by Lucy Harris

I used to think speed was everything.If I could answer an email before the notification even stopped buzzing, I was winning. If I finished a project ahead of schedule, even better. I wore my pace like a badge of honor.

But there’s something no one tells you about moving that fast, you don’t notice much. You tick boxes, but you don’t remember the moments. You work hard, but you’re never in your life while you’re living it.

One afternoon, I caught myself rereading the same message three times because my brain was already on the next task. And in that moment, I thought: What’s the point of all this if I’m never really here for it?

The Science That Backed Up My Gut Feeling

Later, I read a study from Harvard that found people’s minds wander about 47% of the time. Nearly half of our waking hours, we’re somewhere else in our heads planning, worrying, replaying conversations. And here I was, thinking I was “productive” just because I was busy.

It made me realize speed wasn’t making me more effective; it was making me distracted. I was living proof of something I’d just read on Captionstime: “Slowness is not laziness; it’s attention.”

It’s such a simple sentence, but I kept turning it over in my mind. Was I paying attention to anything, really? Or was I just chasing the next thing so I could feel in control?

Learning to Slow Down (and Not Feel Guilty About It)

Slowness didn’t come naturally. At first, it felt uncomfortable like I was breaking some unspoken rule. If I wasn’t constantly checking my phone, was I falling behind?

But then I started small:

• I drank my coffee without checking emails, noticing how the steam curled in the cup.
• I walked without music and actually heard the sound of my own footsteps.
• I paused before replying to messages, letting my words come from thought, not reflex.

And something shifted. My days didn’t get longer, but they felt fuller.

What I Tell Myself on the Rushed Days

I work in the online space, where speed is almost worshipped. If you’re not quick, you’re irrelevant. But here’s the truth I repeat to myself when I feel the rush creeping back in: speed doesn’t guarantee meaning.

A World Health Organization report says stress-related burnout is becoming so common that it’s now classified as an “occupational phenomenon.” It’s not just about working too many hours it’s about never giving your mind a break. I’ve been close to that edge before.

Now, when I catch myself spiraling into “go, go, go” mode, I remind myself:

• I can choose not to rush.
• I can choose to be present, even if that means doing less.
• I can choose slowness because it gives me clarity.

Why Slowness Feels Like Power Now

Slowness has taught me to notice the texture of my days. The sound of my pen on paper. The way my shoulders drop when I stop multitasking. The difference between reacting and responding.

It’s not about losing ambition, it’s about protecting it. Because when you slow down, you stop living on autopilot. You choose what matters and let the rest fall away.

And that’s the real power: not the ability to move faster than everyone else, but the freedom to move at the pace that feels like yours.

About Lucy Harris:With a successful career in the competitive iGaming niche, Lucy practices a mindfulness lifestyle, reflecting on how overthinking and burnout influence our online lives, blending professional insight with personal reflection. Subscribe to her work on Substack.