Its so easy to get caught up in the busy-ness of life and forget to slow down. Work/business, to do lists, housework, gardening, shopping, DIY, social events, kids if you have them… not to mention spending quality time with your loved ones and yourself and having fun! We have so many pressures on our time and only 24 hours in the day, 7 days in a week.
It’s funny though, time is the only level playing field. We all have different backgrounds, skills, experiences, finances, roles, energy levels – yet we all have the same amount of time.
So, how do you spend your time?
Do you find time for the important things in life?
Do you know what the important things are to you?
What’s important to me is: my health and well-being. Feeling fulfilled and excited by my work. Nurturing a happy, intimate relationship with my partner. Having a supportive environment (home & the people I spend most time with). Having me-time, relaxation & a good night’s sleep. Growing and learning. Creative expression. Genuine connection with others. Time in nature.
Now, your turn. Make a list of the most important things in your life?
Just brain-dump whatever comes up on a sheet of paper.
How much of your time are you spending on the things that are important to you?
My guess is, not as much as you’d like to be!
What would improve if you did?
I get it, we all have pressures (both internal and external) to earn enough money, achieve success, progress with projects, while all the time being a good friend/partner/parent etc and putting other’s needs first. No the wonder we often feel overwhelmed!
I’ve always been a busy person. I used to wish there were two of me, so I could do all the things I wanted to do! I wasn’t very good at slowing down and I rarely actually stopped, until my head hit the pillow every night.
I’ve more and more though, over the last couple of years, been able to slow down and to relax. To consciously weave more slowing down into my day, every day. This has been easier since I started working from home about 5 and a half years ago (even in my last job before being self-employed) and could manage my own time and schedule. I consciously chose to work from home so I don’t commute (because I hated it) – saving me time, which I use for a rejuvenating morning routine of yoga and meditation. I know it serves me for the rest of the day.
When we’re really busy, constantly racing from one thing to the next, I think we miss things. We miss life itself. We miss beauty, nature, connection. We miss seeing things we can be grateful for. We probably miss the very things we’re working so hard to gain!
In slowing down, we can see and experience these precious things so much more.
[ctt template=”12″ link=”c8e7R” via=”yes” ]By slowing down, we can see and experience the precious things so much more #metime #gratitude https://hilscrisp.com/2017/03/17/slow-down/[/ctt]
The faster you go through life, the quicker life will feel like it is rushing by you. When you slow down, your days will feel longer, life will feel slower. You will actually feel like there is more time, not less. Try it and see.
I think we don’t slow down because we put too much pressure on ourselves to achieve and we fear that we won’t get everything done – which is going to cause stress if the balance gets tipped too far into overwhelm, which is the opposite of well-being. You may like to see my blog on how to quieten anxious thoughts here.
I’m not saying don’t aim high and work towards achieving your dreams, but I am inviting you to take pauses on the way, stop and look around at the view. Check internally that you’re still on the correct course. By taking time to pause, you’ll actually be way more productive and focused when you are ‘doing’. This is what will bring longer term success and enjoyment, not constant push, pressure and stress.
Slowing down also creates space. It creates space in your day. Space for you to be in touch with your intuition, space for your creativity to awaken and flow, space for you to appreciate your life and the world around you.
I’m seeing the positive effects of business women choosing to slow down and have more ‘me-time’ in my current 6 week series: Boost YOU to Boost your Business (for women entrepreneurs). One element of the course is that chance to slow down, connect more deeply with themselves and each other and to receive the nourishment, nurturing and rejuvenation from doing that.
One woman said last week “its like a tranquil oasis of calm in the middle of my week” and another this week, when asked how she was, replied “better now I’m here” and that was before we’d even got started!
Love Hils x