What is “slow” productivity and why is it important right now

When we use the usual “quick” productivity methods, we seem to be able to do everything we can. But if every working day is like a sprint, then how do you re-energize for the marathon that a career usually is? If you're constantly feeling tired, it might be time to rethink your work habits in order to build the endurance you need to develop professionally. And one of the best ways to do this is to switch from normal to "slow" productivity.

What is the essence of "slow" productivity

This term invented Cal Newport is the author of the booksStop dreaming, get busy!" And "digital minimalism».

The modern busy pace of life is tiring and forces us to look for ways to balance work and personal life. We want a career that doesn't turn into endless stress and doesn't require exhausting productivity from us.

But if you just cut working week, it will not help to cope with overwork. According to Newport, the problem is not how many hours we are asked to work, but how much work is assigned at any given time. And if the working day is reduced, and the load remains the same, we will experience even more stress, because we will have to work in a shorter time.

So Newport suggests a different approach - work a little slower and on fewer tasks at the same time in order to enjoy the process more. "Slow" productivity, therefore, allows you to reconsider the attitude towards efficiency, when the quality of the work performed becomes more important than the quantity.

How "slow" productivity differs from normal

In his book “Think slow... decide fast” psychologist Daniel Kahneman described two systems that determine how we think, and therefore what results we get. "System 1" is fast, intuitive, emotional reactions. This is what we use when we make decisions based on feelings and “inner voice”. "System 2" is the slow, deliberate, logical thinking necessary for strategic analysis.

When we are dealing with a long list of tasks and a strict deadline, we are tempted to use System 1. We begin to complete tasks as quickly as possible, often to the detriment of the quality and accuracy of work, other people, and even our own happiness. This is "fast" productivity.

“Slow” productivity helps fight a common fallacy based on the idea that if we maintain perfect a high level of productivity, that is, to work fast enough or hard enough, then we will have time for ourselves and for those activities that we like. By doing the required amount of work, we seem to “deserve” free time.

Many even turn tasks into a competition and regularly raise the bar in an attempt to break their own productivity records. But this is a direct path to burnout. The joy of life does not need to be earned, it needs to be experienced. Research provethat we are much more likely to be successful if we enjoy the present moment.

The main goal of "slow" productivity is to keep the amount of work at an optimal level. It often seems to us that if we start doing less, then not only ourselves will suffer, but also the company in which we work, because it will become less competitive. In fact, the more work, the more stress experienced by employees, which means that the quality of work begins to seriously limp, and the amount of time to complete it decreases.

Newport believes that if we start to work more consistently and focus on a small number of things for times, and also stop taking on new obligations until we deal with the old ones, then the speed of work, on the contrary, will increase.

For executives, the most difficult thing to implement "slow" productivity will be the distribution of tasks. Very often, when the boss comes up with an idea, he immediately calls the right employee or writes him a letter, explains what needs to be done, and returns to his business. With “slow” productivity, you will have to come up with an effective system that will help determine priority new task and transfer it to the employee only when he is free. Yes, it is difficult and requires a lot of effort and time, but easy work is rarely truly effective.

How to apply "slow" productivity

change point of view

First, we need to rethink our attitude towards productivity. This Can do it with questions like:

• What environment do I work best in?
• What practices help me stay productive?
• What kind of work do I do and does it require speed or thoughtfulness?

The answers will help you understand exactly how you can use "slow" productivity in your work tasks.

switch attention

Slowing down does not mean disconnecting from the outside world. You need to give your mind space to create ideas and new connections. For example, go for a walk, but walk more slowly than usual. Read a book, but allow yourself to linger on certain words and thoughts.

Learn to use different types of attention and try to switch from maximum concentration to a calmer conscious wave that will allow you to generate energy and think creatively.

Stretch Deadlines

One of the main problems of normal productivity is the abundance of deadlines that quickly follow each other. This puts extra pressure and badly affects the quality of work.

If possible, try set deadlines far in advance and it makes more sense to set short deadlines. Think ahead of time about how you will manage stress and delegate tasks when problems suddenly arise that need to be addressed urgently.

Designate priorities

“Slow” productivity is based on the ability to put off unimportant tasks until later and focus on the important now. If a five-minute task has the same weight as a large project in a working system, something is wrong with it.

Try to be realistic about your to-do list and not add importance to unnecessary tasks. When everything needs to be done urgently, the very concept of "urgency" is erased, and you overload yourself with small things.

Automate processes

Think of "slow" productivity not as an opportunity to work less, but as an opportunity to work smarter. try automate tasks that you perform regularly, such as using special programs. This will free up space and time for "slow" productivity.

You might be thinking, “Sounds great, but I don’t have time to slow down.” This is wrong. You don't have time to slow down. According to statisticsGlobally, 42% of office workers experience burnout. “Fast” productivity affects not only the quality of your work, but also your physical and mental health.