Slow is smooth, Smooth is fast

It is an irony of our modern times that while technology is continually invented to save us time, we use that time to do more and more things. And so, our lives are more fast-paced and hectic than ever. In a world in which we feel busier and busier, it is so easy to get swept up in the feeling of needing to do more to keep up.

It seems that “Fast Forward” is now life’s default setting

In our rapidly changing world, we value speed and efficiency. There are drive-thru restaurants, banks, pharmacies and even marriage chapels. The concept of speed golf has sprung up along with in-car video players to make those long road trips zoom by. We are rushing our kids, too, with extra tuition to fast-track their education and one-minute fairy tales to speed up their bedtimes.

Are we happier or healthier?

“We have been on an upward curve since the Industrial Revolution and, for most of that time, speed was helping us, rather than hurting us,” says a leading economist. “But recently, it has swung the other way, and it is clear that speed is doing us more harm than good.”

When we look at the statistics, we find that stress, obesity, substance abuse, alcoholism, depression and self-harm are all rising. Furthermore, one in five children is now diagnosed with a psychological disorder that continues to affect them later in life. For instance, in 2014, 42% of Harvard University students had sought mental health counseling. “A decade ago, the most common reason for visiting the campus counselor was relationship troubles. Today, it is anxiety,” says an expert.

Researchers have also found that teachers worldwide report how pupils now find it hard to sit still and concentrate. Employers also complain that new recruits are less flexible, less able to work in teams and less hungry to learn. We know that constantly grinding and churning leads to burnout, anxiety, and stress-related illnesses. Our immunity weakens, and we become more susceptible to a whole variety of ailments. As well as taking its toll on our health, we now have irrefutable proof that too much speed in capital markets could bring us to a global depression. Indeed, much of the global financial crisis has been blamed on investment bankers and investors taking significant risks in the hope of fast profits and impatient homeowners taking loans they could ill afford.

Why do we need to get out of the fast lane?

1) Experts tell us that if we slow down, we can enjoy life much more. Sometimes, we spend so much time and energy trying to keep up and fit everything into our days that we simply cannot enjoy them. A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you are doing and to appreciate the outdoors.

2) We can focus on the person we are talking to or spending time with instead of always being connected to a smartphone, a laptop, or glued to social media.

3) When you intentionally slow down, it helps you become more present, mindful, and aware of other people’s perspectives. So, when you are not rushing from one thing to the next, struggling to keep up, life can be much more rewarding.

4) It is a conscious choice that leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness and health.

5) John Maxwell said, “If you want to become a better leader, you need to slow down. You can move faster alone, and you can garner more individual honors alone, but to lead others, you need to slow down.”

How to slow down in a world that seems to move faster and faster?

1) Set priorities: Work out what is important to you so that you are fully engaged and enjoying whatever you are doing. For example, a successful person left a stimulating, exciting career behind for a quieter life teaching and writing. “I felt constantly overwhelmed and exhausted. Life is simpler now. I have time to read, do yoga and swim laps. I am earning less, but I am ten times happier.”

A famous singer, actor and author experienced boredom with the fame and fortune he was chasing. He explained, “When you work three times more, something is wrong. You need to chill. You need to step aside and see where you have been, where you are now, and where you want to be. It pays to go beyond.”

2) Take “Time Out” sessions to reflect: Research has shown that it takes around 15 minutes to restore your concentration after each interruption at work. Without ‘Thinking Time’, you start making mistakes, or you lose the big picture. In this age of non-stop digital noise and media demands, it is essential to take time to introspect in safeguarding judgment and making sound decisions. We all need time to reflect, to quiet the brain and process ideas. What we think is what we become. The brain is a “use it or lose it” organ, like a muscle. “We can add cells to the brain by using the brain.” It can always change detrimental habits if we pay attention to them. For instance, the ability to read a book deeply is just like playing tennis. Your brain loses the habit if you do not practice. But start again, and you will quickly regain the skill.

3) Do something more creative: An average person in any developed country spends around 21 hours and 48 minutes a week watching TV. If you switch off the TV in the evening, you will also find that time seems to slow down. Then, you can find some slow rituals that help you reconnect with your inner self. For example, try cooking, yoga, gardening or catching up with friends. Mental exercise and physical activity have been shown to have positive effects. By just watching TV or surfing the internet, our concentration span shrinks, and we tend to lose focus on things.

4) Disconnect: The average American checks their smartphone every six-and-a-half minutes, or roughly 150 times each day. Technology can be an excellent addition to our lives. It makes life easier in many ways and provides us with many opportunities to innovate, connect and create. But it can also influence how well we focus and the degree to which we can have meaningful social interactions, especially if we are constantly interrupting ourselves. Furthermore, we must make sure it adds value to our lives, not becoming an unwanted distraction from the people and activities that matter most. A great way to practice slowing down is unplugging. Turn your phone off for an hour, a day or a weekend. At the very least, try silencing some of the notifications on your phone so there are fewer dings, beeps and badges vying for your attention. This behavior change takes practice, but it is essential.

5) Do one thing at a time: Very few people can multitask effectively. Usually, multitasking makes you feel rushed, frazzled, stressed and not doing any of the tasks particularly well. Instead, try doing one task at a time. Not only will you practice slowing down, but there is a good chance you will also do a better job at whatever you are doing when you are not distracted and jumping back and forth between multitasks.

The Last Word

When overwhelmed, slowing down is the best way to regain clarity in hectic and stressful times. Slowing down helps you orient yourself in the right direction and make shifts if necessary. One needs to slow down to maintain great energy. Slowing down means letting go of the urge to do more and, in doing so, shifting your attention to quality and effectiveness. Slowing down is about optimizing the process, like the tortoise who beat the hare by managing its energy and keeping a steady pace. The Navy Seals have a saying that encapsulates this premise: “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”

Carl Honoré, widely recognized as the godfather of the ‘Slow Movement’, says, “The slow philosophy is not about doing things at a snail’s pace, but about doing things at just the right speed.”

Slow and steady wins the race.

Jnanpurushdas Swami
BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha