Slowing Down is Medicine

Have you ever realised that if you slow down, time actually moves slower, that it feels like you have more hours in a day. When we rush it feels like time goes faster and faster, you look back and a week, a month, even a year has just passed, almost without you realising.

When you slow down, the opposite happens. It feels like such a contradiction!

Why on earth would we rush through our lives as if we are being chased? Trying to achieve more, do more, be more.

When I think about my day, I often catch myself thinking ‘ I will do that quickly and then that..’. . Being in this state of rush, keeps my stress system activated (which is very unhealthy!) and creates a light state of anxiety, until the moment comes that I have to rush to be in time for something and I cannot find my keys and I drop something and I get a rush of panic. Over nothing really.. it’s just because my stress system always seems to be on alert.

As someone who has had quite a burnout in the past, I am very aware of the importance of managing my stress levels. And even so, I still fall prey to the adrenaline addiction as you can see. And I know I am not the only one!

And that’s where slowness comes in. Slowing down is medicine for our souls. The warm weather makes it easier to slow down, so this is a perfect time to start practicing.

So what do I mean with slowing down? It’s literally moving a tad slower; walk a little slower, make my coffee slower, be more mindful or conscious about what I am doing. Do what I do with attention. When I slow down, I feel my whole nervous system calming down and my breath is becoming deeper and calmer.

When I am in this state I can listen better, to others, to nature, to myself.

I take small breaks between activities instead of jumping straight on to the next subject. I have more mind space, my creativity increases. Actually my entire wellbeing improves. My muscles relax more. My desire for unhealthy habits (food, social media) reduces. And I feel happier.

I live more in the current moment, I spent less time thinking about the past and less time on planning or worrying about the future. My perception of time reduces to the current moment, so I can really experience what’s happening right here. Right now. Time starts stretching.

It’s magic and it’s at your fingertips;).

Will you give it a try!?