A friend and I were chatting the other day. She was taking a “slow day” because she was feeling tired after getting her COVID and flu vaccinations. I was also taking a slow day as I recovered from a back injury.
Why do we need to feel out-of-sorts to take a slow day? We are retired, for Pete’s sake. We should be able to take all the slow days that we want.
I like to take it easy in the morning. Slowly allow my brain to adjust to the rigours of being awake. I like to have my coffee, have my breakfast, and read. That may take an hour. It may take a couple of hours, depending on the weather and how good the book is. Does it really matter? Nope.
I remember the days of setting my alarm, rudely waking, rushing to get coffee started, and being out the door to a job that started sometime between 9 and 9:15 am. Gotta clock in, right? That is no longer necessary, well, except for my 10 am mahjong group on Thursdays, so life is sweet.
Being busy is often considered a sign of success. The more you do, the more involved you become. The more important you are. Maybe it’s a sign of poor time management? When my children were young, the simple question “How are you?” evoked a rush of nervousness. “Ah, so busy. I’m so busy.” That was the response from everyone. We rarely took the time to ask someone why they were so busy. We were juggling jobs, kids, meals, after-school activities, aging parents, and volunteer commitments. We hoped for rain so the weekend tournament would be cancelled. Yikes! Those memories really bring up a lot of anxiety. I don’t think we had time for a slow day back then, and if we did, we wouldn’t admit it to anyone.
It takes courage to say yes to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol. –Rene Brown
I’m at that stage of life when I can enjoy a slow day. I can justify it. It no longer symbolizes laziness or a lack of ambition. But because of my age and my life experiences, I still struggle internally with not doing anything except reading, bingeing on a TV show, crocheting, or blogging. I feel guilty for enjoying a break from the real world.
What exactly is slow living? It’s not just about sitting and tuning out the world. It is about choosing to be more present. It’s about doing things at your own pace and paying attention. It’s like when you’re really busy and at the end of the day you can’t remember what you did. That’s because you just went through the motions and didn’t pay attention to what you did.
Slow living is easier if you understand your triggers and say no to things that create stress for you. It doesn’t matter what others are thinking. It means not multitasking. It means creating a quiet space and spending time in nature. And no, that doesn’t include walking to your car!
How do we benefit from slow living? First, drop the stress and busyness in your life. Stress raises your cortisol levels. Those high levels negatively affect your sleep, weight, digestion, and mood. The benefits of intentionally taking it easy mean lower blood pressure, calming your nervous system, better heart health, and more relaxed muscles. You will also breathe more deeply.
Slowing down and thinking things through will help you to focus. That will help your memory. Maybe you will feel less scattered. You might remember more trivial things, like what show you just watched or the name of an author.
Intentional living is the art of making our own choices before others’ choices make us.
–Richie Norton
Being present will help you connect better with others. It helps you listen more closely and give someone your undivided attention. And if you choose to interact with people who are important to you, don’t they deserve that kind of attention?
It’s not magic, and it sure ain’t rocket science. Living slowly, or living with intention, is natural. We weren’t built to zoom through life, never stopping to face the consequences or smell the roses. We were built to have meaningful relationships, to have quality experiences, and to be at peace.
So, the next time you add another thing to your calendar, take a step back. Do you really need to do so many things in one day? If you are feeling hurried, slow down just a bit. Put down your phone while you eat your lunch. Find your rhythm and enjoy life’s simple pleasures.
And now I need to finish organizing my supplies. I’m giving a workshop on Mindfulness and Alcohol Ink in a couple of days. Fitting, right?
For fast-acting relief, try slowing down. – Lily Tomlin
Have a listen!
Wanderings Art 