We live in a world that seems to reward speed.
Answer the email. Get to the next meeting. Finish the workout. Make the reservation. Post the photo. Check the notifications. Start the next thing. Even our downtime has now somehow become an opportunity to be productive. We listen to podcasts while walking, answer emails over breakfast, scroll through our phones while watching television, and somehow feel guilty when we spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing.
I've found myself doing this more than I'd like to admit and as I write this, I'm also reflecting upon how I can not see rest and slowness as "unproductive".
And lately I've been thinking about what it means to slow down - not necessarily to do less, but to experience more of what we're already doing, instead of chasing the next thing.
Perhaps being a gentleman in 2026 is no longer just about knowing which fork to use at dinner or always having the perfect outfit. Maybe it's also about knowing when to put the phone down, take your time, and actually be present.
Here are some ways I've been trying to bring a little more slowness into everyday life.
Starting the Day Without Rushing
There's something to be said for not starting your day in a panic.
I'm not suggesting everyone needs a 2 hour morning routine involving meditation, journaling and a perfectly curated breakfast, but sometimes you just need a few extra minutes and shouldn't feel bad giving yourself that extra time - just like when you're planning on being early.
Make your coffee or tea. Sit down while you drink it. Open a window. Listen to some music (here's an album that's worth checking out). Give yourself a little time before the day starts demanding your attention.
There's a noticeable difference between waking up and immediately reaching for your phone and waking up with the feeling that you actually have somewhere to be - but don't have to rush there. I've found the latter always sets a very different tone for the day.
Making a Ritual Out of the Everyday
One of my favourite ways to slow down is to turn ordinary things into small rituals.
Making tea or pour-over coffee are good examples.
You could boil the kettle, pour the water and be done with it. Or you can actually take a few minutes to make something you enjoy and appreciate the process.
The same applies to cooking dinner, getting dressed, making coffee or even polishing your shoes.
None of these things need to become elaborate ceremonies. The point is simply to pay attention.
There's a certain satisfaction in doing something well when nobody is asking you to.
Getting Dressed With Intention
Slowing down can even change the way you approach getting dressed.
We're surrounded by convenience: throw on whatever is closest, check the weather, grab your bag and go.
But taking a few minutes to consider what you're wearing can be surprisingly grounding.
Think about where you're going, how the weather feels, what you'll be doing and what you actually feel comfortable in.
Maybe that's putting on a favourite knit instead of the first sweatshirt you find. Maybe it's wearing a pair of chinos that you've been saving for the right occasion.
Clothing doesn't have to be complicated to be intentional. Sometimes getting dressed well is simply a way of showing up for yourself.
Leaving Some Space in Your Calendar
This might be the hardest one.
We're very good at filling empty space.
If Saturday afternoon is free, we find something to do. If there's an empty evening, we make plans. If we're sitting around with nothing happening, we reach for our phones.
But not every moment needs to be occupied.
Try leaving some space in your calendar without deciding in advance what you're going to do with it.
Go for a walk. Read. Cook something. Sit outside. Visit a neighbourhood you've never explored. Or stay home and enjoy your space.
The important part is that the time doesn't need to accomplish anything.
Free time doesn't have to become another item on your to-do list.
Taking the Long Way
One of the simplest ways to slow down is to occasionally take the long way or the scenic route.
Walking or cycling somewhere instead of driving if you have the time. Taking a different route home. Wandering through a neighbourhood without having a specific destination.
I've found that when I'm always focused on getting somewhere, I miss everything happening along the way.
And some of the best moments typically aren't the ones we planned.
It can be the coffee shop we happened to walk past. The conversation we weren't expecting. The park we didn't know was there. The sunset we would have missed if we'd been staring at a screen.
Sometimes getting there isn't the point.
Putting Your Phone Away During Dinner
This one feels almost painfully obvious and yet it's surprisingly difficult.
Put the phone away. Not face down on the table. Not beside your plate. Away.
Dinner is one of those increasingly rare moments when we have the opportunity to sit with other people without being interrupted every few minutes by something happening somewhere else.
Whether you're eating at a restaurant or sitting around your kitchen table, give the people you're with your attention.
Good conversation deserves it. So does good food.
Learn to Enjoy Your Own Company
Slowing down also means becoming comfortable with a little solitude.
Go for a coffee alone. Have lunch somewhere you've been meaning to try. Take a walk without putting on a podcast. Sit somewhere and watch the world go by. You deserve it!
We're constantly connected to other people, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're comfortable being by ourselves.
There's something refreshing about having a little time where nobody needs anything from you.
No notifications. No expectations. No performance.
Just you.
Spending More Time Outside
There may not be a better antidote to a busy week than getting outside (and touching grass).
You don't need to plan an epic hike or disappear into the wilderness for three days. Go for a walk through the city. Sit in a park. Take a trip to the mountains. Spend an afternoon near the water.
Being outside has a way of putting things back into perspective and slowing time down - and perhaps that's part of the appeal of fall in particular. The changing temperatures and shorter days naturally encourage us to slow down a little: to put on a jacket, take a walk, find somewhere warm and settle in.
There's something about the season that makes a slower pace feel appropriate.
Not Trying to Document Everything
As someone who spends a lot of time creating content, this one is probably the hardest for me.
When you're used to photographing what you eat, where you go, what you're wearing and where you're travelling, it's easy to start experiencing life through the lens of whether it will make a good post.
But not every good moment needs to become content; You can often have a great meal without taking a photo, discover somewhere beautiful without immediately sharing it, wear an outfit you love without photographing it, or travel somewhere and simply be there.
There's a lot of value in having experiences that belong entirely to you.
Do Less, but Do It Better
Perhaps slowing down isn't really about doing less, it's about doing things with more intention.
Instead of 3 rushed coffees, enjoy 1.
Instead of constantly buying new clothes, learn to appreciate the ones you already have.
Instead of checking your phone during a conversation, be part of the conversation.
Instead of rushing through dinner, enjoy the meal.
Instead of worrying about what's next, occasionally pay attention to what's happening right now.
That, to me, is the real luxury. Not having more time, but making better use of the time you already have.
Remember: A Gentleman Doesn't Need to Rush
There's something inherently appealing about a person who doesn't seem to be in a constant hurry. Not because they're slow or unproductive, but because they're comfortable enough to take their time.
Be the person who listens when others are speaking. Enjoy your meal. Notice the details. Take care of the things you own. Make time for people that matter. Try not to constantly look over your shoulder for whatever comes next.
Perhaps that's what slowing down really means; not completely abandoning ambition or becoming less productive, but remembering that life isn't a race to get through.
So make the tea. Take the long way home. Wear the good jacket. Stay a little longer over dinner. Put your phone away.
And every once in a while, give yourself permission to do absolutely nothing.
You might be surprised by how much you notice when you finally stop rushing past it.
As always, thank you for reading.