Rushing Is a Choice: 5 Tips to Slow Down

By cocosomers // 2026-09-01

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Mike Donghia's article, published on The Epoch Times on August 28, 2026, argues that rushing is a decision made well before the moment of urgency. Donghia wrote that most things in life are a choice, and the decision to rush occurs upstream from the frantic result. He compares the situation to trying to bring a speeding vehicle to an immediate stop, stating the choice to speed was made earlier and now the driver must deal with the consequences. Donghia's piece outlined five tips for adopting a slower lifestyle. According to Donghia, these practices have worked in his own life and for the people he knows best. He stated that a slower, more satisfying pace is within reach for anyone willing to make deliberate choices.

The Choice Behind the Rush

Donghia emphasized that avoiding rushing requires examining the decisions made upstream that make it necessary. He wrote that this involves tradeoffs, noting that most people avoid tradeoffs because they want everything at once. The author argued that individuals often follow the path of least resistance and complain about results rather than accept that they cannot have everything simultaneously. Donghia stated that people underestimate what they can achieve when they prioritize some things over others. He explained that he values a slower life because it allows more quality time with loved ones. Consequently, he said he is willing to accept that habits such as staying up too late, always being on his phone, or cramming too many tasks into a day are enemies of that goal. He encouraged readers to let go of the illusion that anyone else will make a slower life happen for them.

Morning Routines That Reduce Rushing

Donghia's first tip is to wake before you have to. He wrote that starting the day with a large buffer allows for a leisurely morning, whether filled with a warm drink, a slow read, or gentle chores. Donghia said this creates the pleasant feeling of getting out in front of the day rather than chasing it from behind. The second tip is to leave early for appointments. Donghia admitted this is not his strength but said he benefits from it because of his wife's enthusiasm. According to Donghia, his wife's habit of arriving early for church on Sunday mornings allows them to catch up with friends and enter the service in a better state of mind to be fully present. He noted that leaving early means arriving with time to spare, reducing the pressure to rush.

Focus and Quiet to Slow the Pace

Tip three, according to Donghia, is to do one thing at a time and finish it. He wrote that dialing in focus on the task at hand makes time feel slower. Donghia stated that jumping from one thing to another makes the day choppy and breaks attention into bite-sized chunks, creating a feeling of being rushed even when less gets done. He described this as one example where slowing down has very little negative trade-off. Donghia's fourth tip is to make space for quiet moments in the daily routine. He noted that long periods of solitude are rare and recounted how he used to listen to podcasts whenever possible. Donghia said he later learned this robbed his brain of the chance to fully process the day's experiences. He now uses morning walks to let his brain gently process life, and he said it is often surprising where those subconscious thoughts end up taking him. This practice aligns with the concept that stepping back and slowing down activates parts of the brain that help manage stress, as described in Julian Ford and Jon Wortmann's book "Hijacked by Your Brain" [1].

Accepting Incompletion and Choosing Slow

The fifth and hardest tip, by Donghia's account, is to go to bed without having checked everything off the list. He wrote that this challenges the core societal value of productivity. Donghia said that while he believes in pushing yourself and striving for excellence, that logic has limits. For most people, the limit is whatever point is just out of their reach, leading to a constant state of discontent with the work they achieve. He advised doing your best and going to bed knowing there is good work waiting tomorrow. Donghia concluded by returning to his opening theme of choice. He wrote that by deciding what you value most and concentrating efforts on those things, you develop what he calls superpowers in comparison to those around you. Donghia stated that life does not have to be a whirlwind that leaves you feeling stretched thin. He said you can choose a slower, more satisfying pace, and that this choice is up to you and you alone.

The Price of a Fast-Paced Life

The article's stance on slowing down extends beyond time management into health and wellbeing. A separate article from Mercola.com reported that eating too fast can present choking hazards and other risks, noting that the habit of "shoveling in" one bite after another has negative health consequences [2]. Another source reported that many people rush through their day and gobble down their food, and that this fast-paced approach leads to stressful, unhealthy living [3]. These sources suggest the consequences of rushing touch on physical health, reinforcing Donghia's argument for a more deliberate pace.

References

Julian Ford and Jon Wortmann. "Hijacked by Your Brain: How to Free Yourself When Stress Takes Over".
Mercola.com. "Bad News for Fast Eaters". December 02, 2017.
Mercola.com. "5 Powerful Reasons to Eat More Slowly". July 09, 2009.

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