Your key to better productivity - slowing down to speed up

When I felt low in energy and drive over the past couple of months, with a sense of falling behind and not going fast enough, a question piqued my interest:

What if the key to higher productivity is actually…slowing down?

Hustle culture uses speed as a measure of performance.?When efficiency?and speed dominate, a relentless pace can leave us feeling unmotivated, depleted and burned out.?

The concept of "strategic slowness" challenges the constant drive for efficiency and encourages us to take a step back, reflect, and make more thoughtful decisions.?

It is about deliberately slowing down to foster deeper thinking, unlock creativity, and make space for long-term planning.?It’s not about working less; it’s a conscious choice to use time effectively by incorporating moments for reflection and collaboration.

Strategic slowness is a mindset shift at its core, allowing you to prioritize thoughtful actions over rushing to complete tasks. Slowing down gives us the opportunity to:

• Think deeply about problems and their best solutions.
• Assess all options and their potential impacts before jumping to conclusions.
• Tap into creativity that may be stifled by constant urgency.
• Avoid reactive decision-making, which often leads to mistakes and unnecessary work.

Ready to bring strategic slowness to your work or your team??Here are some practical tips to get started:

?? Schedule time for reflection

Incorporate "thinking time" into your daily or weekly routine. Whether it’s 15 minutes at the start or end of your day, this quiet time can help you step back and gain a fresh perspective. Encourage your team to do the same.

Tip: Block out time on your calendar as “reflection” or “strategy hour” to keep it protected from other tasks.

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?? Introduce slower, more intentional meetings

Most meetings are fast-paced and focus on quick decision-making. Try dedicating a few meetings to slower-paced, brainstorming discussions with room for silence and reflection. This approach can help ideas surface that might otherwise be missed.

Tip: Designate certain meetings as “slow discussions” where participants can explore ideas without the pressure to make immediate decisions.

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?? Pause before making key decisions

For major decisions, resist the urge to decide on the spot. Take a step back, gather insights, and revisit the choice after a brief pause. This buffer often reveals insights that weren’t initially clear.

Tip: Implement a "24-hour rule" for non-urgent decisions, giving yourself and your team time to reflect before committing.

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?? Focus on deep work instead of constant busyness

Frequent multitasking and constant reactions to notifications can give a false sense of productivity (and will frazzle your mind!). Instead, prioritize uninterrupted blocks of time for meaningful work, allowing you to produce better results with less effort.

Tip: Use tools like “Do Not Disturb” modes or Pomodoro timers to support deep, focused work periods.

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?? Practice mindfulness exercises to improve focus and clarity

Mindfulness exercises, such as a focus on one physical sensation?or deep breathing, help you slow down mentally, fostering clearer thinking and reduced stress. You will build your mental fitness too!

Tip: Start your day with a short mindfulness practice to help centre your thoughts and approach your tasks with a calmer, more focused mindset.

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???Be a role model - as a leader, you set the tone for your team.?

Strategic slowness is about taking a more deliberate approach to work, valuing deep thinking and long-term outcomes over short-term actions. It?can enhance the quality of your work, unlock greater innovation, and build a sustainable path to achieving your goals.

In an increasingly hectic work environment, slowing down can become your greatest strength.?

What do you think? Will you try it? Or have you already incorporated this approach into your work?

If you want support for yourself or your team?to build new positive habits and?boost mental fitness for greater focus, clarity and performance, let's chat!?

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