How To Slow Down, Hurry Less, and Do More
“An unhurried sense of time is in itself a form of wealth” Bonnie Friedman
This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!
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“I need to take a sacred pause, as if I were a sun warmed rock in the centre of a rushing river” Dawna Markova
I really loved this quote, and it got me thinking about how much we hurry through life, and what a wonder it is to find and hold our centre of calm in amongst that rush. Life can be fast paced- and it is easy to get swept up in the rush. We rush to work, rush to get dinner on the table, rush to get that final chore done before the end of the day. Can we slow all this down, and learn to create a life of ease and peace in amongst the chaos?
In today’s Slow Sunday Letter, I want to talk about shifting our energy, being kind to ourselves and taking control back so we can slow down, hurry less and do more! So, grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get started!
To Live Unhurried
“Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. What is anything in life compared to peace of soul?” ― Francis de Sales
Hurrying is such an unhelpful feeling but one that is familiar to all of us. Between family, children, work, running a house, having a social life, regularly exercising, fulfilling our passions and hobbies and still having a enough time for ourselves, it is so easy to get overwhelmed and stuck in a really negative head space.
Life is busy, and some weeks we can be stuck in ‘catch up’ mode. I get sucked into hurrying more often than I would like. I hate being late, and I also catch myself flying through tasks as fast as I can in order to make time for everything. That uncomfortable sense of being behind, can easily spiral into rushing, which then turns into stress and anxiety.
Why do we hurry? Does it even help us achieve all that we want to? I know for me, the more I hurry the more anxious I become and even if I am moving through tasks, it doesn’t feel like it.
Hurrying breeds quickness, and quickness breeds frantic energy.
Slow and Gentle Living encourages us to focus and place our energy into the things that truly matter. There is no doubt, we live in a fast-paced world that values gain and speed. We rarely give ourselves permission to go slowly and fully enjoy the present moment, without thinking about what has to happens next.
The Hare & the Tortoise
A Hare was making fun of the Tortoise one day for being so slow.
"Do you ever get anywhere?" he asked with a mocking laugh.
"Yes," replied the Tortoise, "and I get there sooner than you think. I'll run you a race and prove it."
The Hare was much amused at the idea of running a race with the Tortoise, but for the fun of the thing he agreed. So the Fox, who had consented to act as judge, marked the distance and started the runners off.
The Hare was soon far out of sight, and to make the Tortoise feel very deeply how ridiculous it was for him to try a race with a Hare, he lay down beside the course to take a nap until the Tortoise should catch up.
The Tortoise meanwhile kept going slowly but steadily, and, after a time, passed the place where the Hare was sleeping. But the Hare slept on very peacefully; and when at last he did wake up, the Tortoise was near the goal. The Hare now ran his swiftest, but he could not overtake the Tortoise in time.
The race is not always to the swift.
The Hare and the Tortoise reminds us that you can be more successful by doing things slowly and steadily, rather than by acting quickly and carelessly.
Slowing down brings with it the invitation to clear our minds, be free of distractions, focus and become more efficient taking care of what is truly important in the present moment. In taking back the control, and hurrying less our overwhelm is extinguished. We can lead with calm, which in turn increases our productivity, creativity and overall wellbeing.
Shift Your Energy
“Now is the time to take back your energy, your power, and your peace” Debbie Ford
Some days/weeks just seem to run away with us, the days seem busy and full, and all your intentions for a slower more mindful week fly out the window. Hurried energy conducts your time encouraging comparison, feelings of failure and a sense that you are behind or not achieving or living the ‘right’ way.
If you start noticing these thought processes, and the feeling that the week is running away with you. Stop, slow down. Let’s take a moment, and focus on what we can achieve. Pour some self-belief and self-trust into the mix, and reflect on the situation from a place free of judgment.
You only need five minutes to shift your energy and channel a more positive mindset. Everything around us has its own energy and vibration, including you.
If you feel your energy diminishing or shifting into an unpleasant, unhelpful space whether that is through hurrying, overwhelm or negative thoughts - here’s how to stop, slow it down and get yourself back on track.
PAUSE
Take a moment to pause and focus on how you feel. Give yourself some attention and acknowledge how you are feeling and give yourself some space to just be (without judgment).
BREATHE
Centre yourself. Close your eyes, place your hand on your heart, and your other hand on your stomach. Take a couple of deep slow breaths through your nose and out through your mouth. Release the energy you are holding, and welcome in a sense of calm and stillness.
REFLECT
Take some time to reflect honestly on your energy. Reflect from a place of understanding. See if you can recognise any potential triggers or unhelpful situations that may have led to a more negative energy and headspace.
BE KIND
Try and lead with kindness. You are developing a deeper sense of understanding and control over your energy and how it is affected by others and situations around you. Practice kindness and allow yourself to feel proud- you took back control, and changed your energy to better suit you, your purpose and your inner peace.
Five Slow Living Time Management Tips
A common misconception is that slow living isn’t conducive to productivity. The opposite is true, and we only have to look at our friends The Hare and the Tortoise to understand how this can be the case. Time management and how we organise ourselves is a big part of slow living. It makes sense that we have to have an awareness of how we are spending our time and how long certain tasks take so we can make conscious decisions about our schedules. These tips will help you stay more relaxed, complete your work slowly and remain calm.
1) Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
2) Break Down Tasks
3) Be Flexible
4) Schedule Free Time
5) Prioritise
Self-Kindness
If there is one thing that will exasperate hurried and busy energy, it is negative self talk and being unkind to ourselves. I often feel guilty if I find myself rushing, multi-tasking, getting stressed about work, being late to something, or 'wasting' a day - honestly there are so many opportunities for us to be so hard on ourselves! Berating or being too hard on yourself will never align with a slower and more gentle energy. A fundamental part of embracing Slow Living is practicing self-kindness and acceptance. Be your own friend, and everything will feel a little bit more gentle.
Whoever said we had to be perfect? I think one of the most beautiful things about being human is our imperfections – we stumble, we fall, we make mistakes, we get back up, we live and grow. We win, we lose. We change and learn. We ebb and flow and we cannot possibly get it right all the time. And, that is OK.
Our state of mind, inner thoughts and intentions have an impact on our energy and mood. Talking to yourself kindly is so powerful, and something that is largely within our control. I promise the kinder you are to yourself the more attune you will become to your inner voice and the pace at which life suits you the most.
Self-Kindness Journal Prompts
What is one statement you feel comfortable saying to yourself when you are struggling to be kind to yourself?
Reflect on the role of kindness in your personal growth…
What used to soothe you as a child? Can this inform how you soothe yourself as an adult?
What is one thing will you do just for you today?
Think of a fictional character who embodies kindness… what can you learn from them?
I really hope today’s Slow Sunday Letter has given you some insight into how you can slow down, hurry less and do more. An easy trick to slow down is to ask: “Why the rush?” and take a moment to shift your energy. Is speed really adding to the quality of the output? You can cultivate both productivity and calm. Just a few short moments of pausing and returning back to the present can make all the difference in your life.
If you have any tips or ways you slow down, please do share them in the comments below, I’d love to hear what you think.
Thank you for being here,
With Light & Love
Emily xxx
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Your pieces are always so peaceful and calming, like a warm cup of tea and a hug. One way that helps me slow down is stepping away from my tasks and cuddling or playing with my dog—I’m forced to place all my attention in the present moment on my dog. It’s a small break but it brings me back to the present moment, not rushing to my next task.
Oh my goodness, I needed to read every word of this today. I could almost hear my Nana "more haste less speed" was one of her favourite sayings. And it's so true. I've lost count of the times I've made more work for myself. Trying to multitask and getting stuff wrong, or rushing a task only to break something or leave it half done.