Craving a slower pace of life but can’t quite seem to let go of the busyness that’s keeping you in a state of perpetual stress? Use these 12 gentle guidelines to learn how to slow down so you can begin enjoying your life.
The Importance of Slowing Down
Before I began to simplify my life, I was on the go constantly. I didn’t feel like I had enough time to rest, pursue hobbies, or hang out with friends. I never thought about how to slow down in life. My days were too busy, and my pace wasn’t sustainable.
Letting go of my “go, go, go” mindset took time. I began my adventures in slow living by changing my habits and setting boundaries. I did this very slowly because I wanted my habit changes and new boundaries to stick. My strategy worked!
When I find myself once again rushing from task to task, email to email, or from project to project, I return to Pico Iyer’s words from his 2014 TedTalk, The Art of Stillness. He said, “.. in an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.”
Slowing down has offered me clarity and calm in a world that feels like it’s moving faster and faster. I’ve given myself the gift of time. I’m able to focus on creative projects, spend time with friends, rest, do nothing, and more. Going slow is a luxury that I’m incredibly grateful for.
3 Key Reasons to Slow Down
Reason #1: You’ll avoid unnecessary stress and burnout
We live in a 24-7 economy; an economy that prioritizes consumption and work. And as Sarah L. Jaffe wrote, “Work won’t love you back.” Although can offer a sense of purpose and meaning, it can’t meet all your needs. Set strong boundaries to live a slower life and avoid stress.
Reason #2: You’ll have the opportunity to take care of your physical and emotional health
Studies have explored the benefits of creating a mindfulness practice like meditation. For example, mindfulness meditation is connected to health benefits like decreased anxiety, reduced blood pressure and stress, less depressive episodes, and more. This is true in my life. Taking the time to slow down–through meditation, breath work, or walking–has improved my physical and emotional health. It’s also made me happier!
Reason #3: It will help you prioritize what matters
Deciding what to prioritize in life is a personal choice. I can’t tell you what to put first. I can say that slowing down has helped me:
- be attentive to my loved ones,
- make space for simple pleasures,
- focus on creative projects,
- reflect on the past and plan future goals,
- understand the difference between making a living and making a life,
- and so much more!
12 Practical Tips for Slowing Down
Below are 12 practical ideas I’ve used to nourish a slower pace of life. Incorporating these ideas into my life helped me let go of busyness, and enjoy simple pleasures like snuggling with my cat, a hot cup of coffee, phone calls with friends, and more. I hope these ideas help you, too!
- Turn off your phone. Turning off my phone is the easiest way for me to slow down and focus. This is better than Internet blocking apps because it’s so easy. I just have to press the off switch. If turning off your phone is something you struggle with, here are 10 gentle ways to break up with your phone.
- Delete your social media accounts, or use them sparingly. I broke up with social media in 2018 because I spent countless hours scrolling through photos and updates on various apps. This behavior didn’t make me happy. And yet, I kept scrolling! Deleting my accounts helped reclaim my time and it’s improved my mental health. If quitting social media isn’t right for you, you can commit to using it sparingly. For more ideas about how to quit social media, here are 27 things that feel better than doomscrolling.
- Create a meaningful morning routine. After I quit social media, my morning routine became more relaxing and enjoyable. It’s a joy to wake up slowly, drink coffee, play with my cat, and chat with my husband. I also make time to write in my journal. I’ve noticed that what I consume first thing in the morning deeply impacts how my day unfolds. Social media and doom scrolling are out. More analog activities are in!
- Savor your coffee and tea. After I get out of bed in the morning, I make coffee. Then I sit on the couch and drink my favorite beverage. Usually my cat is on my lap. This is one of my favorite parts of the day because it’s so quiet. Savoring my coffee is especially sweet when it’s rainy and windy outside. It’s also an opportunity to make note of what I’m grateful for.
- Stop multitasking. Studies have shown that humans can’t multitask. We can single-task quickly, but research suggests this isn’t ideal. It leaves many people, including myself, feeling frenetic, unproductive, and unsatisfied. Now, I structure my day so that I can focus on one task at a time and do less. Gaining control over my work environment, and being able to single-task, makes me feel productive and accomplished.
- Simplify your to-do list. Before I start work, I write a long to-do list because writing the list helps me clear my mind. Then I prioritize what needs to get done. I look at my list and circle 3 or 4 tasks that I need to focus on. If I get the tasks done, I move onto the other items. At the end of the day, I usually feel like I accomplished something because my attention was focused instead of fragmented.
- Read a book. Reading is a great way to unwind and recharge; especially on blustery winter days. Recently, I spent a weekend with my family and it was stormy outside, so we sat by the fire and read all day. I felt like I spent two Saturdays reading! I love how time seems to stretch and expand when I read a good book. Here are 7 books to restart your reading habit, if you fell into a reading slump.
- Take a walk. Walking is free, fun, and it’s an activity that helps me slow down. For example, I love walking in my neighborhood and in the local park. When I’m walking, I try to engage my senses. Paying attention to sights and sounds is an excellent way to let go of stress. I always carry a small journal with me so that I can record my observations. Reflecting on my notes at the end of the day is one way I practice gratitude.
- Write in your journal. When I journal about my worries, I’m able to start or restart my day with a little more clarity and ease. For example, Byron Katie’s work is helpful. Katie’s “Four Questions” enable me to reframe the stories I tell myself and become more mindful. Also, I love experimenting with how I use my diary. It’s a useful tool to reflect and slow down.
- Say “no” more often. When I was in my early twenties, I said “yes” to things that I didn’t enjoy doing because I wanted people to like me. Today, I say no frequently. Declining events, work projects, trips, and other things has given me perspective on life. It’s also given me time to do nothing or to pursue hobbies that I enjoy. Here are a few tiny notes to help you learn to say “no” more often.
- Start a creative practice that helps you slow down. For over five years, I took a daily photo of my morning view. It was a fun creative project that helped me slow down, cope with grief, and savor simple pleasures like my morning cup of coffee. Beginning a daily creative project — like writing in your journal, drawing a quick sketch, or taking a photo — is an easy way to infuse creativity into your life. It’s also an opportunity to practice mindfulness.
- Find a community. Connecting with like-minded people who want to slow down is essential. Having a support network of friends who are interested in slowing down makes the journey more fun and meaningful. For example, I’ve found inspiration, and community connections, through books, podcasts, and educational programs. Making life changes is a little bit easier when you have a support network in place.
Resources to nurture a slower pace of life
Learning to master the art of slowing down is an ongoing adventure, and you don’t have to rush the process. Go at your own pace. As you learn to slow down, look for resources that support and inspire you, such as:
- Download the free Simplicity Quickstart Guide by Courtney Carver. It’s full of tips and tools that will help you simplify your life and slow down.
- Read 101 Ways to Adore Your Life This Year and How to Respond When Your Body Tells You to Slow Down.
- And, here are a few inspiring books: Rest Is Resistance by Tricia Hersey, Bored and Brilliant by Manoush Zomorodi, and Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman.
