Ever notice how time tends to naturally slow down when you’re doing something you love? Like cooking, running, or going for a hike.
Yet, ask most people to bring slow living into their day, and you’ll hit a brick wall. They’ll roll your eyes at you like “you just don’t get it”.
So, why do we have so much resistance to slowing down?
Our days often go by at breakneck speed and there never seems to be enough time. Slowing down feels like it would add more fuel to the fire and elevate our stress levels.
But…what if slowing down actually allowed you to get more stuff done and have more peace of mind? Slowing down may seem impossible if you’re the overachieving kind. But, you’re already doing it to some degree and need to learn to harness that skill and use it to your advantage.
According to Dr. Perpetua Neo, these are the 3 most effective ways to embrace slow living:
1. Do what you already love doing.
And do more of it. It could be running, reading or anything else that allows you to be fully present in the experience.
For me, it’s taking a walk outside and feeling the sun on my shoulders. Find what appeals to you and build it into your day.
2. Master your time.
While moving fast can feel productive, we often waste time context-switching between tasks. Group similar tasks together to limit the mental energy required to switch directions. And, be sure to add breaks between the chunks to smooth the transition.
I usually limit checking my emails to the beginning and end of the day. If I need to do some writing, I’ll group the writing tasks together to leverage my creative flow.
3. Use slow living as a reset.
Most of us find it easy to power down our minds when we go on vacation. But, we can leverage this ability on a smaller scale. A 10-minute break between meetings, a walk after lunch, or a 5-minute break to celebrate the completion of a task. These can all give your brain a much-needed reset.
Learn to listen to your body. When I feel a mental block coming on, I know it’s time to get up and take a break. This could be taking a stroll in my garden or watching the birds outside my window. By letting my mind wander, I can come back to my work with a fresh perspective.
Give these a try and see how they can help you find more time in your day. Slow living is a learned skill. With regular practice and some planning, you can build it into your routine and enjoy a longer more balanced life. For more tips on slowing down, see Dr. Neo’s full article (8-minute read).
