Slow Down to Speed Up - Rethinking Productivity for a Sustainable Future
In a world that glorifies busyness, it’s easy to believe that making a difference requires constant action. But true impact doesn’t come from relentless hustle—it comes from intention, presence, and trust in the process.
Climate optimism isn’t about ignoring the urgency of our time; it’s about shifting how we engage with it. Instead of burning out, we must learn to work with flow, creativity, and deep-rooted resilience. Yes, it’s time we shift the narrative on our work culture too.
Lessons Learned From Motherhood
Building a better future requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to unlearn and relearn. Like parenting, it’s in the in-between moments—when we pause, reflect, and reconnect with ourselves—that we find clarity and purpose.
These reflections, drawn from my personal journey, remind me that sustainability isn’t just about the planet; it’s about how we live.
We must recognize that we are creating our tomorrow today, and that goes for the laws we institute as well as the practices we embrace and nurture. We need an energetic shift just as much as we need to change how we do business. The empowering part is that we can start the transformation right here, right now, in how we think about life and the pace we go about creating it.
Here are a few lessons about productivity, creativity, presence, and well-being that have shaped not only my approach to life and parenthood, but my activism too.
8 Things Motherhood Has Taught Me:
🌿 Busy is a mindset, I can sometimes get as much done in minimum hours of “work time” as long as they’re infused with intention and focus.
🌿 Big creative ideas come to me in the “in-between” time when I’m cleaning the house, playing with my daughter, or rocking my baby to sleep. I’ve learned that movement and mind wandering are essential for flow and intuitive pings!! In this regard, my productivity has almost increased since becoming a full-time mama — I tend to focus on the right things.
🌿 If I’m not well taken care of, everything else falters. This includes my work productivity, creativity, and the well-being of the rest of the family.
🌿 On this note - healthy boundaries are EVERYTHING. Know what you need in this very moment, and be honest with yourself about what that is. (This applies to non-parents too, obviously)
🌿 Time really does go by so fast. Looking at my girl and understanding that she was the size of my son only two years ago is truly wild and mind-blowing. If we don’t show up for the present, we’ll soon be looking back and wishing for the past.
🌿 My main mission as a mom is not to teach our kids my ways but to open up fully to invite the many ways I can unlearn and relearn what I’d once forgotten. Having kids is being invited to become a child once again. And yes, it’s magical in all sorts of ways.
🌿 Life is friggin hard sometimes. Laughter, hugs, and kisses are essential to get by. And there’s always tomorrow, anyway.
🌿 Be kind, especially to yourself! ♥️
Slow Down to Speed Up
How do you approach your climate work today? Is it from a place of grounded intention or do you easily get stuck in tunnel vision, anger and fear, fueled by the urgency of the crisis we’re facing? If so, how much is it impacting your ability to nurture hope and be creative?
Remember that although speed is important, how we activate that speed matters. We must learn to slow down to speed up! (If that makes sense?!)
To share an excerpt from my book:
Don’t get me wrong; it’s good to be busy too. For the work in front of us building a better and more sustainable world, we need to accelerate and start sprinting. But in this sprint, in this climb to reach new heights, it’s absolutely essential we pause from time to time to let our souls catch up.
Because if we don’t, how will we know we’re sprinting in the right direction? How will we know we’re embarking on the right climb? And most importantly, how will we enjoy the journey there if we’re not spiritually in our bodies, enjoying all the precious moments we were brought to Earth to have?
Psst…
Just a reminder that we get into this and so much more in The Climate Optimist Course. If you’re curious to learn what it’s about, head over to my website. 🌝
I need a sign over my desk that reminds me to pause in order to properly appreciate the sprint!