Ted the Penguin

N’allez pas trop vite

Don’t go too fast.

Me thinks this is something that I need to take to heart.  A friend of mine recently reamed me out for going too fast and being too busy.  I can understand this I suppose, what with work, the Rescue Squad, and class… but I’ve got this need to always be doing something.  If not, I don’t feel productive and I go crazy.

Anyway, I came across something today that I’m going to try to start doing, if in little bits.  Slowing down.

1. Have a cup of tea, put your feet up and stare out of the window. Warning: don’t try this while driving.
2. Spend some quality time in the bathtub.
3. Write down these words and place them where you can see them, “Multi-tasking is a Moral Weakness.”
4. Try to do only one thing at a time.
5. Do not be pushed into answering a question right away. Take your time.

There are more, but you get the gist.  We’ve got a saying on my crew at the squad, “Work smarter, not harder.”  I guess it applies to this too; I need to relax and live smarter, not harder.

It’s a paradox: maximal effort with a goal of minimal effort. Ease up, slow down, and embrace counter-urgency.