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How to Slow Down & Enjoy Life in a World of Hurry

Simplicity is a word that sings to our hearts today because it suggests rest, quiet, and spaciousness. It implies slowing down, and so many of us are in desperate need of that today. But how do we slow down when the rest of the world is rushing past us?

Unfortunately, today, living more simply, doing less, and moving at a slower pace is often viewed negatively. It can be misinterpreted as laziness or as not reaching our full potential or living life to the fullest.

But in reality, the opposite is true. 

Slowing down does not mean that we give less than our best.  Moving at a slower pace allows us to give more energy to whatever we are focused on so that we CAN give our best.

It is when we slow down that we can be more intentional, and experience everything we do more richly. This is true whether we are being fully present with the person we are giving our attention to, or we are focusing on a project we are working on.  

When we slow down, we become better listeners, we make fewer mistakes, and we solve problems more effectively.  We also do it more peacefully.

We also enjoy what we are doing more. We enjoy life more when we live in the moment instead of rushing to get done, so we can move on to the next thing.

We have much to gain by slowing down and living more simply.  So why then, do so many of us fail to do it?

Many of us live our lives at such a frantic pace that we are tired all the time.  It is difficult to say no to anything because we feel like everyone around us saying yes. We fear missing out on something or falling behind. 

Unfortunately, having too many commitments, too many activities, and living at this neck-breaking pace over time wears us down and leaves us drained.

Have you ever been so busy rushing all day long that at the end of it, you can’t even remember what you did all day?   Most of us function with higher stress levels than what is healthy and over time, this stress affects our health on a larger scale.

Finding that place in between.

Somewhere between perpetual productivity and rest, between full and empty, there is a balanced space where we can live with abundant inspiration and energy.

…that’s where joy lives.

But here’s the thing, how do we realistically slow down without feeling like we are pushing against a tidal wave of busyness as the rest of the world rushes past us?  How can we be brave enough to go against the norm, and walk when everyone around us is running? 

It is possible to intentionally do less without feeling guilty, but you have to be really intentional with this to succeed. It’s not easy because we are all intrinsically wired to keep up with and compete with our peers.

As a professional organizer, I am sometimes called into the homes of individuals who are overwhelmed, frustrated, and riddled with self-blame for not being able to keep up with it all.

Yes, there are usually some organizing systems that can be set in place to help them streamline tasks and save time.  But in truth, often their overwhelmed state has more to do with the fact that they have too much on their plates rather than possessing a lack of organization.

They have too much stuff overfilling their high-maintenance homes and too many activities and obligations on their calendars. And this is all while both parents or a single parent is juggling a full-time job.

For many who have become accustomed to trying to squeeze too much into their days for too long, the habit of doing too much has been deeply embedded into their routines. Doing too much has become the new normal.

We live as if more is always better. Many of us work too much, own too much stuff, have too much debt, too much responsibility, and too much squeezed onto our calendars. It’s the American way.

How to slow down and enjoy life more:

The first step to slowing down is to stop thinking that you always need to be busy.

You CAN intentionally do less without feeling guilty. But this requires the conscious effort of retraining your mind and ignoring societal expectations.

Think about a song, if its a good one, the pauses in the song are just as important as the sound. In the same way, the pauses in our busyness are just as important as our periods of productivity. This is because it is during these idle moments that we take a deep breath and refuel.

It’s also, during these idle moments that our thoughts are given the space to flow freely. That is when ideas come to us, can be more creative and inspiration takes root. It is part of the reason ideas come to us in the shower. 

Take a critical eye to your schedule.

Decide what is truly worth your time. Evaluate your responsibilities and commitments and resolve to let go of every single thing that does not inspire you and move you forward. 

Become comfortable with saying no.

It’s always easier to tell someone “yes” than it is to say “no” but it is important to stand firm to maintain a balanced schedule. Never give an immediate answer when someone asks you to commit to something. 

Instead, tell the person that you need to check your calendar or that you need to talk to your spouse first. This will give you time to think about your schedule and make a more insightful decision rather than an impulsive one. 

This will also give you time to formulate a “no” response if you decide that you don’t have the time in your schedule.  You have a right to protect your schedule guilt-free and to decline requests aren’t in your best interest.

Purposely engage in a leisurely activity each day.

Spend at least 30 minutes doing either nothing or something unproductive and enjoyable. This activity should NOT include scrolling on your phone. You could go for a walk, read a book, play a game with your child, work on a craft or meditate.

You may also choose to work on a hobby. And if you don’t have a hobby, see if you can develop one. You will have to make a strong effort to prioritize this and not let it get pushed aside for something else that needs to get done.

Limit the busyness in your kid’s schedules too.  

It’s all too easy to get talked into committing to too many activities. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s important for kids to be involved in a certain amount of activities but their schedule needs to be balanced with some free time and time to do homework.

If your kids have chaotic calendars crammed with too many activities, your calendar will be the same because you’re the one responsible for getting them there on time with all the gear that goes along with the activity.

Simplify your home.

The more stuff you have in your home, the harder it will be to maintain, organize, and clean it all. Let go of those things you don’t use or that do not add to the quality of your life. Just simplifying the environment you live in can make space not just around you but inside of you. This can be so liberating and inspiring.  

If you are a people pleaser, it’s time to push back.

Is it important to you that you take care of everyone all of the time and always meet everyone’s needs and requests? In my work with clients, I have noticed a strong correlation between people pleasers, and those who feel like their lives are out of control and chaotic most of the time. These things go hand in hand.

Accept that to prioritize slowing down and simplifying your life, you may not be able to make everyone happy all of the time. And this is ok. You deserve not to be stressed out and exhausted all of the time.

Spend time with the people that you love and enjoy.

It’s the people in our lives that bring us happiness. They are the spice of life and make life more enjoyable and meaningful.  Life is simply better when you can share the moments with others. It’s so easy to get addicted to our devices and end up spending too much non-quality scrolling social media.

Take the time to nurture your relationships. Relationships tend to languish when a prolonged state of hurry is present. 

Read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry is full of wisdom and truth when it comes to slowing down in order to live a more fulfilling and spiritual life. It really resonated with me. Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book:

• “Hurry kills wisdom because wisdom is born in the quiet contemplation of the slow. Wisdom can only come to the surface once your thoughts settle and calm.”
• “Hurry kills joy gratitude and appreciation, because people in a hurry don’t have time to recognize the goodness of the moment.”
• “The solution to an over-busy life is not to have more time, it’s to slow down simplify your life, and focus on what really matters.”

Conclusion:

Many of us are desperately in need of more time for play, more time for family and relationships, and more time for rest, quiet and rejuvenation. Having a slower lifestyle that is in line with your goals and dreams, leaving you with room to breathe and to be creative and resourceful is so worth it.

Crafting a more purposeful life for yourself takes wise navigation rather than blind sailing along to get to where you are going.  If you simply follow the crowd, you will never exit the race. But it takes determination and courage to turn the bow and head in our own unique direction.

Feeling Stuck?

Schedule a coaching call, virtual organizing session, or a home assessment with me, and get the support and encouragement you need to move forward.