Slowmaxxing and the Missing Piece

My book's first media mention!

I was featured in a Vice article about the growing trend of “slowmaxxing,” a movement encouraging people to push back against a culture obsessed with optimization and productivity by “maxxing out” their slowness.

I have to admit, slowmaxxing is weird. “Maxxing” and “slowing down” are a bit contradictory. But in a world that’s indexed toward faster, I’m glad to see people (on social media, no less) exploring a different direction.

The article included several of my reflections on why slowing down matters. One of my favorite quotes was:

“When there is time between meetings and events, we inhabit those experiences differently. We can pay more attention to the tone of our friend’s voice than the clock.”

That captures something I care deeply about: slowing down isn’t just about reducing stress. It’s a portal to the present moment. It changes how we experience our lives and the precious moments that are so easy to skip over.

But the final article also reminded me of the nuance I hope my book and this Substack add to the conversation.

What I’d Add to Slowmaxxing

The first thing is that slowing down, I don’t think, is the right goal. Instead, I think the goal should be becoming more intentional about the pace at which we move through life.

Sometimes that pace should be slower. Sometimes we have things to do (!) and we need to move deliberately. In those moments, the question isn’t whether we’re maxxing our slow; it’s finding the speed that supports the life we’re trying to live.

The second thing I’d add is the relational benefits of slowing down. Many wellness trends focus on how good it feels to take bubble baths and say “No” to things. But I think it’s important to remember that slowing down also helps us to care for one another. That could be spending a bit more time with a homeless person, a lost tourist, or a harried colleague. Or being a better listener with a friend who says “I’m good,” but with a somber tone in their voice.

So here’s my fuller take on slowmaxxing: I’m all for it. It’s a counterweight to our default speed-obsessed culture. But let’s remember that slowing down isn’t the point. The point is living more intentionally and creating space to notice what–and who–matters.

Read the full Vice article here, and let me know: what you think about #slowmaxxing? What does it get right? What does it leave out?