We live in a society that rewards speed. Perhaps we could call it the reign of the “Fast and the Furious.”
Most video games for children and adolescents include speed as an essential element, as players jump over obstacles or conquer their enemies to reach the next level.
The same thing happens in our work and communications. We want our computer and our mobile phone to be faster and faster, so they can carry out our commands instantaneously. Then, of course, there is “instant” messaging; the name says everything.
Speed is valued because it helps us get more done in less time, and (supposedly) have greater control over the world around us. Countless movies and TV series idolize people who make quick decisions and get things done rapidly. Speed is a characteristic of many superheroes — and not just The Flash.
But be careful! Speed is not helpful if it’s not accompanied by thought and reflection. If we act quickly, but without thinking first, it's possible that we'll quickly run into problems.
Remember, haste makes waste!
Here's an example that most of us can probably relate to: When prepping a new recipe, we first gather all the ingredients, then read through the entire recipe before proceeding. We have to take into account the order of all the steps and the relative cooking times of the different parts of a meal. If we only read the first step and start working right away, we may run into a step that says, “While doing step one, make sure to melt butter in a pan, so that it’s ready at the same time …” Oops! Haste makes waste.
Learn the lesson
Some people start to act without planning how to reach their goal. For example, they might drive off on their usual route without bothering to check what the traffic is like. However, an hour or two later, stuck because there was an accident they could have avoided, they may end up wasting a lot of time.
In our relationships with family, friends, and coworkers, all too often it happens that we hear some information and react impulsively. We get upset, send an angry email, raise our voice... only later to realize that the information we received was incomplete or not true. We can't turn back the clock, unfortunately, but hopefully we will learn to stop and think before reacting next time.
In short, speed is often overvalued. It only works in our favor when we are also using our head. That often means taking a little more time to reflect before acting.
How can we overcome our tendency to acting too rashly? Here are three suggestions ...
1Think about what you're doing
What am I doing? This question will help us focus on the task presently at hand, instead of trying to multitask by looking at our cell phone or getting distracted with the conversation of the people next to us.
It's also helpful to analyze if what we’re doing is in fact the most important thing we could be doing, or if our priorities are off. By reflecting, we can determine if we’re getting sidetracked by what is urgent while missing what's truly important.
2Ask yourself why you're doing what you're doing
Am I reacting in a flash of temper? Is it possible I'm indulging my vanity, hoping others will notice how efficient I am compared to my other colleagues? Am I acting out of pride, because someone hurt my feelings and I want revenge? Are my actions really hiding my laziness, because it's easier to forge ahead without having to work out the details first?
3Look at the consequences of what you're doing
If we really think about what we’re doing, we’ll realize that acting on impulse has consequences. It's better to acknowledge that ahead of time than to have regrets later on. So, stop for a moment and try to honestly foresee what the results of your actions will be. This can be especially helpful when it comes to what we say to others, how we spend money, what we “like” on social networks, and how we raise our children.
Yes, stopping to think things through and avoiding impulsive actions may slow us down a bit, but ultimately it will also make us more effective and happier.
