For what felt like the hundredth time, I called out, ‘Sweetheart, please HURRY UP!’
But instead of moving faster, my five-year-old turned around and asked, ‘Why do I always have to hurry up?’ A myriad of answers come to mind – ‘we’re late again’, ‘we have obligations’ – but I intuitively I knew that none of my reasons would make sense to her. Since that day, I’ve become very aware of how many times a day I use the word ‘hurry’ and ‘quickly’. And every time I use them, I cringe. This got me thinking. How did my and my family’s lives become so rushed. When did we start living at such a fast pace and more importantly is there an alternative? This is how my journey with slow(er) living began and here’s what I’ve learnt.
Why slower is better?
Choosing to slow down isn’t just about doing less; it’s about choosing to give ourselves the space to breath and appreciate the simple things in life. For children, this means more opportunities for imaginative play, deeper learning, and stronger emotional bonds. For parents, this means less stress and more meaningful interactions with our children. When we choose to live slower and intentionally, we create an environment where everyone can thrive. Here are some of the changes and tweaks we have been trying to incorporate into our lives over the last few months. Some days we fail miserably and find ourselves rushed and frazzled, but then there are those days where we succeed in moving just a little slower, and it is glorious.
Opting for simplicity
I truly believe that the first step to slower living is choosing for simplicity. The word here is ‘less’ – less clutter, less obligations on your calendar etc. With fewer decisions to make, less ‘must do’s’, and less things to clean or tidy up, you are choosing for space and calmness in your environment and mind…and of course less to worry about.
Choosing for rhythm and not balance
There is a lot written about work-life balance, especially on social media. Many influencers and inspirational speakers encourage people to divide their days into three – eight hours for work, eight hours for play and eight hours for sleep. Armed with this advice, people then approach work-life balance as something that needs to be pursued and realised every day. As a result, we then try to work hard, play hard and get enough rest every day. And when life then takes a different turn and we don’t get the third principle right, we are not only left disappointing, we end up feeling like failures.
I think there is a better alternative. In his book, Your Life in Rhythm, Bruce B Miller suggests that the concept of balance, which is static, should be replaced with the concept of rhythm. Rhythm means that we recognise and embrace the different seasons in our lives – some seasons require us to work harder (and longer hours) while other seasons allow for more down time and rest.
Practicing mindfulness
A great way to intentionally slow down a little is to incorporate a simple mindfulness exercise into your day. It can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths, eating a meal mindfully or doing a short meditation before bed. Practicing mindfulness helps me be present in the moment and reduces that constant feeling of being rushed.
Time in the outdoors
Spending time in nature has enormous benefits for all of us. There’s nothing like a little sunshine and birdsong to shake off the stress that comes with our rushed lifestyles. Whether it’s a picnic in the garden or a visit to a nature reserve – time outdoors is a great way to slow yourself and your family down.
Create islands of rest
I really like the idea of intentionally creating islands of rest in the hectic pace of our daily lives. Islands of rest are little pockets of time you gift yourself and your loved ones. For me it is my first early morning coffee while the rest of the household is asleep. For our little family, our daily family dinner has become a sacred moment in the day where we pause to intentionally spend time together. Family traditions and rituals like pizza and boardgames on Friday evenings, pancakes every Sunday morning or an annual beach vacation also make for wonderful islands of rest.
Take a deep breath
Breathing is one of the easiest ways to slow yourself down. There are several breathing techniques to choose from. One of my favorites is to sigh deeply three times. Give it a go – it really works.
Remember, I have to remind myself almost daily, the journey to slowing down starts with a single step and it is slow going. Try incorporating one or two of these tips into your daily routine and see the difference it makes.
xxx
