Increase Mindfulness & Productivity By Changing How You Perceive Time
Do you feel rushed? This hack will help you slow down while getting more done.
Have you ever tried to stay mindful and present while feeling rushed? It doesn’t work. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” may be the solution for you. Let me explain.
If you are like I was, I believed that the harder and faster I worked the more I would excel and accomplish in a shorter period of time. I even became an overachiever with a long list of great awards and successes. However, I rarely felt fulfilled or accomplished.
The problem with pushing yourself and rushing is that the feeling of satisfaction never stays. You feel self-induced pressure to hurry onto the next thing, then the next and the next after that. Time becomes something to beat. It’s always: just one more email, just one more paper, just one more call, just one more… Time no longer feels like a gift but an enemy. It is nearly impossible to remain in a mindful and present state while feeling rushed.
The good thing is that you can still get it all done while remaining mindful and present. It all revolves around your perception of time and learning to slow down the right things in the right way.
Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast
The concept of “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” is one that changed my life and can change yours too. The first time I heard the term “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” was during intense training with the Army Infantry. I had just earned my Commission in the US Army and started the Infantry Officer Basic Course. Trainees were split into 4 squads of 5–6 trainees.
Each squad had its own instructor. Just about everything we did took on the err of competition between the squads. It was grueling but rewarding training. I felt a sense of purpose and the hard work was somehow exhilarating. The hot and humid Georgia air was sticky and the heat was punishing but we pressed on.
A few weeks into the training we began to work on creating operation orders and planning the execution of an endless list of tasks that were required for graduation.
Our instructor brought our squad in close and we leaned in so he could tell us the secret to always win the challenges and have time left over to enjoy the process. We all crept closer in anticipation. He then whispered to us the secret, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
We all crept closer in anticipation. He then whispered to us the secret, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.”
You can imagine our confusion as we looked at each other wondering if that was a joke. He insisted that if we want to always finish first then we needed to adopt and utilize the philosophy of “slow is smooth, smooth is fast”.
He then explained that when we take the time to be extremely clear in our objectives (the end goal of every task), then we (and those we lead) will nearly always finish faster, always finish better, and have more fun doing it. Those that rush into execution without slowing down to create clear objectives will just end up rushing around and getting frustrated along the way.
Our squad took his advice to heart and from that time forward we stopped focusing on the clock and more on communicating clear objectives and enjoying the process. As we completed each task throughout our training we were nearly always first done and always had the best results. We even had time to watch the other squads and laugh at their constant “rushing around.”
How to Make a “Clear Objective”
According to dictionary.com, objective means:
- Something that one’s efforts or actions are intended to attain or accomplish; purpose; goal; target: the objective of a military attack; the objective of a fund-raising drive.
Objectives can be personal or for groups. Either way, they function the same and create focus and continuity in all that you do. Objectives should be clear and concise. You can do quick objectives in your mind before starting a small project or you can take the time to write them down before starting something more important.
For the important things in your life, writing down the objective is helpful. It is worth reading your draft objective multiple times to see if it can be taken more than one way. Everyone reading it should be able to understand it the exact same way.
For my first example, I will stick with the Army. Combat operations in the military run off of operation orders. Each operation order has several time-sensitive objectives that are assigned to specific units or teams. An effective example of an objective in an operation order would look something like this:
- Squads A and B to clear buildings 1 and 2, establish elevated sniper coverage from building 1, and ground security at the intersection in order to secure the Extraction Zone by 0930 in preparation for target extraction by the Extraction Team.
A poor example of an objective would look like this:
- Send a team to secure the Extraction Zone before the Extraction Team arrives.
An effective objective includes who accomplishes what and when it is to be completed. It also includes the phrase “in order to”, which defines the ultimate goal of the objective and cannot be misinterpreted.
Another example for a business might be: The Lead Generation Team is to use monthly email, phone, and social media campaigns in order to generate confirmed leads for the Sales Team. The team leader then can set expectations and execution plans for their team based on this objective.
Because the actual planning is left to the team itself, the team is now more invested in its success. So, although it may take longer to get started for a team that must make its own plan based on a clear objective, the team is more motivated to make it succeed and end up working harder and smarter. Thus, slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
“Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast” for Individuals
I will use a freelance writer for this example. Let’s say that a writer absolutely loves wild blueberries and is excited to write an article about how wild blueberries are the world’s best antioxidant and taste amazing.
He could take this article in a dozen different directions and may spend a lot of extra time trying to force the flow of his special blueberry article. However, if he takes time to write a clear objective first, he will be more focused and clear on his writing right from the start. Thus, starting out slower will make the process smoother and faster.
An example of a clear objective for him could be: Write a 5-minute read on the antioxidant benefits of wild blueberries in smoothies in order to heal a sluggish liver and decrease chronic pain.
Do you see how writing a clear objective first will save time in the long run?
Conclusion
Rushing rarely helps you accomplish more. Time is not your enemy, it is your friend. Taking the time at the beginning of a task to write a clear objective will save you time, lower stress, and help you maintain mindfulness. Here is a recap:
- When you feel rushed or a lack of connection, say to yourself, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast” and allow yourself to slow down.
- Decide what it is you want to accomplish and determine a clear and concise objective.
- Reread the objective multiple times to see if it can be misinterpreted.
- Have others read the objective and explain in their own words what the objective is. If they say something that is not what you meant, then rewording is necessary.
- Allow for flexibility and creativity in the execution as long as it stays true to the objective.
- Check all of your actions, tasks, and activities against the objective. If it doesn’t stay true to the objective, then let it go.
- Enjoy the process!
You can use this at work, at play, at home, and everywhere. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast” frees up time, makes you more productive, and decreases stress. In the end, you will not feel that need to rush and you will be much more capable of maintaining mindfulness and to be present.
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