Let’s be real: some days you wake up feeling like a superhero, ready to conquer the world at lightning speed. Other days… not so much. Maybe it was the late-night beers, maybe just not enough sleep, but you feel slow. Your brain feels fuzzy, focus is hard to find, and the idea of being “fast” feels laughable.
I had one of those days today. Definitely not operating at peak performance. But here’s the interesting part: despite feeling slow, I stuck to my action checklist. I used that “start for 1 minute, keep going for 5 minutes” trick. And you know what? Things still got done. And I actually started feeling better.
Your System Works (Even When You Don’t Feel Like It)
This was a lightbulb moment. It proved that relying on a system, like an action checklist, is way more reliable than waiting for peak state or motivation to strike. Even when my energy was low and my mind wasn’t sharp, just following the steps created progress. The system carried me when my internal engine felt stalled.
The Tortoise Was Right All Along! 🤯
And then it hit me – I finally got the Tortoise and the Hare story on a gut level. It’s not just about a cocky rabbit napping! It’s about the sheer, undeniable power of consistent action.
I might feel like the tortoise today, moving slowly but deliberately from one task to the next. But by simply not stopping, by consistently putting one foot (or one task) in front of the other, I’m actually outperforming the “hare” version of myself who might work in frantic bursts but then crash or get distracted. Slow and steady doesn’t just win the race in fables; it wins the productivity game in real life. It felt amazing to connect with that simple truth.
Ditch the Clock, Find Your Flow 🧘
Part of embracing the “slow and steady” approach is letting go of the obsession with speed and time. When you’re constantly glancing at the clock, worrying about deadlines, or thinking about how fast you’re going (or not going), you’re splitting your focus. A chunk of your precious mental energy is wasted on time-anxiety instead of being poured into the task itself.
That’s why hiding the phone, maybe even minimizing the clock on your screen, can be so powerful. It helps you immerse yourself fully in the task, find that flow state where time seems to melt away, and just do the work without the pressure of the ticking clock. Trust that by focusing deeply, you’ll make the best use of the time you have.
Embrace Your Pace, Just Keep Going
So, the big takeaway? Don’t beat yourself up if you’re having a “tortoise” day. It’s okay to be slow. It’s okay not to feel lightning fast. The real magic isn’t in speed; it’s in consistency.
Focus on starting. Use the 1-minute rule. Use the 5-minute follow-through. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Trust the process. Trust your system. Slow, steady, consistent action will always get you further than frantic bursts followed by burnout.
Just keep going. That’s it.