How Slowing Down Boosts Productivity and Enhances Your Quality of Life
In today’s fast-paced world, many entrepreneurs believe working harder and faster is the only way to succeed. But what if slowing down could actually boost productivity and improve your quality of life?
Burnout is a real and growing problem. The World Health Organization declared it an epidemic, and studies show that 89% of US employees have experienced it. Even high achievers aren’t immune. I experienced burnout firsthand in 2022 when I found myself sleeping through a vacation that should have been filled with adventures. Even though I had delegated responsibilities, the burnout still caught up with me.
It has taken me a couple of years to develop habits that prevent another episode, but these lifestyle changes have been transformative. Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up on your goals; it means achieving them without sacrificing your well-being.
The Myth of Hustle Culture
Messages about doing more and working harder are everywhere. Hustle culture tells us that success requires relentless effort and self-sacrifice. While passion and hard work are important, constant grinding leads to burnout, inefficiency, and diminishing returns.
Hustle culture ties self-worth to productivity, creating an endless cycle where we never feel like we’ve done enough. But staying on the grind 24/7 often comes at a high cost: your mental health, physical well-being, and relationships. Slowing down, on the other hand, invites intentionality and balance, allowing us to reach our goals without burning out.
The Science of Slowing Down
Slowing down activates the parasympathetic nervous system—the part of your body responsible for rest, digestion, and recovery. This shift allows your mind to focus, think creatively, and make better decisions. It’s not about being less productive; it’s about becoming more effective.
Think of moments when you’ve paused, taken a breath, and suddenly had a breakthrough idea. Slowing down creates the mental space for clarity and innovation—something that rarely happens when we rush from task to task.
Practical Steps to Slow Down While Staying Productive
Here are three simple ways to slow down without losing momentum:
- Turn Off Notifications: Constant phone pings disrupt focus and attention. Turn off notifications and create uninterrupted time blocks to work deeply.
- Schedule Breaks: Taking regular breaks throughout the day is an investment in productivity. A quick pause allows you to recharge and return to work with renewed focus. Meditation for entrepreneurs can also help you train your attentional skills and build resilience.
- Delegate Effectively: You don’t have to do everything yourself. Delegating tasks to a virtual assistant gives you more time to focus on the big picture while freeing up mental space.
The Long-Term Benefits of Slowing Down
When you slow down, you’re less likely to burn out. You’ll have more energy, more creativity, and more satisfaction in your work. Slowing down allows you to create sustainable, long-term success rather than sacrificing everything in the short term.
Take the first step toward reclaiming your time and energy. Try turning off notifications or scheduling a break today, and consider how Trusty Oak’s virtual assistants can help you slow down while staying productive.
Learn more about how you could benefit from working with a VA by visiting our “How It Works” page!
Before founding Trusty Oak, Amber spent five years at a rapidly growing digital agency based in Austin, TX. Four of those years, she was responsible for hiring and leading both local and virtual teams while working closely with clients ranging from CEOs to bestselling authors to build their brand online. As VP of Operations, Amber helped lead the company’s growth to #15 on Austin Business Journal’s Fast50 List in 2014.
As a female founder and leader of a company that has quickly established a recognizably special culture within a non-traditional workforce, Amber has energized and empowered women from diverse professional and personal backgrounds to go against the grain of historically standard female roles in business, technology, and leadership. Trusty Oak provides an opportunity for experienced admin and marketing professionals to work independently as freelancers, but with a supportive internal network consisting of other ambitious and resourceful remote workers.