Slow Down, Be Bored, Savor Life

A few years ago, my motivation and enthusiasm for work diminished. Every Monday, I would dread the idea of starting a new week. I was burned out. For years, I took on more tasks than I could handle, juggling multiple personal projects and trying to manage numerous tasks at work. 

This approach made me less productive, and over the years, I grew tired and unmotivated. I even considered changing jobs, thinking that might solve the problem. At home, I would attempt multiple personal projects, handle bills, watch movies and YouTube videos, all while expecting to accomplish tasks. Often, I didn’t. During vacations, I took both my work and personal laptops, trying to squeeze in some “work” every night. I avidly watched productivity hack videos and read related books, always seeking ways to accomplish more in the same amount of time. While some of the advice was effective, rather than using the time saved to slow down and focus on vital matters, I continued to cram my day with even more “work.” I’d forget about tasks from the previous day, as well as appointments and other commitments.

The notion of incessantly running like a hamster on a wheel or perpetually “chasing the carrot” no longer appeals to me. While I am ambitious and enjoy challenges, and certainly don’t view myself as mediocre or a conformist, I yearn for balance. I strive to become a better person, improve my surroundings, and lead a more fulfilling life. But I no longer wish to be ensnared in this rapid-paced culture.

Many self-improvement gurus and productivity hackers preach that to enhance life, increase income, and achieve “productivity,” one must constantly be on the move. This relentless drive. However, they fail to mention that this pace leaves little time to appreciate one’s accomplishments. It’s reminiscent of a race: the objective is to reach the finish line, right? Yet, ironically, hyper-productivity only accelerates life, adding even more tasks to one’s plate.

The concept of always hurrying and embracing long hours and multitasking is outdated and, in my opinion, counterproductive. We have one life. Shouldn’t we seek ways to savor every moment? How can we truly live if we’re always engrossed in work, forever chasing dreams, and continuously looking to accomplish more?

Many advise that youth is the time to work tirelessly. I don’t dispute the value of hard work. My current position is the fruit of my dedication. However, we must differentiate between hard work and constant labor. The latter can deprive us of savoring meals, appreciating nature, and, most critically, cherishing our loved ones.

Slowing down isn’t synonymous with surrender. It’s literally about embracing a slower pace. If you feel guilty enjoying a scenic view, wandering aimlessly, or getting lost in a book, you might be missing the point. Living slowly means allocating time for work and essential tasks to achieve your goals without sacrificing life’s joys.

Slowing down is sometimes the best way to speed up. 

Mike Vance

It’s crucial to recognize that when a culture of extreme productivity prevails, it affects everyone. 

Children, for example, are often overloaded with schoolwork. Our constant busyness only reinforces the belief that idle time is wasteful. The irony? While we’re engrossed in productivity, life slips away.

As children, we are oblivious to concepts of productivity and efficiency. Our days aren’t segmented into time blocks. Instead, we explore with genuine curiosity. A child can marvel at a simple object for hours. Yet, as a father, I’ve sometimes interrupted these precious moments, urging my children to complete a chore rather than “waste” time. I regret this and am actively working to nurture a slower pace for both my family and myself.

Today, the notion of “doing nothing” often carries negative connotations, associated with laziness or wastefulness. However, in such moments of stillness, inventions arise, ideas spark, and we commune with our inner selves. Doing nothing is, in fact, an activity — one not dictated by a schedule or external demands.

Boredom often drives our reluctance to remain idle. We perceive boredom as a negative state that demands correction. As children, we had the freedom to be bored. I recall how my parents didn’t stuff our days with activities. Post school, we were left to our own devices – playing outdoors, exploring our neighborhood, or playing with our toys. When we complained about boredom, our parents would respond with, “Well, think of something so you’re not bored.” Now, as a modern-day parent, I used to panic when I perceived boredom in my kids. Such episodes even induced anxiety, compelling me to distract them from their “dreadful” boredom. In retrospect, I see that by attempting to remedy their boredom, I inadvertently propagated the notion that it’s a negative state. It isn’t.

Embrace boredom. Don’t rush to alleviate it, and you might discover it leading you somewhere unexpected.

We’re reaching a juncture where our cognitive capacities are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information constantly thrown at us. This overload is partly why anxiety is more prevalent today. Despite technological advancements that speed up processes, we haven’t become more leisurely; we’ve just sought ways to amplify our productivity. Consequently, more individuals are experiencing burnout. Rising anxiety and depression rates, particularly among the youth, seem linked to this relentless pace, exacerbated by mounting pressures from school, work, and home.

Slowing down could be the key to a happier, longer life. Americans work notoriously long hours, more so than most other developed nations. A study highlighted that the average American middle-income family worked 11 more hours per week in 2006 than in 1979. I’d argue that Americans aren’t necessarily better off now, even with extended working hours.

Technology should enhance our lives, not enslave us. Yet, with every technological leap, our lives seem busier and less content. We’re trapped in a cycle of constant productivity, leading to burnouts and diminishing overall productivity.

Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.

John Lennon

Two years ago, I chose to reduce my working hours by a full day. Did this diminish my productivity? Not at all. I feel more revitalized and efficient, and it’s afforded me the luxury of pursuing hobbies without compromising family time.

This isn’t just applicable to our daily lives but to our hobbies and experiences. Ever walked through a picturesque landscape, only to later realize you were too distracted to truly appreciate it? Or ever found yourself scrolling aimlessly on your phone during a conversation, not truly present? We often hustle through activities without truly enjoying them.

Don’t let incessant busyness overshadow the beauty of life. Sometimes, less is more. The “slow living” movement challenges the unsustainable culture of relentless speed that has characterized our lives since the industrial revolution. We must resist the toxic urge to constantly hustle and seek constant productivity.

As convenient as smartphones are, offering endless information at our fingertips, they’re also culprits behind our inability to slow down. To curb this, I’ve implemented a few changes in my phone usage, like repositioning social media apps and turning off non-essential notifications. Such tweaks have enriched my digital experience.

Then there’s “slow travel”. I prefer not to limit travel by defining it strictly, but identifying this type of travel clearly helps highlight its true nature. When traveling, immerse yourself. Don’t rush. Walk through cities, soaking in their character. Don’t let an overpacked itinerary overshadow genuine experiences. There is no better way to get to know a city than to walk its streets.

Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.

Lin Yutang

Photography, a personal passion, once dominated my travels. I’ve since learned to appreciate moments first-hand before preserving them with my camera. In the past, photography involved a series of deliberate, manual steps. Taking a photo was a purposeful and thoughtful action. Now, with the advanced capabilities of smartphones and digital cameras, we often take countless photos that end up forgotten in our devices’ storage. In this pursuit of quantity, the significance of capturing truly special moments can be lost. 

To counter this, I turned to film photography to temper my pace. I have no choice but to be intentional—each photo requires film, and with only a finite number of exposures available, every shot must be a considered decision. Then, there’s the anticipation of waiting a day or two to develop the film and discover whether the photos turned out well. This slower process has its own charm.

On a trip to Iceland with my son, our flexible schedule led us to breathtaking sights like the Reykjanesviti lighthouse, which stirred emotions so deep I was moved to tears. Had I stuck to my old ways—arriving, snapping a few pictures, and moving on—I would have missed that profound feeling. That day, I chose to pocket my camera for a while, instead taking several minutes to absorb the scenery, the brush of the wind, the cries of the birds, the presence of people around us, and the vast ocean below. Since that moment, such enriching experiences have become a regular part of my life. Everywhere I look, by truly observing, I find something remarkable.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu

In today’s rapid world, it’s critical to understand ourselves and resist the urge to be constantly on the go. Though speed and technology have their place, we shouldn’t let them control the pace of our lives. I value a fast computer for tasks like compiling code or editing videos, but as a human, my goal isn’t just speed and efficiency. I need to relish and appreciate what I’m doing.

The concept of slow living may evolve with technological advances like artificial intelligence. Some fear that we might become redundant, with computers taking over tasks we now delegate to people. Artificial intelligence may process information faster and more accurately, and I’m okay with that. It makes sense to assign speed- and accuracy-dependent tasks to machines, allowing us to reclaim time for ourselves. If AI becomes adept enough to handle writing and troubleshooting software better than we can, I’d welcome it. It could free up more time for me to pursue new ideas and engage more deeply in activities I love, such as spending time with family, taking long walks, enjoying a good meal, or writing.

For me, the journey often holds more value than the destination. Remember this: boredom can be as rejuvenating for the mind as sleep is for the body. Embrace it, live at your own pace, and cherish every moment.