Slowing Down to Create More Balance

In today’s society, it’s very common to rush through the day and be distracted. Covid has granted us the opportunity (nice reframe, huh?) to be at home more and therefore more at home within ourselves. Some of us may not be used to this slower pace of life and it’s okay if you haven’t adjusted to it yet. Even though you’re at home more, you may still be rushing around and feeling distracted like there is too much on your plate.

Slowing Down Doesn’t Mean You Have to Stop

One of the things I help my coaching clients with is to slow down and savor the moment. This doesn’t mean changing your habits completely and coming to a startling halt. It means taking small, manageable steps to make progress in slowing down. It means taking a few things out of your cup so it doesn’t overflow, or taking a few things off your plate so you don’t explode. If you’re running at a high stress level all the time, chances are, the little things will set you off easier than they would if you had a lower stress baseline. When you react in a way that feels out of control or in a way that you don’t like, consider asking yourself, am I taking on too much? Where in my life could I slow down?

Practice Mindfulness in the Moment

Flowers have the ability to help us slow down and be more mindful and in the moment. Go outside and notice the flowers, or if it’s winter where you are and there are none, notice any greenery that may be around. Feel the cool air on your face and feel what it’s like to be in your body. Even if you take 2 minutes out of your day and practice mindfulness, that is a victory! Slowing down isn’t something that is out of reach for busy people. It’s a necessity to help you move forward in a healthy way. If you take 2 minutes every day for one month, that’s an hour per month of chill time, which is way better than nothing.

Celebrate the Small Things

Celebrate your small victories and when you find something that helps you feel calm or helps your mind slow down, practice it! If you’re used to being busy all the time, it may feel unnatural at first, but over time you will become more comfortable with a slower pace. Take a moment to jot down some of your favorite ways to slow down. Then, next time you feel overwhelmed, look at the list and see what might help. I’d love to hear in the comments too, what are some of your favorite ways to slow down?