“Slow productivity is about doing fewer things, but doing them better. It’s the art of deliberate, focused work that values depth over speed.” — Cal Newport
In a world that glorifies speed, busyness, and constant output, it’s always been easy for me to feel that being productive meant getting as much done as quickly as possible. I’ve considered myself a master of multi-tasking. I’ve enjoyed the satisfaction of checking off as many “to-do list” boxes as possible every day. There is satisfaction in accomplishment — of doing as much as you can with the time that you’ve been given. Productivity makes you feel successful, right?
But, there’s a fundamental flaw in this thinking. You could cross 20 things off your to-do list every day, but in the long run, it still feels like you’re spinning your wheels because none of those tasks really moved the needle. For most people, this mindset can definitely be more harmful than helpful.
Instead of focusing on speed and volume, what if we redefined productivity to mean producing high-quality, meaningful work at a pace that actually feels natural and truly enjoyable? It’s a pivot from finding satisfaction in the accomplishment of the volume, to really focusing on embracing and enjoying a process that produces truly great, but fewer results.
I’ve always naturally found myself settling into this more relaxed way of working and living. But, because of the way the world is wired these days, I always felt feelings of guilt and even laziness if I wasn’t working as fast as possible and producing at breakneck speed. But, when I look back over days, weeks and even years, the times that I’ve produced my best work is when I’ve removed the pressure and just naturally moved at a slower, more enjoyable pace. The process is more enjoyable. The results are better.
Redefining Productivity
I recently discovered a concept by Cal Newport called Slow Productivity that supports this way of thinking. It resonates with the way I naturally want to work and supports the actual results that I’ve experienced. It challenges the traditional hustle culture by emphasizing quality over quantity in work. Slow productivity challenges everyone to prioritize deep focus and meaningful outcomes rather than being constantly busy.
Cal’s book argues that productivity should be about achieving high-impact results at a natural, comfortable pace rather than rushing to complete a high volume of tasks. It highlights the importance of working with intention, managing energy, and setting boundaries to avoid burnout.
The core message is that doing fewer things, with more thoughtfulness and focus, leads to better results and a more balanced life. It’s definitely not about encouraging laziness, or inefficiency. But to get there, you need to follow some general best practices. Below is a summary of some best practices and concepts from the book, along with my own ideas that resonate with me the most as an artist and maker.
Deep Focus Over Busyness
Slow productivity embraces the idea of deep focus—a state of working on one thing at a time, without distractions, and really diving into the work. In reality, this type of focus allows you to produce better results, faster than if you were constantly switching tasks or multitasking. It’s not about how much time you spend working but how well you use that time.
Makers know that real creativity, craftsmanship, and problem-solving require sustained attention. You can’t rush good work and any type of distraction is your enemy. Giving yourself the space to focus deeply, without rushing to the next thing, means you’re prioritizing quality over quantity and your work will show it.
Work at Your Natural Pace
One of the biggest myths about productivity is that speed and efficiency matter. The truth is, your pace is personal and nuanced. Take some time to think, experiment, and refine your work and be “ok” with a pace that feels good for you. Let go of the guilt.
By embracing your own natural, comfortable pace, you’ll not only create better work, but you’ll also reduce stress and burnout. This isn’t about being lazy or dragging your feet—it’s about working in a way that feels sustainable and lets you consistently deliver high-quality output.
If you have an actual deadline, then that a whole different thing. But, it’s up to you if you want to accept and enable deadlines when you’re doing your work. Ask yourself if you’re allowing these limitations in your life. Many times the decision is completely up to you.
Prioritize What Matters
With so many potential distractions and tasks vying for your attention throughout the day, it’s crucial to get clear on your priorities. What’s truly important to your work, your projects, and your life? Just let go of the rest — or at least deprioritize the things that don’t truly move the needle.
Being effective over feeling productive means spending more time on what really matters and less time on the busywork that just fills up your day. This is where strategic time blocking comes into play. By scheduling chunks of time dedicated to your most important tasks, you’re ensuring that your time and energy go toward the work that will have the most impact. By doing this work first, it ensures that the inevitable distractions of life don’t get in the way of progress either.
I’m sure that you can see that this idea can be applied to all your personal and work life beyond just being a maker. Do you want to be a better parent? Do you want to be a successful entreprenuer? Do you want to lost weight? You need to prioritize what matters and agressively remove the distractions in your life. Learn to say “no” to the things that are the hurdles to your goals.
The Importance of Boundaries and Focus
This leads me to boundries in your life. In the pursuit of slow productivity, boundaries are your best friend. You need to be clear about your responsibilities, not just to yourself, but to others as well. If you’re constantly taking on extra tasks or saying “yes” to every request, you’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed and distracted.
As I mentioned already, most of the time, the choice is completely up to you. Maintaining a disciplined focus means knowing when to say “no”. If you have to do something, maybe it requires delegation to free up your time for what really matters. You don’t have to do everything yourself. You also don’t have to make everyone happy all the time. Letting go can often lead to better results in the long run for everyone.
I should note that this doesn’t mean saying “no” to things in your life that are responsibilities. It also doesn’t mean that you can ignore others when they honestly need help. You can’t skip cooking dinner for your children because you have to go into your studio and paint. You can’t ignore a work colleague that’s overburdened and asking for some help. You can’t ignore a friend or family member in need. Setting boundaries is not an excuse to neglect being responsible. There’s a balance that you have to find for yourself.
The challenge with letting go and saying “no” can be guilt. Saying “no” to someone can be hard. But if you’re doing it at the right times, for the right reasons, without letting the important people in your life down, then learn to say “no” and set boundaries. This quickly creates a powerful focus that can really return results on many levels.
Take Time to Renew
Even when you’ve set your pace and priorities, productivity is not a 24/7 activity. Rest, recovery, and renewal are essential parts of sustaining productivity over time. Think of it as a rhythm—work deeply when you’re focused, and rest when you need to recharge. This is how you stay creative and motivated for the long haul.
This rhythm should be cultivated over the course of months and years. But, it’s something that you can practice on a daily basis in small ways. Have you been working at a desk for more than an hour? Stand up and go outside. Have you been working outside all day in physical way? Grab some water and sit down in the shade for 15 minutes and “just be”.
Again, guilt can be nagging. But you can’t feel guilty for doing this. Think of it just like the time you have to take to fill up the gas tank in your car. It simply can’t be avoided. When you take time to renew your energy, whether through breaks or simply doing nothing, you’ll come back to your work with more energy and clarity. Pushing yourself too hard, too fast, for too long is the quickest way to drain your creative reserves and burn out.
Delegate What You Can
Part of slow productivity is recognizing that you don’t have to do it all. Delegating tasks that don’t actually require your unique skill set frees up time and mental energy for the work that does. This could be anything from outsourcing admin work to asking for help with small, daily tasks that siphon away your time.
When you delegate, you’re not just offloading tasks—you’re making a strategic choice to focus on what matters most to you and your success. You’re also encouraging others to be supportive, accountable, and responsible. Is housework and cleaning getting the best of you every week? Maybe it would be worth it if you spent a couple hundred dollars to hire a cleaning lady that comes in twice a month to do the heavy lifting. This would create hours of extra time per month for you to be a maker. This small investment could create layers of positive momentum with everything from your mental health to the quality of the work that you’re able to produce.
I realize that this investment isn’t possible for everyone. But it’s just an example where you can find small ways to delegate to create time. If you can’t afford to pay for help and support, maybe ask someone to pick up a pre-made meal once a week at the grocery store so you don’t have to cook and clean up the kitchen. If the kitchen is messy after dinner, ask the kids or your spouse to pitch in and do the dishes so you can spend some time alone doing something that you want to do. Ask a friend or family member for a small favor like picking the kids up from practice in the evening. All of these things are small “asks” that create good pockets of quality time to “do the work”. All you have to do is take the time to stop, ask, and not feel guilty for asking for help.
Slow productivity isn’t about doing less for the sake of doing less. It’s about making the time to do fewer things that really matter, and then taking the time to do them better.
By focusing on outcomes, prioritizing what matters, setting boundaries, and working at your own natural pace, you can enjoy the process more and achieve high-quality results without guilt and burning out.
Take a step back every day and ask yourself: What’s truly important here? What’s going to make the biggest impact? What’s going to make me happy? How can others help me get there? Focus on that, and let the rest fall into place.