More and more people are beginning to be drawn to a slower, simpler life, which we can see by the popularity of things like the Marie Kondo method of tidying up, tiny-house living and #vanlife. As well as Capsule wardrobes and our interest in the Danish word Hygge.
We are starting to seek mindfulness and meditation.
Farmers’ markets have become a trendy place to “connect with our food”.
What all of this says is that we are craving connection and slow living – but is it possible for all of these practices to really get us there if we don’t address the giant elephant in the room, which is how we are choosing to approach and enjoy every single day. 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.
Below I am sharing 8 ways to help you learn how to slow down and enjoy life more.
Turn off your phone
- TURN YOUR PHONE OFF FOR A FEW HOURS, A DAY, OR A WEEKEND.
- SET YOUR PHONE TO SILENT AND TURN ALL NOTIFICATIONS OFF TO AVOID DISTRACTIONS AND THE URGE TO GO ONLINE.
- IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN’T COMMIT TO A FULL DAY WITHOUT YOUR PHONE, THEN SET TIMES DURING THE DAY WHERE YOU SWITCH OFF.
Add some white space to your Home
- CLEAR OUT THE ITEMS THAT YOU NO LONGER WANT OR NEED FROM YOUR HOME.
- OPEN UP THE SPACE AND ALLOW YOURSELF MORE TIME, SPACE AND ENERGY TO FOCUS ON OTHER THINGS.
- DON’T JUST CHUCK STUFF IN THE TRASH THOUGH, I’D HIGHLY RECOMMEND SELLING IT OR DONATING IT TO A CHARITY SHOP, HOSPICE OR SHELTER.
Get outside
- GO TO A WOODLAND, PARK OR NATIONAL TRUST GARDEN AND JUST WALK AROUND.
- TAKE NOTE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, AND STOP AND HAVE A PICNIC. IT DOESN’T EVEN HAVE TO MEAN GOING FAR.
- IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN, HAVE A LITTLE SIT WITH A CUPPA AND TAKE A FEW DEEP BREATHS.
- LISTEN TO THE BIRDS AND JUST IMMERSE YOURSELF IN NATURE FOR A LITTLE WHILE.
Take some deep breaths
- DEEP BREATHING IS ANOTHER GREAT WAY TO USE YOUR BREATH TO SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF FEELING RUSHED, BUSY OR OVERWHELMED.
- TAKE DEEP BREATHS, IN THROUGH YOUR NOSE FOR 5 AND OUT THROUGH YOUR MOUTH FOR 8.
- IT CAN HELP RELEASE STRESS SO YOU CAN FIND MORE CALMNESS, REFOCUS AND SLOW DOWN.
Wake up earlier
- 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.
Savour your tea or coffee
- TAKING THE TIME TO NOTICE & SAVOUR SMALL MOMENTS THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY IS A GREAT WAY TO LEARN HOW TO SLOW DOWN.
- PUT DOWN YOUR PHONE. TRY TO BE FULLY PRESENT FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF DRINKING YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK.
- REALLY TASTE IT. NOTICE & PAY ATTENTION TO THE COLOUR, THE SMELL, AND THE TASTE.
- TRY & DO THIS WHILST THE TINY HUMANS NAP, TAKE A MOMENT FOR YOURSELF.
Listen to the silence
- SOMETIMES ALL YOU NEED IS TO SWITCH OFF THE NOISE.
- TURN OFF THE TV, RADIO, PODCAST, OR AUDIOBOOK AND JUST HAVE SILENCE.
- SIMPLY TURNING OFF THE LITERAL NOISE IN YOUR LIFE IS A GREAT WAY TO SLOW DOWN AND GIVE YOURSELF A BREATHER.
- TAKE A MINUTE TO NOTICE AND REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO WHERE YOU ARE, WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND YOU.
Practice Gratitude
- PRACTICING GRATITUDE IS SOMETHING THAT CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE AT ANY TIME.
- ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE A FEW MOMENTS TO THINK OF A FEW THINGS THAT YOU ARE GRATEFUL FOR.
- IT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM YOUR HEALTH, AND YOUR FAMILY, TO SMALLER THINGS LIKE A HOT CUP OF COFFEE.
- THE KEY IS TO MAKE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SHIFT YOUR MINDSET TO GRATITUDE.
- THIS SHOULD HELP YOU TO REALLY SLOW DOWN AND APPRECIATE LIFE AND THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
Do you try and live a slower way of life? Let me know any tips you have in the comments below!
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