There is a lot to do when you are working in a small business. Whether it’s your own business or you’re working within a company, there is always an endless list. People expect a lot of you and there are a mountain of tasks vying for your attention. But sometimes all the hurry, hurry, hurry can be the wrong approach to being productive.

My moment of realisation

I can remember the exact moment I realised life’s speed was winning and I wasn’t keeping up. It was five years into running my first business. I was on the phone and my baby was happily perched on my hip. This was my normal day. That was until I looked around and I realised what I was seeing was not the picture I had for me or my business. Life was going too fast, too many people wanted my attention and I was completely overstimulated. Something had to stop. I knew I had to slow down or I was going to ‘break’.

So here are 8 reasons why slowing down can be the smart move for both you and your business.

1. Constant connection

Constant connectivity to people, technology and our workloads is resulting in our work and life becoming overwhelming. Our frenetic pace, racing from one meeting to the next and one client to the next, is affecting our ability to take time out, slow down, switch off and refuel. With our bodies and minds constantly ‘switched on’, our health and wellbeing are increasingly paying the price. We are in a state of chronic over-connection, overwhelm and overstimulation.

2. Doing more by doing less

To achieve more we don’t have to keep pushing ourselves to do more; in fact, we are capable of achieving more through doing less. How? By slowing down. By taking our foot off the pedal we allow ourselves to take a breath – and ultimately this will improve our motivation for work while improving our productivity and creativity. When we are too bogged down in our to-do list or our heads are looking down constantly at our devices, our field of view is narrowed and we miss the opportunities that are right in front of us.

3. Renewed energy

Our bodies are not designed to go full throttle for long periods before something falls apart. When we slow down we provide our bodies the time and attention it needs to boost its resistance to illness and increase its energy renewal. Slowing down is necessary if we want to keep moving forward with energy and stamina.

4. Sharper focus

Early mornings provide us with the peak time in our attention and energy flow of the day allowing us to work on our biggest priorities with clear focus. Rising early also means a quiet house so you are starting your day slowly in the quietness of the day, meaning better creativity, better productivity and better results.

5. Sparked passion for work

A poll conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that burnout was one of the top reasons that people quit their jobs in search of a more balanced and overwhelming position. Many factors impact on feeling overwhelmed at work. So, when we slow down and can start to make better choices at work and prioritise our workload we are then able to tap into the things we initially enjoyed about our work. Essentially this means we can spend more time doing more of the things we enjoy and are good at.

6. Better social connections

When we are all feeling the pressure of workplace overwhelm mixed in with personal issues and individual needs it’s no wonder workplace relationships can be complex. Integrating the skills of switching off into your day and having a weekend where you actually switch off from work will help you to develop a higher tolerance for difference. This will help you to find time to listen to colleagues and you will also be a much friendlier, calmer, open version of you too.

7. A greater sense of satisfaction

When we are spinning too many plates, eventually one will drop to the ground and we will feel that nothing we do will ever help us keep up. It’s hard to feel like we are ever doing anything well when we are trying to just get the basics done. What’s the answer? When we slow down, say no to a few requests, or take time to rest and re-energise we will find we don’t have any many plates that need spinning. This means we have the ability better manage our lives and small business. This provides us with a deeper sense of satisfaction for all we have and our ability to manage it all.

This article was first published on 5 March 2017.

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