Slow Burn = Word of the Month

How to become a "Slow Burner" in a world that’s burnt out.

Sprinting to the Finish Line? Not So Fast

Today’s the first day of October, and the start of Q4. And I know for some of you, knowing that may trigger the urge to want to cram everything you haven’t done in before the year ends. Let me stop you right there—October ain’t the time for that. Instead of panicking and rushing, let’s use all the perspective we gained in September and shift our mindsets from rushing to patience. This month, we’re going slow and steady, step by step, with intention. We are not sprinting to the finish line because it’s not going anywhere. And if we really being honest *whispers* it doesn’t exist.

This is what my Slow Burn October looks like at a glance :

Slowing Down After a Fast September

Last month was a complete whirlwind for me and I have no idea how my head didn’t fall off? Here’s a glimpse at some of the things that were on my plate :

• New Product Development for Nüclei (take a guess in the comments of what this is)

  

• Creator Summit in San Francisco with Adobe

• Atlanta with Revolt World & Walmart

• Bermuda with Topicals leading their Brand Trip

• Keynote at NYFW with Smart Water & Essence

September was so high-energy and high-speed which makes sense why I started getting into Low Dopamine activities like arranging flowers any chance I could get. It’s what inspired my Slow Burn October in the first place. It was something that I never did before, but sharing it on Instagram and Tik Tok made me realize there’s a whole #LDG (Low Dopamine Gang) out there. (If this is you, say wassup in the comments below!)

For those with ADHD, our brains are wired for instant gratification. We thrive on quick wins and bursts of excitement, which makes it hard to stick with tasks that don’t offer immediate rewards. That’s why we like things that are fast paced, even though it’s not good for us mentally. This is where low dopamine activities and slow burn comes in. It forces you to develop discipline and patience—two things that can feel almost impossible when you're constantly chasing the next high fueled by anxiety. The slow burn helps you stay consistent, grow, and finish projects that might otherwise fall apart in the ADHD chaos.

Sabrina “Slow Burn” Carpenter

Speaking of patience, have you noticed Sabrina Carpenter is everywhere lately? She’s the perfect example of a "slow burner” and there’s a lot to learn from her journey. She had a single called "Can’t Blame a Girl for Trying" that came out back in 2014. It was good, but it wasn’t Espresso, the hit song that everyone fell in love with this summer.

Sabrina spent the last 10 years honing in on building her kaleidoscope world of multiple dimensions : acting, singing, entertaining, business, and producing. Each skill she developed fueled into the others, creating this unique and powerful force that allows her to dominates multiple industries currently. That’s the beauty of the slow burn. When you give yourself time to build across different areas by pouring into all of the different things that make you YOU, your talents start to compound, merge, and eventually transform into something bigger than you ever imagined. Today, with over 25 million Spotify listeners and 100 million followers, Sabrina Carpenter is a powerhouse. Her success wasn’t instant; it was built slowly, deliberately, and that’s inspiring.

How to Become a S.L.O.W. Burner in a world that’s burnt out

Ok so how does one go about becoming a slow burner? Here’s a simple guide to help transform your big ideas into low-dopamine, high-impact activities:

S: Simplify the Big Idea 🧠

• Break your big idea into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on one step at a time.
  Example: Want to completely rebrand yourself? Start by outlining all the things that need to happen in order to do that. Is it adopting a new style, a new tone, new circle? Break everything down into smaller tasks like that and dedicate the time to building out each out.

L: Limit Your Dopamine Hits 📉

• Cut out high dopamine distractions like social media during focused work time in order to train your brain to admire the long game.
  Example: Set a timer for 25 minutes of uninterrupted work, then take a break.

O: Organize for Consistency 📁

• Build a routine that can compound over time—consistency is key.
  Example: Dedicate 30 minutes each day to your project, whether it’s writing, planning, or researching.

W: Wait for the Payoff 🧎🏽‍♀️

• Be patient. Real progress takes time, and big results don’t happen overnight.
  Example: Instead of obsessing over metrics, track your consistency. Did you show up today? That’s a win.

Feel the heat, but don’t burn yourself.

If you’re still out here sprinting, looking for those quick wins, you’re missing the point. October isn’t about racing to the finish line. It’s about pacing yourself, letting the fire simmer, and trusting that the real magic is happening beneath the surface.

In a world obsessed with speed, dare to go slow. Because while everyone else is burning out, you’ll be building something that lasts. Something that hits harder, digs deeper, and can’t be easily shaken. The slow burn isn’t for the faint of heart, it’s for the ones playing the long game. So, ask yourself: are you ready to feel the heat, or will you let burnout dictate your pace?

Until next time, stay creative, stay open minded,
DonYe Taylor