We live in a world that’s always moving at such a fast pace.

However, that doesn’t mean we should choose to be hurried.

We often think we are helping ourselves by getting more done at quicker speeds, but, in reality, we’re inducing greater stress onto ourselves.

No one takes the time to stroll, anymore. We walk at a faster pace so we can get there quickly and move on to the next thing.

We rush because we feel like we must.

There’s a trend claiming to want to slow things down — the rise of the “slow productivity” movement.

It involves things like slow food, slow innovation, slow media, etc.

The movement has three major principles: Do fewer things, work at a natural pace, and obsess over quality.

Right off the bat, I wasn’t convinced by it.

Slow productivity sounds somewhat contradictory and can even have a negative connotation. And it’s just not the world we live in.

But if we instead think of slow as a way to rework, compose, gather, develop, etc., there could be great growth to come along with that movement. And we never stop changing and surprising ourselves.

To be clear, slow food doesn’t simply mean eating slower — though it could, to properly savor the food we eat — but it also means taking the time to make it.

We rely greatly on fast-food chains in America because it fits into our schedule. Instead, we should take more time to consider what we eat not only for our health but for genuine enjoyment.

In that version, we can take it “slow” and turn it into “composing.”

Composing meals can mean plenty of things. It could be to put more thought into meals, take time to grocery shop and get fresh produce, have a thorough cooking process, share the food with others, or consider the dinner conversation you might have with others.

Slow innovation is understood similarly. The latest and greatest of things should take time. “Rome wasn’t built in a day,” and all.

With innovation, “slow” can mean “developing.”

More modernly applicable, a new iPhone a year may seem shiny, new, and exciting. But, often, new pieces of technology like the iPhone can come with bugs and needed upgrades. It might take another year before it reaches its full potential. Would it be so bad to simply wait another year? Must we have the latest and greatest right then and there?

For the sake of the newspaper, slow media could be a game-changer and could really bond the community to their local press.

In a time of instant information and quick communication, it becomes easier to make mistakes and mislead the reader.

People want to know everything right away, when, in truth, no one usually knows all the details right away. And with time comes trust.

We could turn “slow” to “developing” when it comes to news.

Take the recent shooting at a splash pad in Rochester, for example.

Seeing the news, the immediate questions that came to mind included how many were injured, the identity of the shooter, what was their motive, what the next steps are, and plenty of other questions that would help us make sense of an incomprehensible situation.

The news industry is quick to send the breaking news, but people get frustrated with so many unanswered questions.

If we were to grow more comfortable with slow media, it would allow the journalist to talk to more sources and gather more information to piece together a story that has all the facts and information that the reader is searching for.

I understand that, as a society, we have grown quite accustomed to getting information fast. And, with so many resources out there, it’s always a competition to get the most information and the quickest to gain readership.

But I think the quality of an article can speak louder than something that’s out there just to be first, or whatever the reasoning might be.

Maybe it defeats the purpose of breaking news, but, in theory, I think there could be great potential in slowing things down.

Slowing things down also allows you to take in the moment while you’re in it. Instead of having memories, we can make them and expand within them.

With work, that allows for time management, prioritization, and focus. Not only at your job but with any task at hand.

I recognize that it’s still quite an unlikely feat. Especially working for The News, we want to have the best of both worlds, to have information quickly and to ensure its quality, though it may be unreasonable at times.

But, maybe, as for myself, I’ll take into consideration slower productivity in my personal life.

Hopefully, in time, I’ll reap some of the benefits that come with it.

Torianna Marasco can be reached at 989-358-5686 or tmarasco@thealpenanews.com.