Today’s post is all about learning how to slow down in a world that seems to be moving faster all the time.
Why slow down?
In a world that often feels more fast-paced and hectic than ever, it’s easy to get overwhelmed just trying to keep up and fit everything into our days that we can't even enjoy them. If you find yourself feeling like you're always rushing from one thing to the next, learning how to slow down may be just what you need.
However, learning how to slow down isn’t always easy. It requires intentional effort to resist the societal norm that “busy is better” or that being busy equals productivity and importance. Choose to slow down instead.
When you intentionally slow down your days and your life, it helps you become more present and mindful in your days. And even better, when you aren’t rushing from one thing to the next, struggling just to keep up, life can be a lot more enjoyable too!
Maybe you’re ready to slow down, but don’t know exactly how to do it. How do you get out of the fast lane and embrace a slower pace of life? It can be easy to get into the habit of being on the go all the time that it leaves us feeling disconnected from those close to us. We have more tools, now than ever, to simplify tasks, and accomplish more in less time, yet our to-do-list has never been longer. Life is short and time flies, especially in today’s fast-paced world. I'm sharing with you below some simple and practical ideas that can be implemented today. Hopefully, over time, these suggestions will become engrained in your daily routines and rhythms so you can live a slower life that you actually enjoy.
Take the time to prioritize daily objectives. By focusing on the most important tasks to get done, we eliminate the stress of trying to accomplish everything at once. Try to give yourself more time as well so that you are not rushing through your daily tasks.
Try turning off your phone or reducing personal internet time by half. Technology is no doubt a major part of all our lives. Social networking, email and web surfing can occasionally cause our minds to lose focus and wander through hundreds of topics, thoughts, and ideas. Try to use half of your designated internet time to explore new hobbies, exercise, or meditate.
Get outside and enjoy nature. Take a 5 to 10 minute break to step outside and breathe in some fresh air. Disconnect from the rest of the world and concentrate on the beauty of nature. It has been proven that spending time outside can lower your blood pressure, reduce feelings of anxiety, increasing creativity and memory, boost immunity and more.
Eat Slower. A lot of us tend to speed through meals, missing the chance to appreciate different textures and flavors. Start to chew foods slower and distinguish new tastes, aromas, and consistencies.
Connect with family and friends. We all try to make a considerable amount of time to spend with close friends and family. We discuss life events and exchange stories - but how often do we catch up while truly listening and connecting? Put away your mobile phones and steer clear of noisy environments. Connect on a deeper level, practice listening to understand, not listening to respond.
Quality time for yourself. When did you last spend valuable time with yourself? Take a night to watch a favorite movie, give yourself a manicure or cook a new recipe.
Remember your goals and aspirations. Each morning when you wake up, take a few moments to think about your life goals and aspirations. Recall the milestones you’ve already made in your life, and your drive to achieve new ones. Try doing this for about five minutes before getting out of bed to start your day. This one has become a part of my recent morning routine.
Wake up earlier. Get up 15 minutes earlier so you can start your day slower. When you wake up earlier, not only do you avoid rushing around, you can even include things in your morning routine you enjoy, make you feel good and have a positive impact on the rest of your day. For example, you can meditate, journal, read, exercise or simply have a few minutes to enjoy your coffee in peace!
Add some white space to your schedule. If life is feeling busy, hectic and overwhelming, a great way to slow down is by removing some of the activities and commitments on your calendar that may be making you feel that way in the first place.Take a critical look at your schedule. Look for activities or commitments you don’t enjoy, are no longer working for you or your family, or are simply adding more stress than value to your life. See if you can eliminate or at least reduce those kinds of activities and commitments.
Say NO more often. I am definitely working hard on this one but an important way to start adding more white space to your schedule is actually by practicing to say “no” more often. Learning to say no can be tough at first, especially if you’re a people pleaser or don’t want to feel like you’re letting people down. But once you have mastered on saying no, you will soon realise how important it is to set boundaries to protect your time and well-being. Helping you slow down and focus on what is most important to you instead. Every time you say yes to something, it means you have less time, energy and attention for other things in your life. Make sure your “yes-es” align with your priorities and what you value. Otherwise, just say no.
Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is a skill and not many people can do it effectively. It usually leaves you feeling rushed, frazzled, stressed and not doing any of the tasks particularly well. Instead, try doing one task at a time. Not only will you practice slowing down. there’s also a good chance that you will do a better job at whatever you’re doing when you aren’t distracted and jumping back and forth between multiple tasks.
Practice gratitude. Practicing gratitude is a great way to slow down and find more enjoyment in life. Not only does it help bring you back to the present moment, it also shifts your mindset in a positive direction. The great thing about practicing gratitude is that you can do it anywhere, anytime. All you need to do is take a few minutes and think of a few things you’re grateful for. Sometimes they are big things (like your health), other times it may be smaller things, like a cup of hot chocolate.
These exercises are meant to help you slow down, enjoy life, and focus on the most important parts of your life. Whenever you’re feeling rushed, overly busy or simply overwhelmed, try some of these tips to help you slow down, calm down and feel more content!
What is your favourite way to slow down when life feels busy and hectic? Share with the rest of us in the comments below!
With love,
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