The Power of Pomalo: Why Taking It Easy is The Ultimate Life Goal

Wednesday, 25 February 2026

In a world of instant gratification and high-speed everything, the underlying message seems to be that if we aren’t super busy at all times, we’re not getting it all done, not being productive, not girl-bossing hard enough. But as summer breathes it’s last and I lean into autumn and the spirit of Lent, I’ve realised that I have zero interest in the neverending hustle and glorification of busy.

Instead, wherever I can, I’m choosing to ground myself in the timeless Dalmatian art of pomalo.

What is Pomalo?

If you’ve ever sat in a cafe in Split during the summer months you definitely would have seen it without even realising. Locals lingering in their favourite cafe over a couple of macchiato’s, seemingly for hours on end, chatting without a care or hint of stress, is the perfect example.

Pomalo is, by it’s very nature, effortless. It’s a shrug of the shoulders, knowing there’s plenty of time for everything even when there might not be. It’s spontaneity and going with the flow. Literally, it translates to slowly, but that doesn’t quite capture the soul of it. It’s an attitude, a way of living. It’s slow down, relax, chill, and it’s all going to be okay all wrapped up in one word.

Pomalo is the antithesis of the busyness we wear like a badge, it’s the refusal to let a clock or deadline dictate your blood pressure. It’s knowing that the world won’t stop spinning if you take another twenty minutes to finish your coffee, and that there’s always time for one more drink.

Pomalo is the shrug given to a stressed-out tourist whose minute-by-minute itinerary just went out the window; it’s the philosophy of the fisherman carefully and methodically mending his nets before heading home, ready to do it all again tomorrow.

It’s undeniable that being busy is the default setting of the 21st century. It’s the white noise of our lives. Saying you’re busy in 2026 is like saying you’re breathing. We’re all in the same boat, rowing as fast as we can. But lately, busy just feels… boring. It’s a toxic distraction that keeps us from the very things that make life so delicious.

And let’s be honest, being busy isn’t a personality trait. It’s doesn’t mean we’re special or important. And it’s definitely not an interesting conversation starter.

Living Pomalo this Lent

This Lenten season, my fast isn’t just about what’s on my plate; it’s about the tempo of my heart. I’m choosing to silence the noise and notifications of my mobile phone while trying to ease the pressure of the never-complete to do list, but I’m also trying to fast from the ridiculous pace demanded by the world I inhabit.

I’ve learned that God can’t really be heard in the whirlwind of all our busyness; He speaks in a whisper when we silence the noise and create a quieter space. And you can’t really hear a whisper when you’re too busy sprinting to the next thing on your list. By adopting a slower pace, I’m choosing to hear what actually matters. And by carving out some silence, I’m inviting God in.

Will I fail miserably time after time as I struggle to switch off from the internal noise and endless demands? Of course. But I no longer wish to keep racing toward a finish line that doesn’t exist. So here I’ll be, trying to live my life a little more pomalo in any way I can, bit by bit, taking any wins that may come my way with that oh-so-Dalmatian shrug of the shoulders, and a smile.