9 Tips on How to Slow Down Life
Knowing how to slow down life when you are overwhelmed is a great form of self-care...
With the fast-paced nature of modern society, it's so easy to feel stressed out. By incorporating certain practices, setting priorities, and taking care of yourself, it's definitely possible to slow everything down, and find balance in your daily life...
People often ask, "What is the concept of slow living?" In this article, I'm hoping to help you find techniques and strategies that helped me learn how to slow down life as a busy school teacher, and be more in the present moment...
1. Say 'No'
In learning how to slow down life, one of the most important words is ‘No’. Learning to say, 'no' unapologetically is how you set better boundaries for yourself. The habit of saying, 'yes' to one more project in your tight schedule is just setting yourself up for misery…
Saying, 'no' more often results in more time for nurturing you. There's nothing selfish about self-nurturing. If you don't look after yourself, you're no good to anyone else either…
2. Silence
Silence is greatly underestimated, but the benefits are enormous. This is a time of thoughts, reflections, and self-discovering…
- Reduces stress and anxiety: silence can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety. When we're constantly surrounded by noise and distractions, it can be difficult to relax and de-stress. Taking a break from the noise, calms your mind and can reduce any feelings of anxiety...
- Increases focus and productivity: silence can also help improve focus and productivity. When we're not constantly bombarded by external stimuli – just think about all of those cellphone notifications – it's easier for you to concentrate on a task and complete it more efficiently...
- Enhances creativity: silence can also be a great source of inspiration and creativity. Without the distractions of noise and chaos, it's easier to tap into our creative side and come up with new ideas...
- Increases self-awareness: silence can also help increase self-awareness and introspection. Without the distractions of the outside world, it's easier to focus inward and get in touch with our thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This can help us better understand ourselves and make more authentic decisions.
Silent moments have taught me how to slow down life, and provide me with a tremendous feeling of being centered...
Each morning, I sit for 10–15 minutes with a cup of coffee before leaving for work. It builds inner peace and prepares me for the day ahead...
3. Get Up Early
Do you dread your work day so much that you crawl out of bed at the last minute? And do you then get all stressed-out because you have to rush like a bat out of Hell to make it to work on time?
Don't…
Instead, get up early enough to give yourself time to get ready calmly and peacefully. Drink your coffee and eat your breakfast mindfully. Give yourself time to chew your food, to actually taste your food and enjoy it…
Take that hot, soothing shower, and make it unapologetically as long as you need to. Close your eyes and enjoy the beating of the water on your skin.
Breathe…
4. Drop The Morning News
I stopped listening to the radio and reading the newspaper in the mornings. Instead, I’d listen to some soft jazz on Spotify and kept myself away from all the bad news of the day...
Mornings are sacred. It is a time of stillness as your mind readies itself for the day ahead…
Avoiding the morning news can help you to focus on the things you can control instead of wasting time worrying about things out of your control...
5. Slow Down Your Pace
Do things in a more careful and unhurried way…
This is called being deliberate. It will automatically create mindfulness and make you feel more relaxed. Acting deliberately is not as easy as it sounds…
We are so used to rushing automatically into our daily actions that it takes actual effort to remember to slow down. We think there's never enough time, but there is…
Slowing down your pace will also cause you to think instead of react…
You will feel more conscious and involved in your own behaviour, and that there is time enough to complete your tasks…
6. Spend Time With Yourself
Spend time with yourself. This is otherwise known as 'Me-Time'…
This is a perfect time to combine your silent moments when you are spending time with yourself. Here, you should also include an adequate amount of self-care…
Find out through your silent moments what you need in order to create a greater sense of well-being within yourself…
As a busy school teacher, it was important that my children knew that from 8 p.m. mummy’s Me-Time. They respected that and always went dutifully to bed…
Cultivate a time and space in your busy day to call your very own…
7. Find a Hobby
Having a hobby is a great way to slow life down and take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle...
- Having a hobby allows you to take a break from your everyday life and focus on something you enjoy and find calming…
- Engaging in a hobby can help to reduce stress and anxiety, as you take a break from your worries and focus on something creative…
- It provides an outlet for creative expression. Having a hobby can help you to explore your creative side and express yourself in a way that is both rewarding and relaxing…
8. Give Your Phone a Break
Create times throughout the day in which you are away from your phone, and its endless notifications. Give yourself an hour or two in which your phone is silent and tucked away in your bag…
Time away from your digital world means:
- Improved sleep quality – digital detoxing from screens before bed can help reduce blue light exposure and improve your sleep quality…
- Improved mental clarity – detaching from technology can help your brain reset, allowing for improved focus and mental clarity…
- More time for meaningful activities – with less time spent on screens, you will have more time to focus on meaningful activities such as reading, cooking, exercising, and spending time with friends and family…
- Reduced stress levels – detaching from technology can help reduce stress levels and give you time to relax and unwind…
9. Practice Daily Relaxing Techniques
Here are 3 relaxing techniques that I do daily. There are many more. These can be done anywhere, anytime:
- Deep breathing exercises: Taking slow, deep breaths is one of the most effective ways to relax. Taking a few minutes to focus on your breathing can help to reduce stress and anxiety…
- Mindfulness meditation: Mindfulness meditation is the practice of focusing your attention on the present moment. It can help to bring awareness to your thoughts and feelings, allowing you to better manage stress and anxiety…
- Progressive muscle relaxation: Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that involves tensing and then relaxing each muscle group in the body. Doing this can help to reduce tension and promote relaxation…
How To Slow Down Life - Conclusion
Living a slower life does not mean being lazy or annoyingly snail-like for those around you. It means creating a space for yourself in which you can conduct a life that is as stressless as possible…
It means taking a step back and appreciating life's smaller details…
Knowing how to slow down life means, knowing how to get gain back control when you feel everything moving too fast along the freeway of life…