burnout: Slowness is gaining ground (with a few)

True, the slow movement – the ‘cultural initiative that advocates for a reduction in the pace of modern life, encouraging individuals to embrace a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to their daily activities’ – has been slow to take off. But believe us when we tell you that the aristocrats among us – and aristocracy is not all HNIs’ cup of tea – have, over time, taken it like the heat takes to condensation. Time is money – sure, for hacks, no matter how suited they are, sartorially or for the job. But slowness is essentially how you spend your time. So, slowness is a post-money activity not everyone can afford. It’s not a warning against burnout or fast pace of modern life, but a downright affirmation of taking things slow, savouring them – enjoying a profiterole by slow-chew, lingering over a work of art, immersing oneself in long narratives whether in books or films, sitting before a joyous view and let the ticking of time also become part and parcel of the scenery.

Slowness is also about maximising quality – while quantity maximisation is taken care by those who have been well-taught to worship ‘noble’ grunt work for ‘king, country or company’. Life is actually not short, but long. It’s trying to do too many things at breakneck speed that shortens it. But, then, as we said at the start, slowness is not for e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e.