This morning, I caught myself speeding through breakfast—not because I was late, but because my mind was already in my inbox and my Today task list. Halfway through, I realized: I hadn’t tasted a single bite.

That’s the sneaky nature of hurry. It doesn’t just steal time. It steals attention. It convinces us that if we go faster, life will feel fuller. But in truth, hurry is a tax on the soul.

I know this all too well. For much of my life, especially with ADHD, I’ve lived in a constant rush of thoughts, tasks, and urgency. But here’s what surprised me: when I finally learned to slow down, not only did my days gain clarity—my writing gained new meaning.

Productivity Is a Trap

We’ve been taught that faster is better, that efficiency equals success. Answer emails quicker, get through tasks faster, and shave off seconds wherever possible.

But inbox zero isn’t joy. A completed to-do list isn’t the purpose. And a life spent in fast-forward leaves no room for depth.

When you hurry, life blurs. And when life blurs, you miss the details that make it worth living—the way your grandchild laughs at your joke, the pause before a loved one says something vulnerable, the deep breath that reminds you you’re alive.

Slow Is a Superpower

Slowness isn’t laziness—it’s rebellion. It’s the radical decision to say: Not everything deserves my urgency.

• You can walk at your own pace instead of rushing past the world.

• You can put your phone away during dinner.

• You can pause before reacting and choose to respond with intention.

The Navy SEALs have a saying: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” They know that when you rush, you make mistakes. But when you slow down, you move with steadiness, precision, and ultimately more speed. Life works the same way. Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less—it means doing things with clarity and purpose so you don’t waste time doubling back or fixing what you hurriedly broke.

Slowness is the secret strength no one brags about but everyone needs.

Calm Is a Choice, Not a Gift

Calm doesn’t arrive like a package on your doorstep. It’s built, one decision at a time.

Here’s what’s worked for me:

• Meditation. Even five minutes clears the static in my mind.

• Journaling. Morning pages help me slow down my racing ADHD thoughts and actually listen to myself.

• Margin. Creating intentional space between commitments—not filling every slot on the calendar—gives life room to breathe.

When I add margin to my days, I notice something unexpected: my creativity increases. My writing flows more easily. My thoughts stop fighting for attention and start lining up in order.

These practices don’t make the world less noisy. They make me less reactive to the noise.

Why Hurry Is So Hard to Quit

If hurry feels addictive, that’s because it is. The dopamine rush of checking tasks off, the illusion of importance when we’re busy, the cultural applause for speed—they all conspire to keep us moving faster.

But I’ve learned that constant motion doesn’t equal progress. It often equals exhaustion.

For me, slowing down meant facing the uncomfortable truth that I wasn’t actually behind—I was just caught in a cycle of chasing more. Once I broke that cycle, I realized: the people I admire most aren’t the fastest. They’re the ones who move with presence, calm, and clarity.

What You Gain by Slowing Down

When you eliminate hurry, you start noticing. You start tasting. You start living.

And here’s the irony: slowing down hasn’t made me less productive. It’s made me more creative, more grounded, and more present. My writing is deeper. My relationships are richer. My sense of meaning is clearer.

It’s possible for anyone. Yes, even if your brain runs fast. Even if you feel like life is too full to slow down. Especially then.

Slowing down isn’t a weakness. It’s wisdom.

One Small Challenge

Today, pick one thing—just one—and do it without hurry. Drink your coffee slowly. Write for ten minutes without looking at your phone. Take a walk and notice the color of the sky.

Remember: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. When you move with intention, life stops feeling like a blur and starts becoming a story you actually get to live.

Slowing down won’t make you fall behind. It will help you finally arrive.

Life doesn’t need more hurry. It requires more of you.