Slow Down to Speed Up: Why Taking a Pause Can Unlock Real Progress in Your Business
Why Taking a Pause Can Unlock Real Progress in Your Business
“Slow down to speed up Kerri? I don’t have time for that!”
If I had a dollar for every time a business owner said that, my coffee budget would be sorted 😉
And I get it. When you’re overwhelmed, spinning your wheels, and knee-deep in a never-ending to-do list, the last thing you want to hear is “just slow down.”
Slowing down feels counterproductive when you already feel behind.
But here’s the thing: The more you push through without a plan, the longer it actually takes to get where you want to go. Read that again!
Instead of making progress, you’re stuck in reactive mode, constantly putting out fires, multitasking, and wondering why nothing ever feels done.
What if pressing pause… just for a moment… is actually the fastest way to get back on track?
The Science of Slowing Down to Speed Up
Just kidding, not going to bore you with the science of spinning your wheels… but, do you….
Ever feel like you’re doing all the things but never making real progress?
That’s because your brain is overloaded. When we’re overwhelmed, we lose the ability to prioritise, make clear decisions, and focus on what truly matters.
Instead, what we do is:
- Get stuck in task-switching mode, constantly jumping from one thing to another without finishing anything, and let’s be honest – just adding more things to our plate.
- Struggle to see the big picture, making us more reactive and less strategic.
- Feel exhausted because our mental bandwidth is spent on juggling, not creating.
- And dare I say it… feel like giving up and heading back to corporate? Eek!
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
And here’s the good news: You don’t need more time, you just need more clarity on where to focus your time.
Step One: The Brain Dump (Yes, You Do Have Time for This)
When everything is floating around in your head, it feels bigger than it actually is.
That’s why the first step to getting out of overwhelm isn’t doing more, it’s getting everything out of your brain and onto paper.
- Grab a blank sheet of paper or open a new doc.
- Dump every single thing on your mind. Tasks, ideas, worries, projects, half-finished to-dos. Both personal and professional. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.
- Set a timer for 10 minutes and write without overthinking. Need more time? Do it!
Want to make this process even easier? Download my free Brain Dump and Delegation Worksheet at the end of this post. It’ll help you not only clear your mind but also figure out exactly which tasks are yours to do and which should be outsourced or automated. And there’s no opt-in required 😉
The goal isn’t to organise it yet, just to clear space in your mind.
Once it’s all out, you’ll probably feel a tiny bit lighter already. Or, like me, have a “wholly sh*t” moment.
Stay with me…
Now… the magic can happen!
Step Two: Align to Your Vision and Purpose
It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget why we started in the first place.
That’s why, before diving into your tasks, take a moment to reconnect with your bigger picture.
- What’s the real goal for your business right now?
- What’s your role in that goal?
- What should YOU be focusing on?
- What can wait, shift, or be streamlined?
This step is non-negotiable. Without it, you’re just doing instead of moving forward with intention.
If your to-do list is full of tasks that someone else could do, this guide to delegation will show you how to lighten your load without losing control.
Step Three: Clarity Check. What Actually Matters?
Now that you’re clear on your bigger picture, and everything’s in front of you, it’s time to sort through the noise.
Not everything on your list is urgent.
Not everything even needs to be done.
Ask yourself these game-changing questions:
- Does this task move me closer to my long-term vision?
- Does it align with my business goals and values?
- Is this my job, or could it be delegated or automated?
- Can this task be deleted? My personal fave 😉
Be ruthless.
This is your permission slip.
If it’s not important or urgent, or aligned to your current goals, move it to a later list or your Pile Up Zone.
If it’s something someone else can handle, delegate it.
If it’s just a “should” rather than a must, consider ditching it altogether.
The Eisenhower Matrix is a great way to sort tasks into “do now,” “schedule,” “delegate,” or “delete.”
If you need tools to streamline your workload, this list of time-saving business tools will help.
If you’re struggling with what actually matters, this guide to focusing on priorities will help.
Step Four: Take Focused and Aligned Action
Now, instead of doing everything, pick just three key priorities for the next day or week.
- Choose one thing that will move your business forward.
- Choose one thing that will clear up time or energy.
- Choose one thing that must be done this week.
That’s it. Three things. Do those first, and watch how everything else starts to fall into place.
If you want to make continuous progress without burning out, this guide to small, strategic improvements will help you refine your systems over time.
What Happens When You Slow Down First?
Here’s what changes when you give yourself permission to slow down before speeding up:
- You stop wasting energy on things that don’t actually matter.
- You make faster, clearer decisions.
- You start seeing real progress instead of just staying busy.
- You feel lighter, because your business finally feels in control.
Slowing down doesn’t mean stopping. It means recalibrating, refocusing, and then moving forward with intention instead of overwhelm.
If your workload is making work-life balance feel impossible, this guide to setting boundaries will help.
Next time you catch yourself saying, “I don’t have time to slow down,” flip the script and say “I don’t have time not to.”
Your clarity, energy, and business will thank you for it.
Download Your Brain Dump and Delegation Worksheet
Slow Down to Speed Up
The Brain Dump and Delegation Worksheet will help you:
✔ Get every task out of your head and onto paper
✔ Identify what you should keep, delegate, automate, or eliminate
✔ Free up time to focus on what actually moves your business forward
No opt-in required, just click and download!
Keep the momentum going!
Here’s some further reading suggestions:
P.S. I’d love to hear which tips helped you the most to slow down to speed up! Got another tip that works for you? Share that with me, too here, I’m always looking for new ideas.
Ready to Take it Further?
Hey There, I’m Kerri!
I help busy business owners just like you beat admin, tech, systems and content overwhelm!
If you’re feeling stuck or need help getting your business organised, I’d love to support you!
My VIP Day is designed to tackle your top 2-3 business priorities in one focused day. You’ll walk away with real progress and a clear action plan.
