How slowing down can help you feel more fulfilled
“Doing a huge number of things doesn’t mean you’re getting anything meaningful done.” Leo Babauta
We live in a fast paced world and it’s hard not to get caught up in the frenzy of doing. There are many demands on our time and attention, and a kind of glorification in being busy.
When I reflect on my day, I often judge it in terms of how productive I was. I berate myself if I haven’t managed to get through my to-do list, which to be honest happens most days! How often do you do this to yourself?
Productivity seems to be a measure of success or failure – we’re winning if we get more done. If we don’t get things done then we’re not working hard enough.
Doing more isn’t always better though. Of course it gets results sometimes, but how and why you do something matters just as much as the fact that you do it.
Being intentional
Slowing down involves being more intentional with how you do things. That means doing things in a way that is meaningful and fulfilling to you.
The first step is to know what that looks like for you. Do you ever set aside time to think about what you find meaningful and fulfilling?
It’s hard to tune into ourselves when we’re on the treadmill of getting things done. Our own priorities can get lost if our time is always dictated by other people’s needs.
One way to work out what we find meaningful and fulfilling is to think about our values. Connection is really important to me, as is solitude.
What are your values? Perhaps health is at the top of your list, or perhaps it’s honesty. Maybe you value kindness above everything else, or having fun.
Knowing what our values are helps us be more true to ourselves. We can make better decisions about what we do if we try to align those decisions with our values.
Slowing down gives us space to think about what is meaningful to us. Doing what is meaningful leads to a greater sense of fulfilment.
Meaningful doesn’t necessarily mean “worthy” or even “worthwhile” - it might just be what we enjoy and what makes us feel good.
10 ways to slow down
Go outside – being outside in nature helps you slow down and let go of some of the busyness of life.
Turn off your phone – practice doing this for an hour a day, or a whole day at the weekend. Or just try turning off some of your notifications
Take 3 deep breaths
Savour your cup of tea or coffee – don’t check your phone while you’re drinking it. Adding small moments of mindfulness to your day is a way of slowing down
Start your day slowly – get up a bit earlier and include something you enjoy in your morning routine
Do one thing a time – very few people can multitask effectively!
Practice saying no – if you find this hard, start by taking more time over decisions rather than responding straight away
Add ‘white space’ to your schedule – time with nothing planned other than to let your mind wander. Daydreaming can bring perspective and clarity
Write things down on paper – writing your thoughts on paper slows you down and helps you see things more clearly
See if there’s anything you can cross off your to-do list to make time for 1-9 above!
Slowing down is work in progress for me, but having an awareness of my priorities really helps. If you would like to have a chat about what’s happening with you and how homeopathy could help, you can book a free call below:
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