Slow Productivity

1. Slow Productivity: A New Philosophy for Meaningful Work

Slow productivity emphatically rejects the performative rewards of unwavering urgency.

Defining slow productivity. Slow productivity is a philosophy that emphasizes doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and obsessing over quality. It's designed to create a more sustainable and meaningful approach to knowledge work, countering the prevalent culture of constant busyness and overload.

Historical context. The concept draws inspiration from traditional knowledge workers like scientists and artists who often worked at a slower, more varied pace. Examples include:

• Isaac Newton taking 20 years to develop ideas for his Principia
• Georgia O'Keeffe's productive summers at Lake George
• John McPhee's methodical approach to long-form journalism

Benefits of slow productivity:

• Reduced burnout and stress
• Increased creativity and innovation
• Higher quality output
• More sustainable long-term career

2. The Rise and Fall of Pseudo-Productivity in Knowledge Work

In knowledge work, when you agree to a new commitment, be it a minor task or a large project, it brings with it a certain amount of ongoing administrative overhead.

Origins of pseudo-productivity. As knowledge work emerged in the mid-20th century, managers struggled to measure productivity. This led to the use of visible activity as a proxy for usefulness, creating a culture of constant busyness.

The overhead tax problem. Each new task or project adds administrative overhead, such as emails and meetings. As workload increases, this overhead can reach a tipping point where it consumes most of the workday, leaving little time for meaningful work.

Technology's role. The introduction of networked computers and communication tools like email and Slack amplified this problem, making it possible to be constantly "busy" without necessarily being productive.

3. Do Fewer Things: Focus on What Truly Matters

Quality demands that you slow down.

The power of focus. Concentrating on fewer, more important tasks allows for deeper engagement and higher quality output. This approach is exemplified by:

• Andrew Wiles's dedication to solving Fermat's Last Theorem
• Jane Austen's productive period at Chawton cottage

Strategies for doing less:

• Limit missions: Focus on 2-3 main professional goals
• Limit projects: Use time-blocking to manage workload
• Limit daily goals: Work on one major project per day
• Use reverse task lists: Make others add tasks to your public list

Benefits:

• Reduced stress and overwhelm
• Increased focus and productivity
• Higher quality work

4. Work at a Natural Pace: Embrace Seasonality and Variation

There will always be more work to do. You should give your efforts the breathing room and respect required to make them part of a life well lived, not an obstacle to it.

Natural rhythms of work. Throughout history, work has had natural ebbs and flows, often tied to seasons. Modern knowledge work has lost this variation, leading to burnout and reduced creativity.

Strategies for natural pacing:

• Take longer on important projects
• Implement "slow seasons" in your work year
• Use rituals to create mental shifts
• Vary intensity of work throughout the day and week

Benefits of seasonality:

• Improved creativity and problem-solving
• Reduced burnout and stress
• More sustainable long-term productivity

5. Obsess Over Quality: Bet on Yourself and Your Abilities

Obsess over the quality of what you produce, even if this means missing opportunities in the short term. Leverage the value of these results to gain more and more freedom in your efforts over the long term.

Quality as leverage. Focusing on producing high-quality work can lead to greater autonomy and freedom in your career. Examples include:

• Jewel turning down a million-dollar signing bonus to develop her craft
• Paul Jarvis using his skills to create a flexible, low-stress lifestyle

Strategies for improving quality:

• Become a "cinephile" in your field: Study masters in related disciplines
• Start your own "Inklings": Form a group for mutual critique and improvement
• Invest in quality tools and environments

Benefits:

• Increased career opportunities
• Greater autonomy and control over work
• More meaningful and satisfying professional life

6. Tame the Small: Strategies to Contain Distracting Tasks

Containing tasks is not about escaping the small. It's instead about making these efforts as painless as possible.

The problem of small tasks. Minor obligations can accumulate and overwhelm, derailing focus on important work.

Strategies for containing small tasks:

• Put tasks on autopilot: Create regular schedules for recurring tasks
• Synchronize: Use office hours and docket-clearing meetings
• Make others work more: Implement reverse task lists
• Avoid task engines: Choose projects that generate fewer small tasks
• Spend money: Invest in tools and services to reduce administrative work

Benefits:

• More time and mental energy for important work
• Reduced stress and overwhelm
• Improved overall productivity

7. Create Poetic Work Environments to Boost Creativity

Strange is powerful, even if it's ugly.

The power of environment. The physical and mental context of work can significantly impact creativity and productivity.

Strategies for creating inspiring work spaces:

• Match your space to your work: Align your environment with your goals
• Embrace the strange: Unconventional spaces can spark creativity
• Use striking rituals: Create ceremonies to shift your mental state

Examples:

• Peter Benchley writing Jaws in a furnace repair shop
• Maya Angelou renting hotel rooms for writing
• Georgia O'Keeffe's productive summers at Lake George

8. Leverage Quality to Gain Freedom and Autonomy

To obsess over quality is to become the Beatles in 1967, walking into EMI Studios with no limits on how long you can spend experimenting with your sitars and multitrack tape machines.

Quality as career capital. Developing rare and valuable skills provides leverage to negotiate for better working conditions and more autonomy.

Examples:

• The Beatles' freedom to experiment with Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
• Paul Jarvis using his web design skills to create a flexible lifestyle
• Alanis Morissette's artistic risk-taking leading to Jagged Little Pill

Strategies for leveraging quality:

• Bet on yourself: Take calculated risks to showcase your abilities
• Reduce your salary: Trade immediate income for long-term skill development
• Announce schedules: Use social pressure to motivate high-quality work

9. Balance Obsession with Perfectionism for Optimal Results

Progress is what matters. Not perfection.

The perfectionism trap. While obsessing over quality is crucial, it's important to avoid getting stuck in endless revisions.

Strategies for balancing obsession and perfectionism:

• Set time limits: Give yourself enough time to produce quality, but not unlimited time
• Focus on progress: Aim to advance the field or conversation, not create a singular masterpiece
• Use feedback loops: Share work regularly to get input and maintain momentum

Examples:

• The Beatles balancing experimentation with deadlines on Sgt. Pepper
• Lin-Manuel Miranda's iterative development of In the Heights

Benefits:

• Consistent output of high-quality work
• Avoiding creative paralysis
• Maintaining momentum in long-term projects

Last updated: July 21, 2024