Work In Colour - Work. Think. Live. In Colour
Tuesday 22nd September 2009 | 10 comments
Do you ever feel that you have only two speeds - fast forward and dead stop? I'm going to argue the case for 'slow' as an alternative, at least occasionally. Slow can reduce stress, as you'd expect, but did you know it can actually increase creative thinking - and even your productivity?
One of the greatest causes of stress is the ever-increasing speed at which we run (ha ha) our lives. We do too many things too fast. Our brains are hardwired to cope with 6-8 shifts in activities in an hour (a shift being answering the phone or opening one email, or stopping what you're doing to answer a question from a colleague). When you think about a typical hour in your day, it's not hard to see how often you exceed this comfort zone.
It's not about going slow no matter what - it's about finding the right tempo for you and for each activity you do. Sometimes speed is necessary or fun, but not when it becomes compulsive. You generally do have a choice - not always, but far more often that you may first think. It is all about balance, and finding the right speed where possible.
There's a great metaphor in Carl Honoré's book, In Praise of Slow, making a link between the importance of having space in our lives and the key to those little a 4 X 4 puzzles (you know the ones, 16 squares, one of which is empty...you move the pieces round until you form the pattern and so solve the puzzle). It's the one empty space that makes the whole thing work. Without some empty space, the puzzle - and our brains - are so full that there is nowhere to move.
But won't all this slowing down kill our productivity? Not necessarily, according to Honoré. He cites lots of research that shows that we are more effective if we work less hurriedly but still with thoroughness. When I interviewed ad guy Siimon Reynolds, he said we should all work only 5 hours a day, but really focus during those 5 hours...then switch off entirely from work and do something restful.
It ties in with research by Guy Claxton in Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind about the difference between slow and fast thinking. Sometimes we need to think really fast - when put on the spot in a meeting, or in an emergency. This is fast, analytical, linear thinking, and it can play a vital role. But we should also make space for Slow thinking, for letting ideas simmer on the back burner - the intuitive and creative thinking that often leads to deeper, more 'Aha' solutions. Both ways of thinking are essential, but the Slow type often goes by the board in a busy life.
So, if you want to increase your creative thinking and your productivity in one go, then just take it easy.
(That's my resolution for this week - anyone care to join me in a cup of tea?)
Tags: rushing, creativity, slow
Yet another great post. You sure are in the groove, Joanna. Really enjoyed this one and am off to make my tea right now! Best regards, P. :)
Thanks for the kind feedback - and the reminder that I haven't actually slowed down since I wrote that post...definitely tea time now!
I am running classes for Yoga infused with Alexander Technique and that means the work is slow and focussed on making SPACE in the joints. It slows us right down and makes us come to our senses.
- on all levels: mind/spririt-body-brain
Great topic Joanna! cheers Astrid
Sounds fabulous, I can almost feel my joints becoming more spacious just thinking about it!
That's how it works. Thinking of space allows us to be more in the moment, allows us to take in what 'is' and not focus on what 'will be' and that slows us right down. At the beginning is THE THOUGHT! (easier written than done) cheers
Exactly! Recently finished the book 'Less - Accomplishing More by Doing Less'. Kind of a Zen thing - slow down regularly so you know who you are, what you really want/need to accomplish and why, and then just do it with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of joy... and then take the time to savor what you've accomplished.
Read it on the red-eye to NY for a there and back business trip so not sure I got the full benefit - but I love the concept - Cheers, Jamie
Love the sound of that book - it reminds me of the Leo Babauta book, The Power of Less - he does the Zen Habits blog at http://zenhabits.net/, which is one of my all time favourites.
I feel differently about this. After composing myself, "focussing" on what is now, thinking of space and releasing tension...I feel very very engaged, satisfied and complete.
I have never then the feeling of LESS, because I don't compare. Not competing and comparing is part of the process. Salute!
I think these are the same thing - I know that in order to 'focus', I need to narrow my aim and create a heightened awareness of less stuff. Conversely, I know the more I try to achieve, the less engaged, satisfied and complete I am because there's less to go around - diminishing returns thing - there's a right balance for me and its a matter of 'constant vigilance' (to quote Harry Potter) to stay in touch with where this is.
Yes, it would be interesting to compare the internal state both Jamie and Astrid are describing, I think it might be in fact similar, if differently described. I like Mihaly Csikszentmihaly's description of the flow state, which is both spacious and engaged, 'in the zone' or in flow, losing track of time and very satisfying. So hard, sometimes to find the right language to describe all this...