How can we bring the slow back into our new normal?
Our society has become one of an instantly gratifying,
short-cut, fast-paced, power-walk, rush. A successful day is determined by how busy and productive you’ve been, by how many goals you’ve achieved, how hard you’ve hustled, and by how many tasks you’ve ticked off your to-do list. But recently, due to circumstances out of our control, we have had to pause, reflect and re-adjust.
A lot of the activities that made life convenient and easy, disappeared. Gyms where we could go to sweat the stress and easily get our exercise fix closed. The shutting down and shuttering up of our local restaurants, cafes and take-aways, forced us back into the uncharted territories of our kitchens. The hours you spent flicking through colourful clothes racks became a blank page for new activities. With postal and courier services limited as well, there was no point in filling the virtual shopping basket for something to be delivered just the next day. Instead, we’ve had to patiently wait in long lines to fill our food ketes.
With nowhere to be, nowhere to go, no one outside of our immediate living situation to see, the rush of life retreated to a slow, lazy, meandering flow. The meaning of a “best, most successful day” was no longer defined as “a stressful, rush,” but instead, “taking it slow; a leisurely stroll.”
Yet, of course, life has picked up again in speed. The “to-do lists” are back and are longer than ever. But I say, let’s bring our newly blooming perspective on what a successful day means into the present-day normal.
Instead of rushing about, stressed on how much there is to do, letting time dash by, plan what’s on your plate consciously. Of course, fill it up and pack it with many things, but then approach everything with a slow and sweet mentality. Take your time. In doing this, you’ll notice the little things and you’ll remember to breathe. You’ll find yourself enjoying each moment and not racing ahead to when a task is finished or something is achieved.
For there will always be an endless amount of to-do lists and as soon as you finish one thing, you’ll be planning out the next. So go forward at a slower pace. Remember the world will not end if you don’t finish everything on your checklist, and there is no award for the “most successful and productive person.” Constantly being busy is not worth sacrificing the precious time we have here on earth. You’ve got to continue to make time for you and the things that bring you joy - because no one else will.
How can we bring the slow back into our new normal?
Slowing down starts with yourself and the way you hold yourself in terms of your physical moments. Consciously walk slower, breathe slower, act slower; pause to pick some flowers. You’ll feel a calmness settling in your bones, flowing around your body and then glowing outside of you. To slow your mind down, notice what is going on around you, in this exact moment. Ground yourself into the world and the now. Listen. Look. Feel. Smell. Taste. There is nowhere you need to be but here.
All those slow and joyful activities that you put time and effort into during lockdown? Bring them with you.
In the morning, complete that yoga class and read while you eat breakfast, rather than tripping out the door in a mad rush. Once you’ve finished work, head out for that walk around the block. Come inside, put on your favourite podcast and choose a recipe to create instead of going back to the basic meat and three veg meal. In your weekends, continue to ask yourself, “what do I really feel like doing today?” And go and do it. Spend the day painting, bake bread, run up the hill, cuddle up and watch movies. Put the emails on mute, turn the expectations off. Carry on with the activities that you’ve been doing that have no purpose other than making you happy.
Being able to work back in the office, hit the shops, and see friends and family again, doesn’t mean we have to go back to a busy and tiresome life. Let’s keep choosing to take the scenic route. Stop and take some detours and enjoy the view. Go off-road, spontaneously choose a different route, and explore. Have an adventure.
And when you get to the end of your day, rather than asking yourself what you’ve accomplished and succeeded in, listen to your heart and ask:
Are you satisfied with your day?
Have you loved and laughed?
Have you remembered to breathe?
Have you had fun and played?
A slow life means reaching the end of the day to find yourself, not exhausted, but relaxed and sleepy, content and full - of yummy food, adventure, dreams and a day spent being absolutely alive.
Words — Samantha Mythen
Image — Rothko Chapel
