Do you ever arrive at work feeling rushed, stressed and cranky after a busy morning routine of gym classes, preparing healthy lunches and a less than ideal commute to work? Sometimes we are exhausted before we even log onto our computers or rush into our first meeting for the day.
There are some things in life that are unavoidable and most of us have to do, many of these things enhance our lives too, like working in a career that we care about, exercising, catching up with friends, hobbies and study. However, fitting it all in can also mean that we are in a constant state of rush!
So how can we make our lives a little less frantic?
I’m not suggesting that we need to completely change our routines, quit everything that makes us rush or sit on a meditation cushion all day long…..I am suggesting instead that we just slow down a little.
Ways we can slow down during the day
Walk a little slower
With the fast pace of our modern lifestyle its easy to do what everyone else is doing…..rush! The streets are full of people rushing, sometimes with good reason but also sometimes just because everyone else is doing it. I have found that rushing doesn’t usually get me to where I am going much faster, I just arrive feeling stressed. By slowing my pace consciously, even just ever so slightly I mentally calm down and arrive at my destination with more peace and only a few moments later. It also allows me to practice mindfulness – I notice my feet on the ground and the sounds, sights and smells happening around me. This is also the perfect way to get out of our minds and into our bodies.
Email slower
How many times have you quickly read an email written a response and hit send before realising that you misread what the other person was asking you or making a stupid typo that made you feel like an idiot?!
Pausing slightly to read over your emails, checking for tone and accuracy can not only save you time in the long run but it can also help you maintain and build good relationships. Taking those extra few moments to be a little more friendly, considerate or kind goes a long way!
Cook slower
I have a natural tendency to rush in the kitchen, I have the idea that I want to get the ‘job’ done as quickly as possible so I can move onto the next thing. Unfortunately for me rushing in the kitchen often leads to broken dishes, spilled food and the odd cut finger…..not exactly the best way to save time!
I have found that slowing down when I’m preparing food can be a chance to practice mindfulness. I take the time to ask myself how does the food look, feel, smell and most importantly taste. Slowing down also gives me the opportunity to be grateful for the meal I am about to eat and the health benefits I will gain from this lovingly prepared food.
Eat slower
Most of us know that eating more mindfully and chewing our food properly is good for our digestion and that it takes around 20 minutes for our bodies to register that we are satisfied. Eating mindfully in this world can be a challenge and shutting out all distraction can be nearly impossible. We can, however, practice slowing down in the midst of what’s going on around us. Even on the days we just cannot step away from our desk to eat, we can still choose to slow down a little. A recent six-year Japanese study found that slower eaters not only have better digestion but they also weigh less. It is believed this is because eating more slowly gives the body time to respond to food in a healthy way rather than shooting up our blood sugar in an attempt to try and handle a sudden influx of quickly consumed food.
I find that putting my knife and fork down in between each mouthful helps to slow me down and pay attention to my food. I also see if I can stretch out my meals a little longer by pausing in between each mouthful. My tummy always thanks me for this.
What have you tried that has helped you slow down and become mindful even when life is busy? Please add your comments below.
