Slow Down
The epidemic of busyness is unrelenting. Experts argue that it's time to tap the brakes
“I’m so busy” is a common retort amongst today’s workers, but is it a good thing for them or the companies they serve? And what role can the Slow Movement play in improving well-being and productivity?
WASHINGTON—There are times when days feel like weeks, weeks feel like months and months feel like years. Yet, simultaneously, the world often feels like it’s hurtling out of control at breakneck speeds, barely allowing us a chance to breathe, much less slow down. It’s hard to pull away from the busyness of life, damaging our well-being and, ironically, our productivity.
At the dawn of the 20th century, economists foresaw that the ultimate mark of wealth and success would be leisure—demonstrating one's success by having the luxury to avoid work. However, the opposite has proven true. Today, it's not free time, but busyness, that signals a person's importance. “Put simply,” wrote Adam Waytz in Harvard Business Review, “Busyness has become a status symbol.”
From packed schedules to endless to-do lists, many wear their busyness like a badge of honor, equating it with productivity and success. "It's hard to jump off the treadmill of busyness when you've been on it for so long," says Laura Malloy, director of the Successful Aging Program at Harvard-affiliated Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine. We live in a world that idolizes speed and values surface over substance. This culture of constant activity may be doing more harm than good.
The Bad Side of Busyness
Experts warn that the relentless pursuit of productivity can lead to burnout, diminished creativity, and a disconnect from the things that truly matter. Further, busyness can cause “contaminated time,” a term referring to the overlap of work and personal life, where individuals are constantly multitasking, leading to lower-quality work and reduced satisfaction in both areas. And, contrary to popular belief, being busy does not equate to being productive.
With support from the Harvard Business Review, a survey of 1,500 respondents across 46 countries in 2021 found that burnout is a significant global problem. Key findings included:
89% of respondents said their work life was getting worse.
85% said their well-being had declined.
56% said job demands had increased.
62% of the people struggling to manage their workloads reported they experienced burnout “often” or “extremely often” in the previous three months.
Research also reported in the Harvard Business Review suggests that excessive busyness can lead to decision fatigue, where the quality of decisions declines as the number of decisions increases. Pushing ourselves too hard can have significant impacts on both our physical and mental well-being, too. Overworking raises the risk of burnout, manifesting in symptoms like exhaustion, loss of motivation, and decreased productivity.
Smartphones and constant access to work and information can also play a role in promoting busyness, leading to compulsive use and a sense of dependency. Columbia University notes: “The constant stream of notifications and updates can create a sense of urgency and a fear of missing out, leading to increased anxiety and stress.”
Chronic stress, a common byproduct of busyness, can lead to anxiety, depression, and serious health issues like heart disease and obesity. The most recent data from Gallup shows that nearly half of all Americans, 49%, report frequently experiencing stress, up 16 points over the past two decades and the highest trend to date. Furthermore, a poor work-life balance often results in physical health problems, including sleep disturbances and digestive issues.
Time to Course Correct
“Busyness is is not a virtue and it is long past time that organizations stopped lionizing it,” wrote Waytz. “Evaluating employees on how busy they are is a terrible way to identify the most creative and productive talent.”
The Slow Movement, which began as a protest against the fast-food industry in Italy in the 1980s, has since evolved into a broader cultural shift — an antidote, perhaps — advocating for a slower, more mindful approach to life. At its core, the movement encourages individuals to slow down, savor moments, and engage more deeply with their work and relationships.
And, while it may sound contradictory, the Slow Movement is more than a call to reduce speed. It does not ask individuals to jettison their smartphones or retreat from the modern world. "Slow living isn't about doing less, but doing more with greater focus and purpose and at the right speed," says Malloy. "It's about enjoying the moments and putting more energy and enjoyment into fewer things."
Carl Honoré, author of In Praise of Slow: How a Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed, is one of the leading voices in this movement. Honoré, who spoke with New Rules Media last week, argues that slowing down can lead to better work, improved well-being, and more meaningful connections.
“Slowing down is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace; it’s about working smarter, not harder,” says Honoré. “It’s about finding the right speed for each task, so you can do it better and enjoy it more.” He calls it the “tempo gusto,” borrowing from an Italian musical term, to describe finding the right pace for the right task. “It’s quality over quantity. It’s being present and in the moment. It’s doing one thing at a time.”
Generally, experts recommend the following for those looking to escape the busyness trap and embrace a slower, more productive way of life:
Prioritize Deep Work: Schedule uninterrupted blocks of time for tasks that require focus and creativity. This allows for more meaningful and efficient work.
Set Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time. This can prevent "contaminated time" and help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Practice Mindfulness: Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as meditation or deep breathing, into your daily routine to reduce stress and improve focus.
Simplify Your Schedule: Avoid overcommitting by learning to say no to non-essential activities. Focus on what truly matters and let go of the rest.
Embrace Rest: Prioritize sleep, take regular breaks, and allow yourself time to relax. Rest is essential for maintaining energy and creativity.
“The old-school idea that being busy means you’re productive comes from way back in the industrial capitalism days, when all that mattered was how much you could churn out, and nobody really cared about the toll it took on people,” wrote Rachel Karl, creator of the Anti-Hustle Podcast, for Fast Company earlier this year. “Companies leading the slow movement are discovering that by reducing the rush, they’re not only enhancing the well-being of their employees but also improving their bottom line.”