The other night, as I was watching a movie on a streaming service, the buffering sign popped up – telling me to please wait because my computer needed time to buffer. I found myself thinking how great it would be if humans were built with an automatic ability to switch to a buffering period whenever we needed time – moments of slowing things down, re-anchoring, and thinking more deeply about things. I know that especially as we head into summer, many clients are looking forward to a period of respite, recharging and rejuvenation.
Buffering is common in many different domains of our world.
Perhaps the most common is in streaming services (yes Netflix, I’m talking to you): the process of pre-loading streaming video content. What strikes me is that this time, which appears to be a standstill to the viewer, is actually what makes it possible for the video to be viewed smoothly. It takes time to “accept” and then project the data. (Techies, please bear with my non-tech explanation! 😊).
In Business, buffering is a planning method used to ensure things don’t reach a standstill when a crisis happen, but continues to run smoothly. For example, manufacturers keep an inventory of raw materials on hand, in case of any unexpected fluctuations in the production system – this way they have “buffering” space to still respond to the situation and stay ahead of the problem.
In nature we can finds numerous examples of buffering. For example, because so many chemical reactions require a constant pH, many micro-ecosystems have a buffering system to regulate PH – our blood system for example regulates pH by maintaining both Carbonic Acid and Bicarbonate in our system so that we can always buffer to sustain pH homeostasis. Another example is with lakes, that use their natural limestone reserves to buffer and neutralize acid rain, which would otherwise damage their whole ecosystem.
Not surprisingly I find these all to be apt metaphors for what I see is a collective human experience today: too much work and too little time to process everything…and too few buffering tools.
The dictionary has many synonyms for Buffering: cushioning, quietening, stilling, catching up, restoring. They are all ways to make sure we have what is needed to progress smoothly and effectively with our day, our work, our life. Buffering is not just “numbing out” of life. There is active (if invisible on the surface) work happening that has the purpose of re-charging, of feeding, of balancing. So, this summer what are you doing to “buffer” yourself so that you can nourish your zone of wellbeing, productivity and energy?
We all have a variety of ways we can buffer. I go for walks, dance, sleep, schedule time off to “do nothing” or travel. And yes, I watch Netflix too. What do you do? What new ways you can come up to ensure diverse and rich ways you can pause, rebalance and re-start? And how can you incorporate these into your year-long habits?
As always, I’m always interested in hearing your thoughts…..and have a great summer!
