TED Talks · How to slow down

Slow Work

Let's be honest, in the modern workplace, you have to be fast. But does it pay to be fast all the time?

Level: A2 · 32 sentences

Transcript

  1. Let's be honest, in the modern workplace, you have to be fast.
  2. But does it pay to be fast all the time?
  3. Course not. Whether you work at home or in the office,
  4. if you only have one work speed and that speed is turbo,
  5. then you're heading for trouble.
  6. Even before burnout kicks in, there is a price to pay.
  7. When we feel constantly rushed,
  8. we make more mistakes and are less creative and less productive.
  9. That's why people around the world are finding ways to slow down at work.
  10. For example, taking breaks.
  11. When one tech company took a hard look at the working habits of its staff,
  12. guess who turned out to be the most productive?
  13. Not those who stayed chained to their desks hour after hour after hour.
  14. The most productive staffers took regular breaks to rest and recharge.
  15. And remember that what you do during breaks matters too.
  16. So maybe try stepping away from the screens to do something genuinely slow,
  17. like walking, stretching, or reading a book.
  18. The point is to let your mind wander, reset, and reflect.
  19. Many Swedes devote their breaks to fika,
  20. sharing a relaxed coffee and pastry with a friend or colleague.
  21. This simple, slow ritual gives workers such a boost that some Swedish companies put regular fika breaks in their employment contracts.
  22. Another powerful slow ritual is napping.
  23. The Japanese call this inimuri.
  24. In Spanish, it's a siesta.
  25. Whatever you call it, sleeping on the job is on the rise in the modern workplace.
  26. And I'm not talking about wine followed by a two-hour snooze.
  27. That may be a thing of beauty, but it's probably best kept for your slow vacation.
  28. I mean a work-friendly siesta.
  29. maybe a bottle of water instead of wine, followed by a 10 to 20 minute power nap.
  30. After that, you return to your desk refreshed, rebooted, and ready to go.
  31. And if anyone makes fun of your slow rituals, remember this,
  32. in a workplace addicted to speed, slowness is a superpower.