Slow Down What You’re Already Doing
I'm going to keep this short and sweet because, well, I don't know about you, but I feel like time is accelerating.
Taking time for yourself is hard at any time, but with the holidays in full swing and the end of the year only two weeks away? Oof. It can feel completely impossible. We're rushing to finish projects, buy gifts, bake cookies (or is that just me?), and make the most of those last few days of the year. Or perhaps we are just wishing for the new one to start, hoping it will be better.
What if you stopped waiting for a big break to exhale and instead carved out a few tiny, unplugged moments just for you?
The best part is that you're already doing these things. You don't need a full hour; you just need a conscious, intentional pause.
Here are five ways to find micro-moments of peace this week:
Take Your Time in the Bathroom: No rushing! Give yourself an extra 60 seconds of quiet after you've finished up.
Sit in Your Car a Moment Longer: Before going inside the office or your house, stay seated. Take three deep breaths and just notice your surroundings.
Slowly Wash Your Hands: Turn a routine chore into a sensory experience. Focus on the temperature of the water and the feel of the soap. (Or, add one minute of conscious breathing to your shower).
Take the Long Way Home: Even five extra minutes counts! It's an intentional break between "work-you" and "home-you."
Stand and Look at the Sky: Whenever you go outside, give yourself 60 seconds. Breathe the air. Look up. It's an instant perspective shift.
Bonus: Take a couple of deep breaths before or after you brush your teeth (or both!).
“We are all looking to optimize our time: to move efficiently from one task to another. But what if, instead of speeding up, we just slowed down what we are already doing?”
This isn’t about adding a new "to-do" to your list. It’s about savoring instead of rushing. It's about pausing for an extra moment to just be instead of racing to the next thing.
My challenge to you: What’s one thing you do now that you can slow down, even just a bit, to take a moment to breathe, close your eyes, drop your shoulders, and unclench your jaw?
