The Ultimate Guide to Slow Down in Today’s Hectic World
Ridiculously easy tips to enjoy life.
In a society based on speed and productivity, moving slowly is a radical act.
— Yung Pueblo
It is hard to slow down when millions of things are competing for your attention.
There are notifications to follow. Emails to answer. Laundry to do. Deadlines pile up.
Stress seems to be the main theme of everyone’s life.
But stress is the killer. It takes away the joy of life, vitality, health, and sanity.
You will probably never be stress-free, and it’s okay.
But you can slow down the pace of life to minimize the destructive impact the stress has on you.
Here are some suggestions that helped me.
One thing at a time.
Multitasking is worn as a badge of honour. It is not.
Heavy multitasking lowers efficiency and impairs cognitive control. If you want to get more done, you should ditch multitasking for a more productive strategy.
Instead of juggling several tasks at hand, focus on one thing at a time.
Declutter your working space. It boosts your focus and productivity.
Make a nutritious breakfast. Smoothie is a great alternative to take in healthy fats and protein.
Call a friend. Relationships boost our health, happiness, and success.
When you eat, focus solely on that. When you listen, listen with all your heart instead of scrolling through your device.
Ditch distractions. Silence your phone.
Don’t go through life half-assing everything you do because your life will reflect the same quality.
But more importantly, being present is undoubtedly the only way to enjoy life to the fullest.
Make room for what really matters.
A hectic schedule is a productivity killer.
You may think the busier you get, the more you will have done, but it is a vicious circle.
Succumbing to meaningless activities comes at the price of suppressing your needs.
The key to being productive is not working more but working smart.
When you reduce the number of commitments on your daily list, you make space for important ones.
Set healthy boundaries with your phone.
Make an inventory of those tasks that don’t rock your boat forward.
Between each task, make a space. Rethink what you should do next. Take deep breaths. Maybe squeeze in 5-minute meditation?
Life is better when it is clutterless. Make sure you prioritize the essentials.
Have a go-to calming activity.
What soothes you?
My go-to practices, whenever I feel overwhelmed, are:
- Breathwork,
- Meditation,
- Nature.
I make sure I have time to do at least one every day, preferably a set of three. Those are non-negotiable sanctuaries.
You can opt for having a bath, hitting the gym, or reading.
Find activities that put distance between the chaos of the outer world and your inner peace.
Allow yourself to cherish the little rays of joy that peek through your day: your coffee, your pet, and a myriad of possibilities.
Once you recharge your batteries, you will come out stronger and more motivated to act.
Cleaning.
This one is my favourite activity to invite “clean energy” into my life.
Go through your living room, or kitchen and organize the stuff you don’t use anymore. Throw away whatever you can. Put all “loose things” in order.
Chaos is not only speed and noise. It also stands for clutter.
Designate one day to put papers and receipts into one box. The next day, give away clothes you don’t wear. On the third day, declutter one drawer. The next day, you will clean out the next one and so forth.
Baby steps rock!
Once you are done, you will have a serene space to work or enjoy your coffee.
Say no.
People don’t like confrontations. Human minds connect pleasing others with feeling rewarded.
However, too many ‘yeses’ lead to burnout, and feeling small and unappreciated.
We were taught that ‘no’ is impolite. Being afraid of speaking up or failing to set boundaries is a learnt behaviour. And you can change it.
Saying no is powerful. The more we say no, the more we learn to respect ourselves and our wishes.
Boundaries are the passport to freedom.
Every time you feel the urge to say ‘yes’, ask yourself, Will agreeing to this commitment will make me miss out on something important to me?
By saying ‘no’ to an invitation, when you are stretched thin, you allow yourself to have more energy to complete your goals.
The ability to say ‘no’’ is the power to create, pursue, and protect priorities.
Failing to say no means:
- Somebody else controls your priorities.
- You show no self-respect for yourself.
- The quality of your performance goes down as you do things out of obligation, not pleasure.
- You give up your power.
Good fences make good neighbours, and healthy boundaries make for healthy relationships.
Saying ‘no’ might be uncomfortable at first, but once you practice enough, it will feel empowering.
Master the art of doing nothing.
People have forgotten how to relax. How to be lazy. How to enjoy life.
In today’s world, we are programmed to be anything but carefree.
Doing nothing can seem like a waste of time unless you enjoy it. Then it becomes a masterpiece.
Sit in silence. Observe your thoughts. Focus on your belly rising and falling as you breathe in and out.
- What are your reactions?
- Where is the rush?
- How do you handle stillness? Do you want to grab a phone once an uncomfortable memory comes to your mind?
Vibe alone for a while. You will realize a lot about yourself. It may be uncomfortable, but sit with it. Self-knowledge is power.
Bathe in nature.
Disconnect from the technology and take a walk.
Discipline yourself to observe nature, breathe in the fresh air, and take in the serenity of the surroundings.
Don’t rush into what is next on your agenda.
The more oxygen we breathe in, the more serotonin our body can create, making us happier and more alert.
Simply be.
When you slow down, you discover you can actually enjoy your mornings instead of dreading them the night before.
You start appreciating life and every moment that has been given to you.
To thrive, we must slow down.
Everyone else is chasing. Dare to be different in the ear of non-stop buzzing and running off to somewhere.
Inner peace is your superpower. So make it your priority.
You enjoy life more when in slow motion.
Thank you for being here, — Kate