Slowing Down - In a World of Chaos find your Calm and Purpose

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Slow Living

In this world of chaos slow living is making a comeback. Slow living is a movement where people are deciding to live a more balanced life. Slow living is about bringing self-care and kindness to yourself and to others back into your daily routine. By slowing things down there is a calm and purpose to life, moments to cherish the world around you and for the people that you share it with. It gives you the time to value all the things in life that you have.

Slow living is a stepping stone towards happiness and contentment. It is also a pathway to good health. As we slow down the pace it calms our breathing and reduces tension and stress. Our connections to friends and family grow as we have the time to build healthier relationships and tension-free social gatherings.

Make your life simpler and more efficient by doing things at the right speed instead of turning every moment into some sort of race against time. Being busy is not the be-all and end-all of life. Start to pay attention to the important things in life.  

"The things that matter the most should never be at the mercy of the things that matter least" 
Goethe

Take a Moment

Be mindful at the beginning of each day. Being mindful is a sure way of slowing down time and what better way to do this than first thing. Mindfulness is about focusing on the moment, rather than thinking ahead or going through events that have already happened. Many of us start the day on autopilot, rushing through our daily routines and barely noticing what we are actually doing. You might find it useful and mindful to sit quietly for a few minutes in the morning, so you can calmly prepare for the day ahead rather than hurrying straight into your daily activities.

Do less and notice more. Try not to cram too much into one day. Prioritise what needs to be done and do these chores more slowly with a full focus on what you are doing. Completely engage yourself in whatever activity you are carrying out, whether it's an enjoyable task such as a social event or whether it's cleaning and housework. By entirely embracing this activity your experience will be more relaxing and satisfying. 

"Enjoy the moment. you won't have it again"
Frank Sonnenberg

Slow Tasks - Taking Time to Slow Down

What do you do to slow down? - This is a good question since most people think that sitting down to watch T.V or scrolling through their social media platform is the answer to a good 'wind down' after a hectic day! In fact, this is more than likely adding to your stressful list of things to do ..... catching up on facebook in case you have missed liking someones posts or sending a happy birthday message. Game shows or reality T.V series just seem to change peoples moods and cause agitation. It's time to look at some of the things you can do to bring calm and focus to any spare time you have in your day.

Make time for some slow hobbies: 

These do not need to be particularly productive as this is a time to savour the moment rather than get things 'done'. Immerse yourself in one activity, purely for your own enjoyment. By focusing your energy into one slow activity will clear your mind and help you to realign. This is about rediscovering yourself, finding something that you enjoy without looking for an outcome and teaching you to slow down and learning to be patient with yourself once again.

"Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself"
Francis De Sales
  • Writing - Go back to pen and paper. A few hours away from screen time is definitely a healthier option. Remembering this is not a productive activity and the end results need not be a masterpiece. Try playing with words, writing a poem, thoughts or ideas on writing a book, writing a letter to a friend or just writing down your thoughts in a journal. Physically writing with a pen has many benefits, one being that it allows your brain to be more engaged and increases your focus. It also stimulates neural activity in the brain which has a similar effect to meditation.
  • Colouring - This is becoming a popular slow living hobby. Colouring is mindful, reduces anxiety levels and has a restorative effect. Colouring promotes creative expression with its boundaries and shapes to colour. Colouring activities have proven to reduce mild symptoms of depression and anxiety when performed for as little as 20 minutes a day
  • Puzzles - Word search, Sudoku, crosswords, jigsaws. This is a great way to slow down and have a feeling of achievement at the same time. They not only stimulate the brain and help you stay focused but also delay the symptoms of dementia in later life.
  • Reading a Book - This is one of my personal favourites. There is nothing like turning the pages of a good solid hardback book. You can really immerse yourself in a well written book. Your whole mind becomes part of this adventure and you feel you are living another life. There are times when it feels quite sad to come to the end of a great adventure - almost as if you have lost a sense of belonging. Books are like your closest friends - loyal, honest, adventurous, hilarious, inspiring and good company.
  • Learn some Phrases - Download or buy an audio book or app. There are many free options for listening and learning. Master some phrases and words for a holiday destination or perhaps a holiday you have already booked. It feels good to learn another language, even if it's just a few words, so have fun with it. You will find that most foreign countries you visit are really happy to hear tourist attempt to speak in their native language and more often than not they are happy to help you with the pronunciation. 
  • Listen to a Podcast - Podcasts can boost mental health, reduce your stress levels and improve your listening and concentration skills. You can also learn new things, focus on the things that give you the most enjoyment in life and reduce your screen time. You can listen to free podcasts on Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon and YouTube.
  • Stretch and Lengthen - There are so many benefits to stretching. A stretch routine can add many positives to each day and the more you put into this practice, the more you will notice the improvements of your daily movement. After a full nights sleep, a good stretch will aid mobility, flexibility, and general movement. It will also help to increase your levels of concentration throughout your day. Stretching also increases blood flow delivering much needed nutrients to your muscles and causing happier, healthier blood vessels and veins. Add some slow breathing techniques to your stretch routines to add some mindfulness and focus to your movements. Add this Mindful Stretch Routine to your Morning or Evening self-care time

Take a Moment

Sometimes you need to take a moment and remind yourself that life is short. Just stop every now and then and enjoy the moment. These little mindful activities will bring some joy to a moment in time that you will never get back again: 

Take a moment to:
  • Enjoy silence
  • Listen to your thoughts
  • Allow yourself to sit and do nothing
  • Stop and enjoy the taste of coffee
  • Yawn and stretch out your body
  • Listen to the sounds around you for 1 minute - do nothing for 1 minute except listen
  • Stop and take a moment to admire all the beautiful things you take for granted every day
  • Inhale and Exhale deeply for 1 minute, notice each breath
  • Tune into your body and ask yourself how you are feeling today
  • Allow yourself to have a quiet moment during your day. Step outside for some fresh air
  • 4-7-8 breathing. Inhale through your nostrils for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds
  • Watch the clouds move for 1 minute
  • Unwind with this 1 minute Meditation

©HealthyForeverFitnessMotivation

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