Slow work: Embracing the time to let ideas percolate

Resisting the urge to push our work into the world too soon.

We are in such a rush all the time. A rush to get to work, join that meeting on time, read the day’s headlines, answer that text, get the new Nikes before they sell out.

There is a rush to creating that has us caught in a rapid cycle of sharing, launching, shipping our work. From 0 to 60 in 1.2 seconds. Faster, bigger, more, now. Repeat.

I feel queasy if I spend a week not putting anything out into the world, either in form of client work (hello, weekly milestones) or sharing on social media. I feel lazy, slightly inadequate.

I am the first to admit, though: Some things just take time. The research that needs another round of deep analysis. The insight that is not yet an insight. Or the idea that needs more zest.

I sometimes have to force myself to listen to my inner voice, hold a mic up to that rebellious whisper that tells me, “it’s ok, ideas are still percolating, it’s not ready yet.”

When did slow creation become a sign for unproductivity? We may have forgotten what history’s great creators have taught us: the slow insight is worthier than the speedy conclusion.

Instead, today we are pushed to hit publish quickly — and often. Weekly, daily even.

Beware of becoming irrelevant should you retreat to think — gasp! — about things more deeply. Who will know what you are up to if you don’t share it? How dare you leave others’ curiosity unsatisfied.

I’m so over over-sharing.

The meetings and milestones feel like an acidic techno beat, expectations that jolt the brain. What would we give to have time for idle play and creative nonsense, or the occasional walk to let impressions sink into our subconscious.

Like water seeping through soil, slow creativity nourishes the idea as we unwrap it, full of intention.

This week I am allowing myself that slow work. Even the expression, allowing myself. I am a millenial, rebelling the modern law of busy-ness.

I am compiling a field guide on value creation. My goal was to be finished by the beginning of October (my self-imposed deadline). It’s now mid-month. It’s not insightful enough yet. It’s just not ready yet.

It took me 10 days to be ok with that.

So now I labor on, digging to unearth helpful insights, questioning my perspective, reframing the problem.

I feel confident in my ability to self-critique my own work, only possible because I am giving myself space to do it, but also wary that I’ll have to finish at some point, publish, live with the imperfections. And then begin work on the next release.

My work product will be a reflection of my thinking and conclusions of that specific point in time. A snapshot.

Why don’t we view our creations as snapshots, as releases of our expertise or skills? Does everything need to be perfectly rounded and finished to be of value?

Slowing down to dig deeper has already proven invaluable. I am enjoying the process more, honing my craft, recognizing where I am missing a piece of the puzzle.

I won’t post on socials this week. My inner voice has the mic, and she’s urging me to give in to the creative flow.

Only this newsletter, it’s part of my process and an acknowledgement that there is more than one way of doing things — not only in business, but also in creating.

Will you slow down long enough to experience the other rhythms of the creative process?

Go ahead, let yourself go. Be a rebel once in a while.