Slow down and Enjoy life more…

It’s an irony of our modern lives that while technology is continually invented that saves us time, we use that time to do more and more things, and so our lives are more fast-paced and hectic than ever. Life moves at such a fast pace that it seems to pass us by before we can really enjoy it. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s rebel against a hectic lifestyle and slow down to enjoy life. A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you’re doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with — instead of always being connected to a iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them. Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness. In a world that often feels more fast-paced, busier & more hectic than ever, it’s easy to get swept up in the feeling of needing to do more, just to keep up. But the trouble is, sometimes we spend so much time and energy trying to keep up and fit everything into our days that we can’t even enjoy them!

Slow down to enjoy life more

If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed, frantic or like you’re always rushing from one thing to the next, learning how to slow down may be just what you need. 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! But how do you slow down in a world that values busy?

Learning how to slow down isn’t always easy. It takes intentional effort to resist the societal norm that “busy is better”, or that being busy equals productivity and importance, and choose to slow down. Here’s a few ways that I learned over the years with which we all could slow down, embrace life, be more happier and live each moment to the fullest while not compromising on our career and growth aspects at all.

1. Get outside – Spending time outside in nature has been proven to have a wide range of physical and mental health benefits. A great benefit of getting outside in nature is the way it helps you slow down and let go of some of the busyness of life. Go for a walk, or even just sit outside for a few minutes. It’ll do your body and your mind good!

2. Turn off your phone – Technology is a wonderful thing. It makes life easier in so many ways and provides us with many opportunities to innovate, connect and create. But it can also become all-consuming when you’re always connected, always reachable, always plugged in. A great way to practice slowing down is unplugging.

3. Spend 5 minutes noticing your breath – A wonderfully simple way to slow down is taking some time to sit and notice your breath. Noticing your breath is a form of meditation. Not only are you teaching your brain to be more mindful by returning your focus to your breath again and again. But you are also making an intentional choice to sit and slow down for a few minutes.

4. Take 3 deep breaths – Deep breathing is another great way to use your breath to slow down when you find yourself feeling rushed, busy or overwhelmed.

5. Savour your coffee, tea or drink – Taking the time to notice and savour small moments throughout your day is a great way to learn how to slow down like while drinking your coffee, tea or choice of drink. Notice and pay attention to the color, the smell, the taste.

6. Start your day intentionally slower – However you start your day, usually sets the tone for the rest of the day. When you start your day in a rush, you often feel rushed, frantic and behind for the rest of your day. A great way to learn how to slow down is by starting your day a little slower and more intentionally right from the beginning.

7. Wake up earlier – When you wake up earlier, not only can you avoid rushing. But you can also include things in your morning routine you enjoy, make you feel good and have a positive impact on the rest of your day. This is the best time to plan your day and is your time alone.

8. Cross something off your to-do list – No matter how much you simplify your life, there will always be things that still need to be done. However, one way to slow down is by really assessing your to-do list and getting rid of anything that doesn’t necessarily need to be done.

9. Turn off the noise – Sometimes simply turning off the literal noise in your life like tv, music, podcast, radio, etc. is a great way to slow down and give yourself a breather. In a world full of noise, sometimes silence really can be golden.

10. Really listen when you’re talking to someone – Another great way to turn off the noise and tune in to what’s going on around you is by really listening when you’re talking to someone. Practice listening to understand, not listening to respond. The importance you show by doing this takes you a long way ahead in that relationship.

11. Add some white space to your home – One of my favourite ways to slow down is clearing the clutter from your home. When you have less stuff in your home, you have less stuff requiring your time, energy and attention to manage it all. Just like removing non-essential things from your to-do list can help you learn how to slow down.

12. 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 making you feel that way in the first place.

13. Say no more often – An important way to start adding more white space to your schedule is by practicing saying no more often. learning to say no is an important way to set boundaries to protect your time and well-being. Every time you say yes to something, it means you have less time, energy and attention for other things in your life.

14. Set your priorities – Having clear priorities in your life is an important part of simplifying your calendar and learning to set boundaries. It helps a lot in slowing down as you would only work on your priorities as set and have more time at hand to enjoy the things you love.

15. Clean out your closet – Cleaning out my closet and decluttering my clothes is the simplifying project that’s had the biggest impact on my life so far. I didn’t realize the heaviness and stress a closet full of clothes added to my life until I got rid of most of them! A smaller wardrobe makes getting dressed faster and easier, so you can start your days with a little less stress and a little more ease.

16. Practice gratitude – It 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, but it also shifts your mindset in a positive direction.

17. Start a family gratitude practice – An awesome way to practice gratitude is by making it a family practice. Make a point of sharing what you’re grateful for as a family, maybe during dinner time or before bed. It’s a great way to connect as a family and share the parts of your day you’re grateful for.

18. Spend time with the people you love – Spending time with the people you love and really being present during that time is a great way to practice slowing down. When you spend time with people you love, it helps remind you of what matters most in life while embracing it.

19. Ground yourself through your sense – If you’re feeling overwhelmed, rushed or frantic, a great way to slow down is by grounding yourself through your senses. Using your senses can help calm you and bring you back to the present moment because you need to concentrate and pay attention to what’s going on around you.

20. Eat slowly – Sitting down and eating mindfully is a great way to practice slowing down. Instead of rushing through your meal or trying to read, respond to emails, drive, etc. while you eat, make a point of savouring your meal and eating slowly. It also helps you to enjoy your meal more and appreciate the same.

21. Do one thing at a time – Very few people can multitask effectively. Usually, multi-tasking 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, but there’s a good chance you’ll also do a better job at whatever you’re doing when you aren’t distracted and jumping back and forth between multiple tasks.

All in all slowing down lets you enjoy life more, energises you to face challenges better and helps you take better decisions while at the same time creates a good work-life balance and gives importance to family… All ingredients for a great life and career…