The Paradox of Slowing Down to Do More

There was a time when I thrived on the chaos of a packed schedule. I measured productivity in hours clocked, tasks checked off, and how much I could squeeze into a single day. Working late, skipping breaks, and running on adrenaline felt normal—necessary, even. The panic, the urgency, the constant sense of chasing time was my default mode.

But somewhere along the way, something shifted. Particularly when people kept on leaving the team because of the workload, and I always ended up doing everything. I found myself finding solutions to do all the work without the overtime, without the weekend work, without cramming hard. But of course, the solutions were helped by my long and deep experience, my paying attention, my constant reflection.

The more hectic work became, the more I found myself slowing down. Not out of exhaustion, but out of choice. Instead of cramming tasks into every available minute, I started spacing things out. Instead of panicking about deadlines, I began assessing what really needed my focus and how much time my skills actually required. The surprising realization? I could do more, and do it better, by doing less.

Learning to Trust My Own Pace and Process

I used to assume that working long hours was the only way to ensure quality. But now, I see that good work isn’t just about time spent—it’s about how I use that time. When I step back, I can see the rhythm of my own process more clearly. Some tasks need deep focus, while others need quick decisions. Some things benefit from stepping away and returning with fresh eyes.

Slowing down has allowed me to trust that I don’t need to be in a frenzy to be productive. In fact, the opposite is true: the more I pause, breathe, and think, the better my work becomes.

The Confidence to Delegate, Ask, and Negotiate

Another thing I’ve learned? I don’t have to do everything myself.

Before, I hesitated to delegate because I worried the work wouldn’t be done exactly the way I wanted. I also avoided asking too many questions, thinking it made me look less capable. And negotiating deadlines or expectations felt like admitting I couldn’t handle the workload.

Now, I see these things differently. Delegation isn’t about losing control; it’s about trusting others and freeing myself to focus on where I add the most value. Asking questions doesn’t make me look weak—it helps me work smarter and avoid unnecessary mistakes. And negotiating isn’t about making excuses—it’s about setting realistic timelines that allow for good work without unnecessary stress.

Letting Go of Perfection, But Not of Excellence

I used to believe that if I wasn’t striving for perfection, I wasn’t doing my best. But perfection is a moving target, and often an unrealistic one. Now, I aim for something different: pretty good work—work that is thoughtful, effective, and solid without needing to be flawless.

This doesn’t mean I don’t push myself. It means I recognize when good enough is truly good enough. It means I trust that my skills and experience allow me to do high-quality work without driving myself into exhaustion. It means knowing when to refine and when to move on.

Slowing Down to Keep Up

Taking breaks used to feel like a luxury I couldn’t afford. Now I see them as part of the work itself. Rest sharpens my thinking. Space allows me to spot flaws I would have missed in a rush. And perspective reminds me that most of the stress was never about the actual work—it was about the way I approached it.

I still get things done, sometimes even faster than before, but without the panic. Without the flurry. Without burning myself out in the name of being productive.

Slowing down isn’t about doing less—it’s about doing things right. And that, I’ve learned, is the real way to keep up.

(By next week, my team will be down from 5 to 2. Add a week of having to be out of the country for a workshop at the head office and that means having to let go of day-to-day work for a number of days. I also decided to gift myself an extension stay for my birthday. Some work will just have to wait. And I refuse to think that the world will end just because I decided to take a break.)