In a world that often glorifies busyness, it’s easy to fall into the trap of perpetual motion. But constant hustling isn’t the path to success; it’s a recipe for burnout and underperformance. When you’re always on the go, your energy depletes, your focus wavers, and your productivity plummets.
Your constant toxic busyness also affects the quality of your work:
- Mental exhaustion stifles creativity and innovation.
- Scattered attention leads to reduced effectiveness and efficiency at work.
- The feeling of overwhelm hurts decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
- The emphasis of quantity over quality hampers long term personal & professional growth.
Embracing Slow Living for Peak Performance
I vividly remember a time when I wore my packed schedule like a badge of honor, thinking it was the secret to success. The more packed my calendar was, the better I felt. But in reality, I was drowning in tasks, struggling to focus, and not performing at me peak. I just kept trying to go faster.
Then, three years ago, my son’s birth shifted my perspective. Time seemed to warp, stretching and compressing in unpredictable ways. I felt more disconnected from chasing after materialistic accomplishments and I felt more gratitude, fully appreciating the abundance that already surrounded me. Ultimately, I slowed down my pace, simplified my daily routines, and started savoring the present moment.
Embracing slow living meant prioritizing quality over quantity in all aspects of life—memories, relationships, activities, ambition, and accomplishments. It’s about mindful living, intentional choices, and finding peace.
By embracing slow living, I now achieve more, effortlessly, tapping into a state of flow. I don’t want to burn bright and fast and die. I want to perform at my peak in a sustainable manner, enjoying each moment along the way.
Which is why I want to share this important way of living with you. Slow living isn’t about idleness; it is about ‘motion economy’. Like in martial arts, the best offense move is throwing a straight punch, which is the shortest path to a target. Think Bruce Lee’s one-inch punch. Think optimizing your efforts for maximum performance.
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Here are three Slow Living principles to help you achieve your goals with greater ease and fulfillment
1. Ignore the Clock More
I stopped setting morning alarms. I just leave the blinds open and wake up to birds chirping and the sunlight streaming in.
Rather than constantly watching the clock and feeling pressured, practice being more present in the moment. Work more on tasks you can get lost in without deadlines to get deep work done. Focus more on signs from your body and your environment. This approach helps you to tap into a flow state, which leads to optimal performance
2. Delete Your To-Do Lists
My unending to-do lists gave me constant dread. So I did the unexpected – I deleted all my to-do lists. Ripped all paper ones in half and deleted the online ones.
Instead of relying solely on to-do lists and ‘chasing’ tasks, consider prioritizing tasks based on importance and urgency. Embrace a more flexible approach to task management, allowing space for spontaneity and adjusting priorities as needed. Focus on one task for the day. One project for the week. One goal for the month.
3. Practice Sensory Grounding
I don’t have a large social circle. I have about 5 friends and we enrich each others’ lives. I use grayscale display mode on my phone and have minimalist decor in my home.Reducing noise and clutter paves way for peace and restoration. Stop spreading yourself thin. Instead, engage in grounding and immersive activities. Isolate and experience each of your senses to the fullest. Focus on the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures around you – take a mindful walk without your earbuds or enjoy the earthy scent after a rainfall
If I could turn back time, I would urge my younger self to prioritize these principles as the cornerstone of peak performance. I could have spent more time BEING vs. DOING. I could have avoided unnecessary stress and burnout early on.
Now I get more returns on the time I spend. I extract all the richness each moment holds.
Screw the hustle culture.
Embrace slow living.
Go, find your flow.
And, don’t let go.
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That’s me with my son, at a hidden gem of an Airbnb in North California on a week-long vacation.
