To optimize something is to adjust it so it works in the best or most efficient way possible for a certain goal.
From Latin “optimus” meaning “best,” formed in English with “-ize” to mean “make the best.” It became common in science, engineering, and computing before spreading into everyday business language.
When people say they’re ‘optimizing’ their life, they’re borrowing a math and engineering term meant for systems, not humans. It’s a reminder that you can’t really optimize everything at once—you have to choose what ‘best’ actually means to you.
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