How to Slow Down and Be More Mindful

A woman sits by a window and reads a book. She is trying to be more mindful

Who doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? We rush through the day, running here and there, and end up exhausted. Somehow these days full of duties, obligations and busyness have begun to build up and become our lives. 

We spend our time doing things we don’t really want to do, yet feel we should. We’ve come to believe that being productive and crossing things off our to-do list is the ultimate goal. Instead, we should learn how to slow down and be more mindful.

The truth is, life on Earth is a brief gift, and our time is too precious to be used like this. If we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our downtime.

 This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make our hearts sing and de-prioritizing those things that are not imperative. 

If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we transmute that sprint to the train into something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of stress? How can we cultivate the art of going slowly?

How to slow down and be more mindful throughout the day

Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and think about what you want from the day. Leave your watch on the bedside table. 

Take the scenic route. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer. Check your email only twice a day. 

Don’t pack your schedule so tightly that there’s no time for a short walk. Light candles before you start to cook dinner. Add one moment here and there for slowness; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being.

Adapted from an article by Marco Visscher & Jay Walljasper, Ode Magazine, Issue #15, www.odemagazine.com

Are you curious? Let’s chat. We would love to hear from you.

Get Instant Access

3 Steps to a Healthier You

Download these three steps to a healthier you from Happy Belly Health

More Healthy Resources

Choose a Topic
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Your Road to Optimal Health Begins Here

Download these health strategies and take the first steps: “3 Steps to a Healthier You!”

* indicates required
Your Concerns

Intuit Mailchimp