Impuls 10 - Unrush Time

The hidden rush in our lives

In our modern world, speed is often seen as a virtue. Those who get a lot done are considered productive. Those who are fast are seen as being ahead. But this way of thinking comes at a price, and it’s higher than we often care to admit.

The true value of decelerated time

Slowing down time doesn’t mean achieving less. It means living more consciously and increasing the quality of your experiences. When we constantly put ourselves under time pressure, we live in a permanent state of tension. Our body releases stress hormones, our mind can’t come to rest and, paradoxically, we make more mistakes and ultimately need more time to complete tasks.

Time is not just a measure of productivity – it is the currency of our life.

The art of consciously slowing your pace

Deceleration begins with a conscious decision to take your foot off the gas. Here are some powerful methods that can help you:

1. Create buffer zones between activities
   Plan deliberate transitions. If you have to rush from one meeting to the next, your mind never has a chance to process what has happened or prepare for what’s ahead.

• Plan 10–15 minutes between appointments

• Use this time to breathe, reflect or take a short walk

• Avoid filling these breaks with emails or social media

2. Practice mindful transitions

Transitions between different areas of life – from work to home, from waking to sleeping – are important moments that we often underestimate.

• Create rituals for these transitions (e.g. a short walk after work)

• Consciously let go of what lies behind you before you turn to what’s next

• Give your mind permission to switch modes

3. Reduce the pacing of your day

Less is often more. A day with three deep, meaningful activities can be more fulfilling than a day with ten superficial tasks.

• Question critically what really needs to be done today

• Batch similar tasks to reduce mental switching

• Intentionally schedule empty spaces into your day

The connection to Nordic “Hygge” and slow living

The concept of deceleration has its counterparts in various philosophies of life around the world. The Danish idea of “Hygge” (pronounced: hoo-gah) stands for an atmosphere of coziness and well-being, in which you consciously enjoy the simple and everyday things. The slow living movement, in turn, encourages us to shape every aspect of our lives – from eating to working – with more mindfulness and less haste.

What both concepts share with Unrush Time: they all recognize that true quality of life is not found in the quantity of experiences, but in their depth.

Practical implementation: your 10-minute tempo reduction

The reflection question for this time impulse is: Where will you gift yourself 10 minutes of reduced tempo today?

Here are a few ideas for how you could use these 10 minutes:

• Morning ritual: Get up 10 minutes earlier and start the day with calm instead of rush

• Lunch break: Spend 10 minutes in complete silence or in nature

• After-work transition: Take 10 minutes to consciously shift from work mode into your private life

• Evening wind-down: Reduce digital stimuli in the evening and give yourself 10 minutes to reflect

The paradox of time: moving slower to experience more

It may sound contradictory, but by slowing down we can actually perceive and experience more of life. When we live in permanent fast-forward, we miss the details, the nuances and the little wonders of everyday life.

Deceleration creates space for:

• Deeper conversations and connections

• Creativity and new ideas

• Intuition and inner wisdom

• Genuine rest and regeneration

Ruled by the clock – or self-determined?

In an environment full of time pressure, a conscious relationship with time can be an act of self-determination. Instead of being driven by the clock, you can learn to see time as an ally.

A watch can be a valuable instrument in this – not to rush you, but to remind you to handle your time consciously. Watches that embody a decelerated concept of time – such as single-hand watches that only display the hours – can be daily companions on your path to a more relaxed way of dealing with time.

Your decision for more calm

The question remains: Where can you consciously “stretch” time today to experience more ease?

Maybe it’s your commute, which you no longer see as a tiresome obligation, but as valuable transition time. Or dinner, where you take the time to savor every bite instead of glancing at your smartphone on the side.

Slowing down time is not a luxury decision – it is a necessity for a balanced, fulfilling and ultimately healthy life. Because it’s not about how many hours we live, but how much life is in our hours.

A timepiece that embodies an alternative concept of time – such as a single-hand watch or a 24-hour watch – can definitely serve as a daily source of inspiration. It reminds you visually to perceive time differently and to handle it more consciously.

This time impulse is part of our Your Time principle—a philosophy that helps you develop a new awareness of your personal time and manage it more confidently. Discover all 28 time impulses and change your view of time.

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