Fiercely Kind Shifts to Get More Done (2 of 4): The Hidden Power of Slowing Down!

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This week we’re continuing our look at Fiercely Kind approaches to stay motivated and achieve more with the second of four bite-sized articles centred on “Create a Life You Love”—one of our 4Cs.

Have you noticed how exhausting it is to rush through your day? The constant pressure in your chest, shallow breathing, the mental fog that settles in by afternoon?

In the modern world, rushing has become our default setting. Busyness is a badge of honour—but there is a cost…

The Hidden Power of Slowing Down: Why Rushing Costs More Than You Think

When I rush, everything suffers: my work, how I feel, my relationships—and ultimately, my results.

The irony is that slowing down helps us both accomplish—and enjoy life—more! So, let’s take a look at how rushing impacts us:

6 Hidden Costs of Rushing

1) Your stress increases

Rushing triggers your body’s stress response, flooding your system with cortisol and adrenaline. Constant rushing also drains our energy and makes it hard to focus. Over time, this constant state of alert can lead to exhaustion and burnout.

2) Your productivity decreases

A rushed mind can’t settle. You bounce between tasks, finding it hard to fully engage with any of them. It’s harder to focus—and importantly—much easier to get distracted. And each time we’re distracted it takes precious mental energy to get focused again.

3) We Make More Mistakes

We’ve all been there—sending an email to the wrong person, dropping your phone because you’re rushing, or the classic clicking “delete” instead of “save.” These errors don’t just cost time; they create entirely new problems to solve.

4) Reduced Creativity

Creativity and innovation require mental space—room for ideas to connect and solutions to bubble up from your subconscious. When rushing, your mind can’t access the thinking mode where your most brilliant insights live.

5) Pleasures Become Chores…

Under time pressure, activities you might normally enjoy become chores. That morning walk? Just another box to check. The project you were excited about? Now it’s just another deadline looming. Oh—and your actual chores? Well they become a grind.

This dramatically impacts both our motivation and our enjoyment of life.

6) We’re unkind to ourselves and others

And last, but not least, have you noticed how we treat others and ourselves when we’re rushing? We’re more impatient, less tolerant, snappy—and often unkind.

And we feel bad when we’re unkind…

The Virtuous Circle of Slowing Down

Rushing is stressful, unpleasant and exhausting! Whereas slowing down creates a virtuous circle:

Less stress improves focus —> which reduces mistakes —> and increases creativity—> which makes work more enjoyable —> leading to higher-quality results —> and getting more done!

Finally, consider that rushing all day steals any extra energy you might have to work on your precious life goals.

5 Questions to Help You Slow Down More!

To make change we need to get clear on WHY. Use these questions to figure out how slowing down will benefit you.

Be Fiercely Kind: Identify the Benefits to You of Slowing Down:

How does it feel when you rush? And how does it feel when you give yourself time and space instead?
Where in my life would I love to slow down?
Review the 6 hidden costs of rushing above. Now make a personal to you list of all the negative things that happen when you rush (include any specific examples you can think of).
What’s the most exciting thing about slowing down for you?
What possible ripple effects will slowing down create in your life—big and small? Make a list.

Finally: Review your answers to these questions. Look for patterns and themes and wrap-up by writing out all the benefits to you of slowing down.

Start with:

I would love to slow down because: _________________

How to use your learnings:

Put your reasons for slowing down somewhere you’ll see them daily.
Read your reasons for slowing down when you wake up—or before sleep.
And revisit your reasons for slowing down, whenever you notice your rushing to give you added motivation!

Wrap-up

So if you want to achieve your goals (especially those big ones) I recommend slowing down day-to-day.

Give yourself permission to go slower, do ONE thing at a time, and extend deadlines so you can enjoy the journey—and you’ll get more done without even trying!

Are you ready to reclaim your energy and enjoyment?

Give slow a go!

And for even more go-slow inspiration, check out:

Image of Snail Climbing Leaf by onlyyouqj via FreePik