Strategically take things slow in the coming Year of the Rabbit.

The calm after the storm

The past year has been quite the rollercoaster for most of us. This Lunar New Year, the Rabbit signifies introspection and peace. According to Jonathan Lee, an Asian and Asian American studies professor at San Francisco State University:

• While the Year of the Tiger was seen as a powerful period of action, and, at times, impulse, the rabbit sign is expected to usher in?a softer period focused on self-reflection.
• The years are further classified as one of two sides of the yin yang symbol. This year is considered yin, and, compared to its light, more active counterpart,?emphasizes the importance of rest.
• This year falls under the water sign. And though it can be a powerful force, it can also be seen through a more?Daoist?lens that implies?going with the flow?rather than fighting it.

Read more about the qualities of a Year of the Rabbit in the NBC article?here .

Tuning up while slowing down

There is a reason why one of the highest-selling the books in this past decade is called “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down ”.?Contrary to popular belief, taking a step back can actually accelerate your way to achieving your goals as it helps you to:

1. Have greater clarity
2. What's the point of hustling if you're going in the wrong direction? To remedy this, schedule an hour every week to "check in." Reflect on your intentions, observe your challenges, and focus your energy on what’s really important.
3. Focus on self-care
4. You can't keep working if you aren't able to perform in the first place. You should be willing to take the time to honor what your mind, body, and spirit need?to stay healthy in order to achieve?any?goals
5. Harness your emotion
6. Emotions are a guide, and they help you take inventory of what's happening around you. By slowing down, you can feel and then describe your emotions. By doing so, you can process them and let them guide you to a healthy response.
7. Make better decisions
8. When you slow down?and make time for rest, you lower your baseline for mental stress. And when your mind isn't racing, it's free to absorb information, assess the circumstances, and make sound decisions.

Learn more about the benefits you’ll reap from slowing down at the right time?here .

Cut through your work time with AI

Taking things slow does not equal to stopping things altogether—it just means achieving things in a smarter way. It’s looking like 2023 is going to mirror the clever qualities of the Rabbit, as more AI tools rise to help get our tasks done quicker.

Gaurav Agarwal, the Chief Growth Officer of?Clickup , has compiled his version of the most practical AI tools for work. The list includes:

• Krisp :?Removes background voices, noises, and echo from all your calls, giving you peace of mind.
• Flair : Helps with designing branded content in a flash, especially for the purpose of product ads.
• Illustroke : Generates killer vector images from text prompts, uniquely made with a text to SVG AI tool.
• Stockimg : Creates the perfect stock photo you need, every time, with only text prompts.
• Unbounce Smart Copy : Writes high-performing cold emails for marketing campaigns in seconds.

Scroll through the complete Twitter thread to see all 16 of Gaurav’s AI tool recommendations?here .

Happy Lunar New Year for those who are celebrating it!

Start the year right by embodying the values of the Rabbit, as you balance rest with hustle.

Continue to work smarter with insights from this week’s?Monday Mavens?edition, and we’ll see a more well-rested version of you next week!