Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast
Part 3: Stress-Free Family Travel Tips from KYD
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
The tortoise teaches us valuable lessons about travel and life.
The Family Road Trip Gone Wrong
You’ve been planning this family road trip for months. The car’s packed, kids are buckled in, and you’re ready to go – except for that nagging feeling that you’re forgetting something. You’ve been racing against the clock all week to pull it together. Last-minute packing, frantically confirming reservations, rushing through checklists. The more you rush, the more the pressure mounts. And then – disaster strikes!
You’re 4 hours into your drive and, suddenly, the GPS isn’t working, your phone isn’t getting any service, the coffee spills on your lap, and, to top it all off, someone forgot to pack the snacks! Now, you’ll have to pull into an unfamiliar town, spending time and money you hadn’t anticipated to get things back on track. Everyone's frustrated. Time’s ticking, and it feels like the trip is falling apart just after it began.
You wanted this trip to be perfect, to run smoothly, but now it’s starting to feel like a race you can’t win. Panic sets in. How did it all go wrong?
The Philosophy of "Slow is Smooth & Smooth is Fast”
In this blog post, we’re discussing our all-time favorite quote from Marc and Tricia Leach from Keep Your Daydream. If you’ve ever followed their RV adventures, you know they’re all about embracing the journey and finding joy in the small moments. But one piece of wisdom from them has stuck with us above all others:
“Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast.”
Seems counterintuitive, right? How would slowing things down help you be fast? The idea behind "Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast" is simple but profound. It’s about intentionality, patience, and understanding that doing things correctly, even if it takes more time upfront, often yields better results in the long run.
This concept isn't just about travel; it's about life.The idea that slowing down can somehow make you go faster. Rushing through life – whether it’s a road trip or your day-to-day – only creates more stress and mistakes. By taking your time, focusing on the details, and moving with intention, you actually end up getting to your destination faster, and with far fewer headaches.
What Does "Slow is Smooth & Smooth is Fast" Mean?
The concept behind "Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast" is rooted in the idea that careful, deliberate action often leads to greater efficiency. It’s about recognizing that slowing down helps prevent mistakes, allows you to enjoy the process, and ultimately leads to smoother, faster outcomes. The principle applies not just to travel, but to almost every area of life.
Marc and Tricia Leach often share this philosophy on their KYD YouTube channel. Whether they’re navigating cross-country RV trips, making big life decisions, or dealing with the unexpected, they emphasize the importance of moving with intention. They remind us that slowing down isn’t about procrastination or stagnation; it’s about avoiding the pitfalls that come with trying to do too much too fast.
In a society where speed is often valued over accuracy and depth, this principle serves as a timely reminder that sometimes, fast isn’t the best option. Rushing through life – whether it’s a family trip or a career decision – can cause us to miss important details and opportunities. We might get to the destination quicker, but at what cost?
The Dangers of Rushing Through Travel & Life
When we rush, we often think we’re saving time. We cut corners. We push ourselves to the brink, trying to keep up with the pace we think life demands of us. But moving too fast leads to forgotten details, missed turns, and avoidable mistakes. Just like that family road trip you were so excited for – it’s easy to let the stress of urgency ruin the experience.
This article from Inc. provides some great strategies to help you slow down. “Rushing to get done as fast as possible so you can take more on can mean you don't think through the job as critically, and that you make more mistakes. So then what happens? You end up having to rework things, or you have to go back and fix errors. In that case, your initial rushing only has created the illusion you're getting ahead, and you've added the risk of others getting irritated because you didn't do the job right the first time.”
Think about it: how many times have you rushed out the door, only to have to turn back because you forgot something? Or spent more time fixing mistakes because you didn’t slow down to do it right the first time? When we push too hard, we burn out and lose focus, making our path even longer.
The Power of Slowing Down
Marc and Tricia’s philosophy reminds us that the best journeys – both in travel and in life – are the ones where we take the time to be deliberate. Moving slowly doesn’t mean laziness or procrastination. It means being thoughtful about your steps. It means organizing your gear before throwing it into the car, double-checking reservations, and pacing yourself.
Slowing down actually speeds up your progress. Why? Because it reduces chaos. It keeps you centered and in control, so you’re less likely to make mistakes that set you back. Whether you’re planning a cross-country road trip or simply managing everyday life, slow and smooth equals fast in the end.
Embracing Slow Travel
Slow travel is the perfect embodiment of "Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast." Instead of hopping from one tourist destination to the next, slow travel encourages a deeper connection with the places you visit. It’s about staying longer in one location, immersing yourself in the culture, and savoring the experience.
When you travel slowly, you allow yourself time to breathe. You avoid the frantic pace of trying to see everything in one trip, which often leaves you feeling more exhausted than refreshed. Slow travel encourages you to explore at a pace that feels natural, giving you time to notice the little things – the local cafes, the street art, the conversations with locals – that you would otherwise miss in a rush.
In our own travels, we’ve found that slowing down leads to richer experiences. We’ve met locals who offered unique insights into their culture, discovered hidden gems that weren’t in any guidebook, and left feeling more connected to the places we’ve visited. Moving too quickly would have meant missing out on these meaningful moments.
Slow & Smooth: How It Works in Travel & Life
According to Civic Science “When it comes to [travel] planning and booking, 71% of U.S. adults who make travel arrangements say the process is at least somewhat stressful for them. This percentage jumps to 78% among parents with children under 18 and 77% among moms.”
Here’s where this philosophy really comes into play for family adventures. Instead of rushing through planning and packing, take a step back. Organize, think ahead, and break tasks into smaller steps. By taking your time on the front end, you’ll save yourself stress and frustration later.
This philosophy doesn’t just apply to travel. Life moves fast, and it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle. But when you slow down you can approach everything with more intention. Slowing down lets you enjoy the journey instead of just racing to the finish line. Whether it’s work, relationships, or personal growth, the principle remains the same: slowing down leads to smoother, more meaningful results.
At work, taking the time to double-check your tasks, communicate clearly, and plan ahead can prevent mistakes and lead to greater productivity in the long run. In relationships, being present and listening deeply can strengthen connections and build trust. In personal growth, giving yourself time to reflect and make deliberate choices can lead to lasting change.
A Lesson from KYD: The Power of Patience
Marc and Tricia didn’t start out with all the answers. Their journey with Keep Your Daydream was built over time, through trial and error, and with a lot of patience. One of the things they’ve consistently shared is that embracing a slower pace in their travels has led to some of their best adventures.
They didn’t rush into buying the perfect RV, nor did they expect instant success. Instead, they embraced the journey, taking each step as it came, learning from their experiences, and understanding that slow and steady wins the race!
How We Applied Slow & Smooth to Our Family Travels
This simple phrase has become a cornerstone in our lives, a reminder we turn to time and time again – especially when things get hectic. Here are a few examples of how we’ve applied this philosophy in our own travels and daily experiences (including one of how we didn’t and what we learned):
While we were putting the last of our belongings into storage and preparing for our full-time travel adventures, fitting everything into place became a giant game of Tetris. The day was long, our bodies were sore, and the overwhelming urge to just "get it done" was taking over. We started moving too quickly, losing focus, and risking not only mistakes but potential injuries.
That’s when Ellie, with her calm presence, reminded me: "Slow is smooth and smooth is fast." Her gentle words snapped me back to reality. Instead of rushing through the exhaustion, I slowed down, became more deliberate in my movements, and we were able to finish the job efficiently – without anyone getting hurt. In that moment, I realized the power of patience, and how taking a beat to refocus can save so much time, frustration, and pain in the long run.
Travel days are another perfect example of how we’ve embraced this philosophy. When we’re packing up to move from one location to the next – whether it’s a hotel or an Airbnb – we always make time for a final check to ensure we haven’t left anything behind. For years, Rachel has been the one responsible for this task, methodically going through each room, checking in drawers, behind doors, and under beds. Recently, Sophie has started learning this valuable step too, and it’s proven to be a game-changer. These careful inspections have saved us from losing countless items – whether it’s something tucked under blankets, hung on the back of a door, or tucked away in a dresser drawer.
We’ve also experienced failures where we’ve learned the importance of this practice the hard way. On one busy travel day, we rushed and left Sophie’s raincoat in a rental car because we skipped our usual, methodical routine. Since then, we’ve extended our inspections to include a careful check of our rental car before we turn it in.
This habit of slowing down, being thorough, and taking just a few extra minutes has paid off in ways that make travel smoother and less stressful. It’s a reminder that in both life and travel, the extra effort to move thoughtfully always saves time in the end.
Slow Down for a Better Journey
Remember that family road trip, the one where everything started to fall apart? Imagine if, in that chaotic moment, you took a deep breath and remembered Marc and Tricia’s advice: “Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast.” Instead of rushing to fix the problems, you pause. You pull into the nearest rest area or convenience store, get your GPS and phone working properly, double-check your directions, wipe up the spilled coffee, grab a few snacks, and calmly reassure the kids. You don’t race against time anymore – you move with it.
And suddenly, things begin to flow. The trip starts to go smoothly. You get to your destination only a few minutes later than expected – more importantly – you enjoy the ride. As we’re fond of saying in our family “Everything Always Works Out.” This doesn’t mean that things will go perfectly, or even according to plan. Instead, it means that you adjust as the adventure unfolds and welcome unexpected detours as a part of learning and enjoying the journey together.
Next time you’re tempted to rush – whether it’s on your next family vacation, in your job, or in your everyday life – remember this: “Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast.” Take a deep breath, focus on the task at hand, and move with intention. You’ll be amazed at how much faster, and smoother, your journey will become.
What areas of your life or family travel plans could benefit from embracing the “Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast” approach? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
