Our kitchen counter used to have a frame displayed vertically on a small easel stand. It’s one of those boards designed to hold any custom message you’d like based on the plastic letters that came with the set. For a long time, it read as follows: “The slower you go the faster you win the race…or something like that.” 

This quote stems from a good laugh we had as a family a few years ago while watching a reality TV show. The show featured a race between two families backpacking through the mountains. One daughter, trying to sound wise during an interview, attempted to recite Aesop’s famous fable, The Tortoise and the Hare. She meant to say "slow and steady wins the race," but her version came out completely differently. 

Ironically, even though her statement didn’t align with Aesop, it struck a chord that it really has some great application to life. For example, in a world obsessed with hyper-productivity and digital speed, you’ve got to wonder if this "misquote" is actually the secret to living well, staying mentally stable and forming more meaningful and lasting relationships.

The Digital Hare vs. The Digital Tortoise

In the digital world, we are conditioned to believe that speed is everything. We measure success by how quickly we check our notifications, how fast we respond to emails, and how instantly we can consume content. We treat our technology usage like a race, terrified that if we "slow down," we’ll fall behind.

The Trap of the "Hare" Mentality

When we rush through our digital interactions, we are living like the "Hare." We sprint from one notification to the next, our attention fragmented, our stress levels spiking, and our relationships suffering because we are physically present but digitally elsewhere. We are winning the race to be "fast," but we are losing the race to be "present."

The "Tortoise" Framework for Tech

The "Tortoise" approach is different. It is about Deliberate Presence. By slowing down your digital consumption, you actually gain speed in the areas of life that matter most:

• Intellectual Clarity & Focus: Deep work and critical thinking require pauses. When you remove the constant dopamine hits of the "Hare" pace, your brain actually accelerates its ability to solve problems.
• Relationship Depth & True Connection: Connection cannot be rushed. It takes "slower" time—uninterrupted conversations, eye contact, and focused play—to build the trust that leads to long-term family stability.

By slowing down and choosing how and when you interact with the digital world, you aren’t falling behind. You are intentionally getting where you want to be—a life of connection and purpose—much faster than the person who is sprinting toward burnout.

Today’s 60-Second Action Step: The "Speed Bump"

Today, I want you to introduce a "speed bump" into your digital flow.

For the next 24 hours, if you feel the urge to pick up your phone to check a notification, wait 10 seconds before you do. Use those 10 seconds to determine whether checking it will interrupt a project you’re focused on, disrupt a meaningful conversation, or unnecessarily pull you away from something more important.

That tiny, deliberate pause is your speed bump. It moves you from a reactive "Hare" mode back into "Tortoise" mode. During those 10 seconds, ask yourself: Am I choosing this, or is this choosing me? You’ll be surprised at how often you realize you don’t actually need to check it right now.

Download your Digital Wellness Self-Assessment to see where you should begin making improvements today!