In this fast-paced environment, everything is fast—fast food, fast cars, fast communication, fast entertainment—everything is fast and quick, especially with the evolving technology that enables us to squeeze in many tasks in a concise amount of time.
It looks like an efficient use of time and ultra-productive. Whatever we aim to accomplish, we want to complete it quickly because time is money, and every minute is measured in terms of the cost of being able to deliver in as short a time as possible.We seem to be more efficient now than ever because we complete a greater number of tasks in such a short time.
But are we really blessed to be able to communicate with far-flung friends and families, have more forms of entertainment to choose, travel in many places in our lifetime, being able to be reached by people 24/7? When traveling, for instance, they fail to savor the moment because their thoughts are on the next destination. At work, these people are famous for being multitaskers, and they are proud that they can do many things in a short period of time.
I used to think that multitasking is what everybody should aim for. You can be doing a report on the computer while at the same time talking to somebody on the phone or looking for the latest prices in the stock market as you watch the business news on TV. But it can be a surprise to these people that multitasking is counterproductive since our brain is not wired to do several tasks simultaneously, and doing many tasks at the same time results in increased mental demand and consequently it makes us work slower and less efficiently.
Multitasking is a result of trying to live a fast-paced life. But is a fast-paced life the kind that people dream of—is it a more contented and happier life? There is a growing sentiment lately and an increasing number of people who think otherwise. They prefer a slower approach to life—they prefer what is popularly known lately as “slow living.”
It is a counter-movement that rebels against a fast-paced life that squeezes in a huge amount of experiences, resulting in a helter-skelter way of life, always in a hurry, doing things hastily, and creating tension and stress within themselves.
People in a fast-paced life always view life as an emergency, even if there is no reason for it to be an emergency. They sacrifice their health and the enjoyment of the present moment because they think that the money they can earn from having more tasks or work can bring them the financial wealth, leisure, and luxuries that they are trying to possess. But this mentality comes at a price—lack of enjoyment of the present moment, physical and mental health problems, strained relationships, etc.
Slow living is not a lazy man’s way of life. It is not literally slow. I would like to view it more as living in a rhythmic pace, not always in a hurry, focusing on the task at hand or the activity one is indulging in, and not being stressful, tense, and toxic.
To achieve this, you have to be intentional about it. For instance, one has to schedule work or activities to be done the next day to avoid leaving them breathless, worried, and anxious. Rhythmic living enables one to enjoy even one’s work, spend more quality time with family and loved ones, and have long-lasting relationships with friends because the person takes time to listen and talk with them.
Why did you think the different planets in the solar system did not collide with each other? It is because our Creator designed them in a way that they will revolve around the sun in sync with the rhythm of the universe – never harried and panicky and swinging here and there or else they will bump with each other – but with calmness and in an unhurried pace. It should be the kind of live we should aim for. As part of the vast creation, our bodies are designed to live not always in a hurry and always anxious but calm and at peace and cheerful. There may be instances when a situation will require a person to beat the time but then it should be more of an exception than the rule.
Slow or rhythmic living should be the kind of life we should aim for. I am not in that type of life yet but I am starting to be intentional on having such kind of life. For after all, when we reached the end of our life, what matters most is that we took time to enjoy the moments we have here on earth – appreciate the work of our hands, grateful for the blessings whether big or small and ready to face our Creator.
(Wilma Miranda is a Managing Partner of Inventor, Miranda & Associates, CPAs, Chair of the Ethics Committee of FINEX and member of the Board of Directors of KPS Outsourcing, Inc. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the opinion of these institutions.)