Work/Life Balance

Put on the brakes

Carl Honore's life had become an endless race against the clock when his wake-up call chimed. He was tempted to buy a collection of one-minute bedtime stories and it hit him: his "rushaholism" had gotten so out of hand that he was willing to speed up precious time with his son.

LINDA WHITE -- Special to the Toronto Sun
Send to a friend
Print

Photo by JERRY BAUER

"That's when I began investigating the possibility of slowing down," says freelance journalist-turned-author Carl Honore. He wrote a series of articles for The National Post that struck a chord with readers and eventually led to the best-selling book, In Praise of Slowness.

His case for slowing down is compelling. "We live in this 'more-is-more' culture," Honore says. But our obsession with speed is taking its toll on our work, diet, health, relationships and even the environment, he warns. The alternative -- slowing down -- allows us to live richer, fuller lives.

His book, which has been published in 31 languages, has spawned a Slow Movement. Its aim isn't to slow the world down to a crawl. "The aim is to do everything at the right speed: Sometimes fast. Sometimes slow. Sometimes completely still. Being slow means doing everything as well as possible, rather than as fast as possible," Honore explains on his website.

Honore grew up in Edmonton, Alta., attended Edinburgh University in Scotland, lived in Brazil for several years and now resides in London, England. He believes our obsession with speed is a global phenomenon.


For many, slowing down begins with working less. The economic cost isn't as high as you might expect, Honore argues. Rather, working fewer hours or finding time for "slow moments" in the workday can actually make people more productive, he maintains. "The future in the global economy is value-added creativity. That happens when you're relaxed. That's when you get those 'eureka' moments."

How can you slow down at work? Leave holes in your Daytimer instead of filling every moment with activity. "It's about working smarter and working better," says Honore, who has been featured by The Financial Times as a "Guru of the Week."

That includes setting aside time to turn off technology. "Unplug. We're always 'on' but that won't make you uber-productive. Even high-tech companies are telling us it's time to turn it off. You need to rest and reflect ... Don't say 'yes' to every offer that comes your way. It's scary the first few times, but it's liberating once you become accustomed to it."

Go home when the work is done. "At the end of a day, have a slow ritual that helps you shift out of fast forward," Honore says. Make time for a hobby that slows you down, such as gardening, knitting or reading. "You'll be healthier, sharper and more creative. The paradox is that slow is fast. When you're fast, you make mistakes."

His newest book, Under Pressure, examines childhood and how we are raising a generation of over-programmed, overachieving and exhausted children. "We don't want to do it, but by default, we fall into the 'micro-management' role as a parent," Honore says.

"I hope the book will inspire readers to ease off, trust their instincts and find the natural balance between doing too much and too little for children."

THE SLOW MOVEMENT


In his bestselling book, In Praise of Slowness, award-winning Canadian journalist Carl Honore examines our compulsion to hurry and chronicles a global trend toward putting on the brakes.

He has written from all over Europe and South America and his work has appeared in publications on both sides of the Atlantic.

Learn more about the "Slow Movement" and his books, including his newest, Under Pressure, at www.carlhonore.com or www.slowplanet.com.



Send to a friend     Print