point in the future, but right here.
Here, in the choice to slow down, take a breath, and live with dignity and a proud, human purpose.

Time to notice.
Time to change.
Time to act.

What I’m trying to do is shake you, wake you, and encourage you to act now!

Happy Acting,

Cheers, the Author.

Oryginally published on: https://spektrumlab.io/were-running-nowhere-time-to-wake-up-and-reclaim-real-life/