[A collaboration post – all thoughts are my own.]

I’d like to be honest here and admit that I’ve been guilty of getting caught up in the rush of life in the past. I’ve experienced many instances in my life where I just ran and ran without stopping to catch my breath. And I did it until I was really exhausted.

Yet the problem is that we sometimes spend so much time and energy trying to stay up and fit everything into our days that we forget to enjoy them!

Slow down to enjoy life more

Your mind is a tiny thing capable of amazing things. But I don’t believe we’re supposed to take advantage of it to the point of exploitation. To be sure, you race to keep up with life’s expectations. Perhaps you’re afraid to stop because of outside pressure.

Yet, in order to please everyone, you end up neglecting your mental health. And boy, can that have a big impact. If you’ve been putting things off for a while, now (as in right now) might be a good moment to slow down.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, rushed, or like you’re constantly running from one thing to the next, learning how to slow down can be just what you need.

When you actively slow down your days and your life, you become more present and conscious in your days. Even better, when you’re not racing from one thing to the next, straining merely to keep up, life may be a lot more pleasurable!

Retreat to a quiet space

I’m sure you have a few spots in your life where you can be alone. Call them your “hideaway spots.”

A secret place could be a corner of your room, a tree to which you are attached, or a chair placed on your balcony. One of the most wildly efficient methods to slow down is to spend time in a hideaway spot. It could be your own way of connecting with your inner self, away from the noise of the world yelling at you to hurry up.

Hidden away from everyone, you may simply relax and let yourself to be yourself. Don’t just look for a safe place in difficult times. While the goal here is to reduce your stress, try scheduling an hour of retreat time every day.

Stop rushing yourself

When you leave the house in the morning, you want to be swift on your feet so that you can keep up with the crowd and get things done faster. You also want to think swiftly and act quickly, because that is how you will stand out in life.

Being constantly rushed does not make you extraordinary. In fact, slow living is the one trend you must follow. It’s what makes people happy nowadays!

For example, I once had a client who offered me a four-day deadline to translate a 16,000-word document (or around 32 pages A4). My daily word count will be around 1,500, and there will be a lot of research as well. Instead of hurrying to finish as soon as possible, I aim to complete 10 pages per day by dividing 5 pages in the morning and the rest in the evening. This way, I can also complete some of the blogging tasks at midday and take a break in between.

Don’t push yourself mentally. You’re not a piece of rubber. Slow down and appreciate every minute of it. Life will slow down as well. Finally, you’ll learn to smile while traveling the crowded public transit every morning.

Reassess your priorities

Do you have a defined set of priorities in life? And are you sure you’ve got them figured out right?

Understanding your priorities gives you with a compass to steer and direct your decisions about how you’ll spend your time, space, energy, money, and so on. As a result, you may maintain your concentration on your priorities rather than being distracted by life’s busyness.

You may feel yourself to be a well-adjusted person in life, and you very well may be. But, because change is an important and beautiful aspect of life, you should give yourself permission to reevaluate your goals. Establishing your priorities is the first step toward personal growth, and reassessing them is your way of acknowledging that growth.

Turn off your phone

Technology is an amazing thing. It simplifies our lives in various ways and gives us with numerous chances to develop, interact, and create. But, being always connected, reachable, and plugged in can become all-consuming.

Unplugging is an excellent approach to practice slowing down. Put off your phone for an hour, a day, a weekend, or longer. At the very least, try turning off some of your phone’s notifications so there are less dings, beeps, and badges competing for your attention.

Technology may be an extremely beneficial addition to our life. As long as we set limits to ensure that it adds value to our lives. Rather than being an unwelcome distraction from the people and activities that are most important to you.

Do one thing at a time

Few people can multitask effectively. Normally, multi-tasking leaves you feeling rushed, irritated, agitated, and unable of completing any of the jobs well. I totally understand this because I can’t engage with the blogging community while subtitling a short video.

Instead, focus on one activity at a time. You will not simply practice slowing down. Yet there’s a strong possibility you’ll do a better job at whatever you’re doing if you’re not distracted and switching between multiple tasks.

Cross something off your to-do list

There will always be tasks that need to be done, no matter how much you simplify your life. Yet, one method to slow down is to thoroughly review your to-do list and eliminate anything that isn’t absolutely necessary.

Is there anything on your to-do list you could let go of? Learning to prioritize your time and letting go of things that don’t add value to your life or just don’t need to be done is an excellent method to slow down. Determine if there is anything you can cross off the list to allow yourself to slow down a little.

Say no more often

One crucial step toward creating more white space in your calendar is to practice saying “no” more frequently. Learning to say no can be difficult at first, especially if you are a people pleaser or don’t want to feel like you are disappointing others.

But, learning to say no is an important part of establishing boundaries in order to protect your time and well-being. It helps you with slowing down and focusing on what’s most important to you.

When you say yes to something, it means you have less time, energy, and attention to devote to other aspects of your life. Check that your “yeses” are in line with your priorities and what you value. And learn to say no when something does not work.

Try some of these methods to help you slow down, calm down, and feel more content whether you’re feeling rushed, overly busy, or simply overwhelmed!

What is your favorite way to slow down when life feels busy and hectic?