MICRO MISCONCEPTS

12th September 2025

Issue# 010

Why Slowing Down Actually Speeds You Up

What if the secret to crushing your to-do list isn't doubling-down to rush through it all, but moving like you have all the time in the world?

During our recent visit to my parents’, my mum made an observation that made me smile: "You two move about in slow motion" she said.

It wasn't meant as a compliment, and yet something fascinating happened. Despite critiquing our slow pace, she accomplished more and felt genuinely happier during the days she spent with us than when rushing through her usual solo routine.

Life is full of contradictions and here’s one that more people need to know: when you rush, you're not actually moving significantly faster. You're simply tricking your brain into feeling like you are. Rushing activates your sympathetic nervous system (flight or fight mode), causing your heart to race and thoughts to spiral. It’s only creating the illusion of moving faster.

The cruel irony is that rushing systematically dismantles your ability to perform - you lose access to rational misconcepts, make poor decisions, and create more work through mistakes. What’s more, you feel more exhausted from the stress of it all. The result is you don’t achieve your desired outcome and you end up with less mental and physical resources. This is a lose-lose situation, which we don’t like.

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This contradiction has long been recognised by elite performers.

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There's an old saying amongst the U.S. Navy SEALs that captures this perfectly:

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These are people whose lives depend on peak performance under extreme pressure, and their secret is slowing down. Why? Because rushing creates chaos, chaos breeds mistakes, and mistakes can be fatal. By taking the time to perform an action calmly and right the first time, you can execute it effectively and at a higher quality.

I spent years as a chronic rusher, mistaking stress for productivity. The shift happened when I started asking myself: "What's the rush?" Most of the time, there wasn't one—just a habitual pattern of creating artificial pressure.

When I began intentionally slowing down (much to my own discomfort), something extraordinary happened. Same tasks, less time, better results, more calm and equanimity. Win-win-win!

Making the Change

The next time you feel that familiar urge to rush, pause. Take a breath. Ask yourself: "What would this look like if I had all the time in the world?"

Then move with the quiet confidence of someone who does—because when you're smooth, you actually do have all the time you need.

What's one area of your life where you could experiment with deliberately slowing down this week?

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Thanks for reading!

Learn more at https://misconcepts.kit.com/67493256c0​

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