A Case for Slowing Down
I love this old story:
A martial arts student approaches his teacher. “How long will it take me to master this craft?” he asks.
“Ten years,” the teacher replies.
Impatient, the student insists, “I want to master it faster. I’ll practice harder than anyone else. How long will it take then?”
The teacher smiles and says, “Twenty years.”
The lesson is clear: more intensity is not the answer. To achieve what you want in life, you must pursue it with balance.
This idea runs counter to what we’re taught today. In a world that celebrates speed and constant busyness, balance is often mistaken for laziness.
But I argue for slowing down. In a culture that pushes us to speed up, there is great benefit in doing the opposite.
“Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”
The greatest challenge for any ambitious person is to see slowing down as essential to performance, not merely a reward for effort.
I confess: I spent much of my life as the archetypal intensity junkie. I believed anything less than 100% was a missed opportunity.
Ten out of ten effort was my only way.
This mindset worked, but only to a point. Maximum intensity is effective in the short term but cracks under the weight of time. You hit the wall and stagnate, like a distance runner who starts too fast and can’t finish the race. By then, it’s too late to change course.
Life is a simple game of compounding. Compounding is just returns to the power of time. The returns matter less than the time as the exponent. Staying in the game long enough allows compounding to work its magic.
The longer you stay in, the greater your growth.
Success vs. Time
When you move too fast, everything blurs. Slow down, and the world comes into focus. You can:
- Identify the energy killers in your life—people and activities that drain your happiness.
- Discover the energy creators that uplift you and help you make the most of your unique talents.
- Embrace free time to seek out high-upside opportunities you might have missed.
- Observe the small beauties around you, moments of gratitude and joy.
When I was a California Highway Patrol Officer, we had a saying: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” It’s a reminder of the Paradox of Speed: slowing down is what allows you to speed up.
Five Strategies to Slow Down
Embrace the Power of No
Perpetual busyness often stems from our fear of saying no. A nice person says yes to every request for time—every coffee chat, every weekend invitation. But being nice to everyone can come at the expense of being kind to yourself.
Normalize saying no to create space in your life. When someone asks you to do something, ask yourself if you’d want to do it today. If the answer is no, say no. If you’re about to say yes, thinking you’ll have more time later, say no instead. Embracing no allows you to say yes to yourself.
Take Pride in Unitasking
Multitasking is a myth, a lie of hustle culture. You think you’re being productive, but you’re just churning out mediocre work. Build your day around a few focused sprints with breaks in between. Compartmentalize your tasks and focus on one at a time.
Take More 5-Minute Breaks
Microsoft’s Human Factors Lab studied participants across two days of video meetings. On one day, they had four back-to-back 30-minute meetings. On the other, they had the same meetings with 10-minute breaks in between.
The researchers found that the breaks significantly increased performance. Taking short breaks throughout your day can reduce stress and improve overall performance. During these breaks, sit, walk, or just close your eyes and breathe.
Take a Power Walk
When he faced a tough problem, Steve Jobs would leave his office for a walk. Science shows that walking improves creativity and problem-solving.
Stanford researchers found that walkers performed better on tests measuring creative thinking. Walking boosted creativity by an average of 60%, and the benefits lasted long after the walk.
Find Your Garden
John D. Rockefeller took regular breaks from his demanding schedule to stroll in his garden. It was his escape, a place to think clearly.
When I ask successful people about their daily rituals, they all cite some version of Rockefeller’s garden—an escape that creates space for thought. Finding your garden is essential.
It’s a place where you can breathe, reflect, and recharge. Whether it’s a physical space like a garden, a quiet corner in your home, or a favorite café, make it a priority. This space allows you to slow down, think clearly, and cultivate your ideas without the noise of the world.
Your Path Forward
It’s not about doing less; it’s about doing what matters more effectively.
So, take a step back. Embrace the power of slowing down. The world may rush ahead, but you can find strength in moving at your own pace.
Slow down, and let life unfold.
Hugs through cyberspace!
Stay woke, my reader folk.
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