“I spent a lifetime in a garden one afternoon.”
― Craig D. Lounsbrough
Today I am going to talk about the Art of Slowing Down. Yes, I consider it an art, especially in today’s society where hustle culture is HUGE. We want to do and see all of the things and make all of the money. Formal jobs cram as many tasks in as they can to make sure they get every inch of productivity out of you. Meanwhile, we let our health and other important areas of our life suffer.
Mono-Tasking: We work hard to multitask, and get as much done as humanly possible in a short time but what about mono-tasking? Mono-tasking is where you concentrate on one task at a time. Really focus on what you are currently doing whether it be dishes, watching TV, or playing with your kids. For some this will be easy, for others it will be challenging. This can be a form of meditation as you are putting all of your focus and energy in the one thing you are doing.
Look inward: Spend some time with your thoughts. Journaling can be helpful figure out what you need in the present moment. It can cathartic if you write stream of conscious or you can follow some journal prompts. And meditation… there are so many meditations that you can do and even doing a simple deep breathing meditation can give you clarity.
Reduce activities: If your life is feeling hectic and chaotic, and you are jumping from activity to activity without a rest, then you may need to reduce your activities. There are seasons in our life that will be busier than others, however if you are suffering from being TOO busy, it’s time to re-evaluate what’s really important in your life. It can be hard to cut things out. Signs that you may be “too busy:” headaches, fatigue ( are you getting enough sleep?), body aches, feeling on edge, anxiety, feeling stressed, unable to turn off. Obviously, this is not a medical diagnosis and you should check in with your healthcare provider for any specific evaluations and diagnosis if you are having medical issues.
Using your Imagination and being creative: Lastly, I want to talk about imagination and creativity. Bessel van Der Kolk said in his book, the Body Keeps Score” Imagination gives us the opportunity to envision new possibilities—it is an essential launchpad for making our hopes come true. It fires our creativity, relieves our boredom, alleviates our pain, enhances our pleasure, and enriches our most intimate relationships.” Likewise,
Being creative allows us to play and have fun. It opens our minds to other possibilities and enables us to explore; along the way we may learn a lesson. One of my personal favorite ways to be creative is to do art journaling. It gives me a fun and creative outlet to explore my thoughts and emotions. Some other creative avenues… dancing, painting, drawing, sculpting, sewing, writing poems or stories, singing, playing an instrument, and coloring are just a few you can try out.
These are just a few ways that you can practice the art of slowing down. If you need any assistance with this please feel free to comment. I do offer a complimentary 90 minute coaching conversation if you are interested. I go live on Facebook Mondays for Mindset Mondays. I hope that these tips help you live your life more intentionally.
Until next time, have a beautiful week.