My Squirrel Brain in the Slow Lane

A fast-thinker's guide to slowing down

I read a post by Alex Mathers from his Untethered Man Substack, and one of the tips he posted resonated greatly:

“Slow down your physical movements.

Most of us rush around like clothed chimps on crack, then wonder why life is going so fast, and we're always stressed.” - Alex Mathers

It got me thinking about the speed that I operate both physically and mentally.

My spirit animal is a squirrel

I walk fast, I think fast and I try to do everything fast. (Well, OK, not everything!)

My brain is constantly racing, juggling what I’m doing (or supposed to be doing) while processing every bit of stimulus I can see, hear, smell or feel.

The thought of slowing down in any way just makes me want to speed up even more, as if to offset the mental drag of even thinking about it.

I often get annoyed at my computer when I have to wait 4 seconds for a web page to load or 10 seconds for an app to launch.

I despise “intros” on YouTube videos and podcasts and unstoppable ads can fuck right off, especially the ones I've seen 100 times before. On the odd chance I do play a computer game I want to skip all the cutscenes and just play the game!

So I actively looked at how someone like me would go about starting to slooooow down a bit and maybe try to relaaaaax.

How to Slow Down When Your Brain Is Running at Warp Speed

If your brain’s a high-speed freight train and slowing down feels like torture, welcome to the club.

Slowing down isn’t about throwing an anchor overboard (mixing my metaphors, I know) that's only going to rip the anchor off the deck. Instead, think of it as learning how to control the speed of the train so you don’t skip the rails when you come to a corner.

Here are some ways I’m looking at to trick my squirrel brain into strategic slowing down, without losing the speed I rely on.

Cut out the Caffeine

Alex Mathers

told me that cutting down on caffeine would do a lot of the heavy lifting to calm a racing mind.

Unfortunately that experiment and experience has already been ticked off the list. I cut out tea, coffee and energy drinks in 2023 and after the withdrawal headaches had ceased I felt absolutely no difference. My mind circus was maybe even worse without it. The only thing I learned was that decaf tea and coffee don't taste any different to their drugged up compatriots.

While it didn't work for me, it may be just what you need.

Time Your Sprints

ADHD brains love a sprint, so let yourself fly, but set a timer. Give yourself 10, 20, 30 minutes of full-throttle work, then take a mini break.

You’re not actually “slowing down”, just giving your brain a checkpoint to stay on track.

I've used the Pomodoro method a lot and it does really help. I really enjoy noise cancelling headphones and a YouTube video with some kind of white noise with the Pomodoro timer built in.

There's loads to choose from if you like that extra bit of insulation from the world, like I do.

This is my go to at the moment with “Brown noise”. I'm listening to this right now.

Pursue Petit “Pause Points”

I'm sorry I went overboard on the alliteration there. Pause Points are quite different to the Pomodoro technique.

Think of these more as speed bumps, not stop signs. Every so often, pick a moment to pause, breathe, and actually look at what’s in front of you.

Ask yourself: What needs my focus next? Am I working on what I'm supposed to be or am I getting sidetracked? Then dive back in.

My watch has a movement monitor and it reminds me to move if I have been sat for a long time. I like to use this as my reminder to take a breath and pause.

Batch the Chaos

Instead of zig-zagging through five completely different projects in one go, try batching similar tasks together. This lets your brain stick to one mode for longer without fizzling out. You’re still moving fast, but with a bit of controlled chaos.

Close your email app and instant messenger and just crack on with your focus on the one thing, rather than the many.

This is a big one for me. I've got 5 screens on my desk battle station and whilst part of me thinks that it's a help, the other part knows it's a hindrance!

The Bitter Sweet Symphony Strut

Have you seen the iconic music video for The Verve’s "Bitter Sweet Symphony"? Richard Ashcroft strides down the street, cool and unbothered, bumping into people without breaking his stride.

Try it yourself. Maybe not the knocking people over bit, but that slow, purposeful strut. Whether you’re heading to the shop or just to the photocopier, walk consciously and confidently, almost in slow motion. It might sound a bit silly, but trust me, it’s a power move. Bonus points if you play the song in your headphones while you do it!

As Alex mentioned in his article, people who move more slowly often come across as more important than those in a rush. I definitely feel more in control when I'm walking like Richard Ashcroft.

For those of us with squirrel energy, we don’t have to become sloths.

Slowing down doesn’t have to mean losing momentum. With these little tricks, maybe we can find a way to direct the chaos, even if we’re still moving at a hundred miles an hour.

If you've got any tips on slowing down, mentally or physically I'd love to hear them, and if you've written about it yourself drop a link to your post.

Stay curious.