The intrinsic slowness of meaningful experiences [Make Haste Slow]

There seems to be a cultural shift in some niches of the personal productivity ecosystem. One prevailing idea is that slow is better. Mindfulness, which has a significant influence in our fast-paced society, has disrupted the personal productivity space. Slowness is often linked to intentionality, mindfulness, presence, and deep work. This concept is suggested as an antidote to the hectic work and lifestyle environment that we've become accustomed to over time. What if we could lead a purposeful and fulfilling life while enjoying what we do? Authors like Cal Newport and Oliver Burkeman suggest.

“In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped. Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone.True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can’t be gained by interfering.”

— Tao Te Ching

Cal Newport defines slow productivity not as non-doing, but as doing with a purpose. This concept is rooted in the belief that we can live an intentional life when our work is part of a higher strategic plan linked to a purpose. To achieve this, we start by identifying the most important areas of our existence that we intend to cultivate, or our "life buckets." We then create a strategic plan for each bucket and take daily action towards our goals, understanding that each action serves a higher purpose.

However, work cannot fix a deficit of love (The School of Life). Life cannot feel fulfilling unless we are aligned with a purposeful pursuit. We cannot simply hope to be liberated from the burden of life in the future. Our future is largely dictated by our current accomplishments and behaviors. To manage our time effectively, we must also manage our emotions, as Nir Eyal points out. Time management is emotional management. Emotions may make you feel that you need to get off the bus, right now, because you would be missing out on important endeavors otherwise. Indistraction is the ability to discern when it’s time to get off the bus. Originality happens once you start diverging from the path most taken, to venture on smaller, unexplored alleys. This requires patient, a timeless capacity you may have buried within you.

One key aspect of slow productivity is letting things happen as they arise. What may seem burdensome in the moment can be put into perspective when viewed from a higher level. Each component of our life is like a bucket in an IronMan race, and by focusing on a select few, we can liberate ourselves from the chain of magnifying our own existence and pursue a higher purpose. This requires letting go of procrastination as an emotional coping tool and learning to say “no”.

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