How to Slow Down Without Falling Behind
Because burnout isn’t a badge — it’s a warning sign.
“Slow down. You’ll go faster.”
The first time I heard this, I rolled my eyes. Like many of us, I was stuck in the rhythm of hustle.
Packed calendar.
Zero white space.
Speed over depth.
I thought slowing down meant losing relevance — or worse, falling behind.
But the truth?
When I slowed down, I didn’t fall behind. I got ahead — with less stress and more clarity.
This newsletter is your invitation to do the same.
The Myth of “More Is Better”
We’ve been conditioned to believe that productivity means being busy.
But the research (and experience) says otherwise.
A 2022 Harvard Business Review study found that employees who carved out space for deep thinking made better decisions and experienced lower burnout — even though they spent less time reacting to daily tasks.
What if slowing down is your strategy to speed up the right things?
Case Study: The Startup Founder Who Hit Pause (and Leveled Up)
Let’s meet Niraj, a startup founder I once coached. I asked him to do the unthinkable during product launches and investor decks: Disconnect 2 hours every Wednesday.
No meetings. No Slack. Just long walks, journaling, reading.
Three weeks in, his product review sessions improved. He pitched better on Zoom. He even had a breakthrough idea during a walk without a phone.
Sometimes, silence is a strategy.
Wisdom from the Greats
People like Oprah, Bill Gates, and Barack Obama have something in common — they build in time to slow down.
Gates does “Think Weeks.” Oprah reflects in a journal. Michael Simmons coined the “5-Hour Rule”: spend one hour per weekday learning, not doing.
They aren’t afraid to pause — because clarity multiplies results.
Check this video if you are a visual person:
How You Can Slow Down Without Losing Momentum
Here are 4 practical ways to apply this — starting today:
1. Create a Weekly No-Meeting Block
Just 1–2 hours of deep thought can clarify your week. Use it to map goals, reflect, or...breathe.
2. Use the 3-Task Rule
Each day, pick only three priorities. Not 10. This forces you to focus on what matters.
3. Try the 10/60 Rule
For every 60 minutes of deep work, take a 10-minute break. Stretch. Breathe. Walk. Microbreaks increase concentration by up to 30% (APA study).
4. End Your Day With a “Slow Journal”
Ask yourself:
What moved the needle today?
What felt good to slow down for?
What could I skip tomorrow?
Redefining “Ahead”
Being ahead isn’t about racing through your to-do list. It’s about clarity, calm, and control.
Slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind. It means choosing your pace — and protecting your peace. Because, in the long run, a well-rested mind beats a busy one.
I'd love to hear from you.
What’s one thing you’ll try this week to slow down — without losing momentum?
If this helped, stay tuned.
Every Tuesday, I send out free, human-first posts like this one.
On Fridays, my paid subscribers receive even more profound insights, tools, and personal systems to help them stay energized and effective.
Let’s slow down — and go further together.
One thing I do to help myself is to use a timer to remind myself to take breaks from my desk. It's a simple cube, and I turn it on to beep in one hour. When it goes off, no matter where I am in my work, I get out of my chair and go outside to breath deeply. I then come back in and do squats or jumping jacks. This helps to wake me back up and the creative thoughts seem to flow better.