Article last updated on January 18, 2022
Slowing down can really help your business grow, especially if you are busy running around like crazy trying to get everything done.
So first off, let me tell you what I mean by slowing down. I don’t just mean taking a break from work or taking a day off.
What I mean is being intentional about how you spend your time every single day.
When you are constantly working on tasks that aren’t important to your success, you are not giving yourself enough time to focus on the things that will move your business forward.
And when you are doing those things, then you are also not getting the rest that you need to keep your mind and body healthy.
So, in order to create more space for yourself and your business, you have to make sure that you are prioritizing your time wisely. And one way that you can do that is by slowing down.
If you are not sure whether you may need to slow down, here’s a list of common signs that you need to slow down:
- You feel overwhelmed.
- You find yourself constantly checking email, social media and other apps.
- You’re always rushing around.
- You feel stressed out all the time.
- You’re having trouble sleeping.
- You’re eating more than you should.
- You’re feeling anxious.
- You’re not exercising.
- You’re not taking care of yourself.
- You’re spending too much time watching YouTube or playing video games.
- You’re not connecting with family and friends.
- You’re not doing anything creative.
- You’re not reading books.
- You’re not enjoying life.
- You’re not appreciating what you already have.
Now, let go into the benefits of slowing down.
Focus On The Things That Matter Most
When you are always rushing around trying to get everything done, you never have any time left over to focus on the things you truly care about.
But when you slow down, you have more time to invest in the things that matter most to you. As a result, you will feel better about the decisions that you are making.
Because instead of feeling stressed out and overwhelmed, you will feel energized and inspired. And that means that you will be able to accomplish more.
In addition, when you slow down, it gives you more time to think about where you want to take your life and your business. So you can start planning for the future.
I’ve found that people who work from home tend to feel like they don’t have any control over their lives.
They might not have a boss breathing down their neck, but they still feel at the mercy of whatever happens outside their office door.
However, when you slow down and give yourself some time to reflect on where you want to take this journey, you gain clarity and direction. You know exactly what you want to achieve.
You become less impulsive and more thoughtful. And because you’re thinking through each decision carefully, you end up making better ones.
Builds More Resilience
Slowing down helps you build more resilience. Because when you are constantly rushing around, you are putting too much pressure on yourself.
And that leads to stress. And stress doesn’t allow you to fully enjoy all of the good things that come with being an entrepreneur.
Instead, it makes you feel exhausted and worn out. And that’s why you find yourself struggling to stay focused.
On the other hand, when you slow down regularly, you are allowing yourself to relax and recharge. And that allows you to be more productive and effective.
Plus, when you slow down, you are creating more opportunities to connect with others. Because you are spending more time with friends and family.
That’s why slowing down has been shown to improve relationships.
Great Way To Improve Your Health
One of the reasons why I love slowing down so much is that it helps me maintain my health. When I am constantly rushing around, I am not taking care of myself properly.
I am eating poorly and exercising sporadically. But when I slow down, I am able to eat well and exercise consistently.
And that’s because when you slow down, your body feels relaxed. And that means that it is easier to sleep and recover.
It also means that you are less likely to burn out or experience fatigue.
Healthy people make healthier choices. And healthy choices lead to long-lasting success.
So, by slowing down, you are setting yourself up for great things.
Physical activity is so important for our mental and physical wellbeing. It provides us with energy, boosts our mood, and improves our focus.
And finally, when you slow down, it creates more room in your schedule for meditation and reflection.
Which helps you clear your mind and reconnect with your inner self.
This is the most important part of all, because it allows you to achieve true happiness and fulfillment. And that will lead to a healthy body and mind.
Make Better Decisions Faster
This may seem obvious, but when you are constantly rushing around, you don’t have much time to think through your options. And when you are thinking quickly, you often make bad decisions.
When you slow down, however, you have more time and energy to think through your options and come up with the best decision for you. And this leads to better decisions.
For example, let’s say that you are considering hiring someone to help you manage some aspects of your business. If you were working non-stop, you would probably just go ahead and do it.
But when you slow down enough to consider the pros and cons of the different options, you are able to make a better decision.
Just a simple slow breathing technique can help you slow down. You simply inhale slowly and exhale slowly.
You should start to notice that your heart rate slows down as you breathe in and out. This is one of the easiest ways to begin slowing down and making better decisions faster.
Have More Time To Think Through Your Business Ideas
Slowing down helps you think through your ideas better.
It lets you consider different options and come up with new ways to solve problems. And that leads to more creative solutions.
For example, if you are having trouble coming up with new product lines, then you should try slowing down.
Because slowing down will give you the space to reflect on what you need to focus on. It will also help you think about how you could approach solving the problem from a different angle.
So instead of looking at it as a traditional problem, try asking yourself questions such as: “What else does my customer want?” Or, “How can I use technology to create an innovative solution?”
If you are stumped by a particular issue, then you should take the time to get quiet and listen carefully. That way, you will start to hear things you didn’t notice before.
You might even discover something new that could help you solve the problem.
Become A Better Leader
When you are always rushing around, you are not able to communicate effectively with others. This leads to confusion and frustration.
However, when you slow down, communication becomes easier. You will be more effective in your leadership role.
And this makes you a better leader and motivates people to work harder for you.
Just think about people who are used to being rushed all day long. They’re usually stressed out and overwhelmed. Their businesses are usually scattered and unfocused.
Not only that, they are unable to properly prioritize their tasks. Because they are so busy doing everything themselves, they often don’t know where to begin.
That’s why they end up making mistakes, losing money, and not being effective leaders.
Now imagine if you could step back and slow down. Then you’ll see that you’ve got plenty of time to organize your business. And become a better leader.
Finally, if you have remote workers or employees that work remotely, they probably feel disconnected and isolated from their team.
As you slow down, you’ll be able to connect with them more easily. Because you won’t be distracted by other tasks.
Create More Space In Your Life
When you start slowing down, you will begin to notice that you have more energy than before. And that means you can actually accomplish more in less time.
Slowing down allows you to focus on what you need to do without getting distracted. So you are free to spend more time creating space in your life for other important things.
For example, maybe you want to spend more time with family or friends. Maybe you’d like to exercise more. Whatever it is, you won’t feel guilty because you’ve already set aside time to do those things anyway.
Instead of feeling bad, you’ll be glad that you made room for other priorities.
This helps you to avoid burnout and gives you the motivation needed to keep moving forward.
Enjoy The Process More
Another benefit of slowing down is that you enjoy the process. Even though you may not always feel like it, there is still pleasure in taking steps towards accomplishing goals.
It doesn’t matter whether you are working on your own projects or helping someone else. When you take the time to prepare, plan, and execute, you will find that it is rewarding.
Plus, you’ll learn valuable lessons along the way. Slow down enough to appreciate these moments and you will never regret the experience.
Learn How To Say No More Often
We live in such a busy world where we often feel guilty if we say “no” to something. But saying “yes” to everything will leave us feeling unfulfilled and empty inside.
When you slow down and learn how to say “no“, you will be able to accomplish much more than you ever thought possible. Plus, you’ll enjoy every moment of it.
Saying “no” also teaches you how to delegate. If you want to build a successful business, you must learn to say “no”. Otherwise, you risk becoming overworked and burned out.
You may even lose the motivation to continue working hard once you reach that point. Which would mean you wasted all your hard work.
So, zoom out, slow down, and stop saying yes to everyone and everything. Learn to say no more often. It’s good for your health and your business too!
Personal Lesson From Slowing Down
The one thing I noticed when I slowed down was that my productivity went through the roof.
This helped me stay focused. Plus, it gave me the opportunity to relax and enjoy myself at the same time.
In fact, this simple habit has changed my entire outlook on life. Now, whenever I’m faced with stress, I know I need to slow down a bit.
Yes, there are economic benefits, but there are so many other benefits as well. You just have to take the time to look past the numbers and think about yourself.
I’ve noticed that clearer thinking leads to better decisions.
This is why I recommend slowing down to anyone who wants to improve their lives and their business.
Quality of life gets a boost from slowing down. So does your bottom line.
You can get deeper connections with your customers because you are not so attached to your “personal self” and the potential benefits are what counts.
Slowing down allows you to connect with people on a different level. This makes them feel valued.
Slowing down allows you to see the bigger picture and make smarter choices.
Conclusion
Quality over quantity is not just a motto. It’s true in life and it holds true in business.
If you’re constantly rushing around trying to do everything at once, then you’re missing out on quality opportunities.
Instead, focus on doing things right instead of being obsessed with getting everything done.
Slow down. Take note of the positive changes that occur as a result. Keep learning new skills and focusing on improving yourself.
