Sometimes Slowing Down is the Secret to Catching Up

So often we find ourselves thinking that we always need to be busy.  Always doing or accomplishing a task.  If we aren’t, it’s as if we’re wasting time and not being productive or doing anything with our life.  The paradoxical part about this sentiment is that a lot of times, we are doing something we FEEL is important in the moment, but we can’t even remember why it was important to us down the road.  Think about the last email that you sent to your boss, or that last report you had to complete and send in for review yesterday or the day before.  What was it about?  Who was it going to?  This information is probably easy to remember since it wasn’t that long ago. Maybe it had something to do with your job as well.  As far as you were concerned, it was important enough to dedicate your time and attention to it. 

Let me ask you another question though.  What was the last thing that you said or did for your mom, dad, husband, wife or sibling that let them know that you loved them? 

Little bit tougher, isn’t it?  Maybe you’re someone that’s just better than I am and is always telling or showing your significant others that you care about them. Either way, the point I’m trying to make is that our memories are indicators that allow us to understand our interior selves and what we deem significant.  Think of something from your childhood that you can always recall as being a fond memory.  Why is that the memory you chose?  How did that moment make you feel?  Maybe it allowed you to do or experience something that you never thought you could.  Maybe it exposed you to an interest, hobby or person that is now a part of your everyday life.  In some rare cases, I’ve heard of people becoming friends with their soon-to-be spouses in such a memory!

So, what does all this have to do with slowing down?  It’s actually very simple.  If you are always doing or working on something that you will probably forget about next week, simply because it’s something to occupy your time, attention or money, you will ALWAYS feel like you aren’t doing enough with your life.  You will ALWAYS feel tired, drained or “dead inside”.  Instead, SLOW DOWN.  Take some time to truly rest and reflect.  Don’t touch your phone or your TV or your computer.  Find somewhere outdoors possibly where you can just sit or lie down and let your thoughts flow.  Too often we believe that we don’t want to or shouldn’t feel our feelings or think our thoughts because we it might a waste of time.

Slowing down doesn’t always mean doing nothing either.  Sometimes it means taking time away from more menial things and putting that time towards some physical activity or hobby that you have a passion for.  Maybe this is something that you could share with a loved one or a friend as well.  The point is to try and do something you enjoy doing that isn’t just a time-filler because you’re “bored”.

At the end of the day, you can take this point of view however you feel works for yourselves.  Nothing I write here will ever be the be all and end all of a subject.  I will never have enough knowledge or experience to claim that I know the perfect way to approach an issue or situation for everybody; but maybe this essay will at least get you started and point you in the right direction.

““Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”   — Ferris Bueller (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)