As I write this post at my local library, I am sitting near an older man reading the newspaper. Deeply engaged in the print, he embodied a life of unhurry–a life unbothered by the constant streams of digital connection we have become accustomed to. As we both sit here, I am reminded of how disconnected I used to be to the world–to my own reality–when I tried to keep up its fast-paced speed. He is living for the moment (finding it in the local news section) and unlike the past me, I am present enough to realize the beauty of it.
I often think about technology being the thief of my creativity. In the not-so-far-away past of pre-Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other social platforms, what did everyone do? What did everyone talk about if it didn’t involve a trend, video, or post?
Being invested in other people’s lives on these platforms made me reflect on my own in a negative way. I fell into the comparison trap, created a victim mentality, and homed a sense of restlessness. All of these jumbled thoughts opened my eyes to figuring out a different way to live, spend my time, and focus my energy.
The Slow Movement
I seem not to be the only one feeling this way–there’s a movement around reaching for a slower-paced life. The slow movement and slow living prioritize purposefully spending time doing things that matter most to you, finding joy in simplicity, and being present in the moment. It devalues the presumed end goal of success and the overworked steps to get there and cashes it in for greater value: being mindful each day.
Choosing to live a slower-paced lifestyle isn’t inherently difficult, but it does require a shift in mindset. It takes letting go of the demand for instant gratification and living on autopilot. In the way we stretch ourselves thin to achieve more and more, we have become more like machines programmed for efficiency and less like human beings programmed for connection. The cycle really is never ending: there will always be another role or position to work towards, more books to read, another degree or certification to be earned, another raise to chase, and even more movies to watch.
The first thing I accepted was I couldn’t do it all.
How I Embrace a Slower Life
What I thought would be a temporarily busy season of life with starting a new career, slowly turned into being obsessed with productivity and working as hard as I could. I began to notice that I felt I needed to rush through dinners with friends, conversations with loved ones on the phone, and choosing a shorter running route all to get back to my computer and work. In entering burnout, I had to consciously shift my whole perspective on how I viewed each day. I had to get back to the basics and slow way down.
Even though I do not have it anywhere near figured out or perfect, here are some ways I choose to slow down:
- Focusing on more time outside
- Grounding: placing my bare feet on the earth in the mornings and throughout my day when I can
- Our bodies are constantly being amped by the positive energy of technology, EMFs (electromagnetic fields), and radiation. Because the earth is negatively charged, placing our bare feet on the surface restores the body’s equilibrium. When I am consistent with this practice, I feel so much more energized throughout my day!
- I prioritized moments of gratitude
- I made more time for journaling, meditation, and prayer. I thank God, my body, and my mind for how they all carry and support me every day.
- Movement everyday
- I used to put so much pressure on myself to run so many miles or workout super hard every day. Removing these unrealistic expectations of myself allowed me to enjoy movement, no matter how simple. Now I walk, do yoga, or do bodyweight exercises for 10 minutes. There are some days when I still run and do high-intensity workouts at the gym, but I listen to my body and energy levels more.
- SLEEP
- I can’t emphasize this one enough. Prioritizing my sleep and having a foundational morning and night routine has escalated not only my mood, energy, and mental capacity, but my days feel less hectic and less out of control. When I have a good night’s rest, I am better at completing tasks and feel more mentally and physically equipped to take on the day.
- Romanticized my life
- This may sound silly or cliché, but changing my perspective on how I viewed even the most mundane things in my routine or day, has elevated the way I incorporate them in my life. For example, I started viewing my morning cup of coffee as the best coffee I have had in my entire life (even though it was the same as yesterday).
- I changed many of my “have-to’s” to “get-to’s.” I get to move my body today. I get to go to work today. I get to cook nourishing meals for myself. I get to clean my home.
- Joy can be found in simplicity when intention is applied.
Ways to slow down are unique to everyone but these are the biggest changes I’ve done to foster intentionality. In all, I do things that connect my mind, body, and soul. At the end of the day, that is the big picture and idea of slowing down–giving yourself time to take in the human experience. Life isn’t just meant to be lived, but savored.
The old man has since gotten up, placed his newspaper back on the shelf, and left. His “see ya tomorrow” to the librarian echoes through the bookshelves and it makes me smile.
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