I really enjoyed your post, thank you. Only this year did I start to get some structure into my days, esp mornings. This was very much spurred on by morning pages, which I then began to follow with yoga/meditation and or a walk. I had no idea just how essential a good morning is to a good day. I do not 'try' to be productive but I notice that I just feel better and more alive. Being new to Substack, I hadn't really been counting it as social media, oh what a web of denial we weave, thinking instad that it's a higher plane of existence. Thank you for the gentle reminder. A screen is a still a screen. x
Welcome to Substack! Oh it's certainly different here but yeah, still a screen.
I love your development of your morning routine... I still haven't found the right routine for me, but I work shifts so my mornings don't always look the same. I love the sound of yours ... ! Thank you for sharing , and I'm so glad you found your way here 💞
I love how you designed your mornings with intention. That's what I'm currently working on after a big change (both sons now away at Uni). And totally agree with the social media thing too. I don't regard Substack as SM in the stressful sense but it can certainly suck me in and keep me distracted unless I set a timer to limit myself.
Another wonderful newsletter, Emily (love the merch!!!)
I have just started time blocking and tracking my time as well. It’s interesting to see what things take longer than you think etc.
One thing that has been super helpful is not over scheduling. I have done this in the past when I have had a burst of energy. I plan all the things and then rebel against myself.
I kind of accidentally left a lot of spots in my day and it has been game changing. It has meant that I have been able to shift things around to adjust to little side quests or tasks that I want to spend a bit more time in!
Thank you Mika 😊 that's so kind. I'm glad you like the merch ... I am so pleased with it !
You are so right, I'm getting better at understanding that sometimes I just need to go slow and then trust myself that other times I'm in the zone and super productive... So much of my work ebbs and flows with my energy levels.
You know I keeeeep meaning to track my period and my energy levels as this fluctuates through my cycle, I'm sure this effects me alot but I've never taken the time to understand it !
The book “Optimized Woman” by Miranda Gray was life changing! She talks about the permission to slow down during certain times of our cycle and those are the times that we can lean into our intuition more. And as we do this, we will be ready when we rev up to our more energised part of cycle.
I love your new signature! Feels like it's loaded with your generous spirit to share that living gently is always possible.
What I love about slowing down more, being an essentialist and protective of my time, is I've got more time to reflect.
People don't drain me, activities don't drain me, so long as I've got time every day to pause, reflect, and journal of each day. In fact, it makes all the encounters more meaningful. Instead of rushing from one meeting to another, one meet-up to another, we can space out things to make time for thinking.
((this is why I don't really have the goal to climb up career ladder even further, imagine how busy a director/ceo's diary is with all those activities! Even if they want to journal, they need to sacrifice time such as quality connections or sleep, ugh))
I really love your experience with slow living, it honestly fills my heart up! I really think it is the magic sprinkle on top of life, and it just changes so much, and like you said brings with it so much more meaning ... For yourself and with others.
So glad we can be slow living cheerleaders together! 🤣🙏
I really liked the concept of injecting slowness into the day. I often fall into the trap of ‘all or nothing’ as if slow living is a binary thing. Thank you for the tips!
I'm in the middle of a social media reduction experiment and what a difference it makes. I think I've gained back around 2-3 hours a day just by not doom scrolling Facebook and Instagram. I'm not entirely sure I'll give them up completely yet, rather use them more intentionally.
Thank you Debbie! I agree, I feel really attached to social media for connection with loved one who don't live close by and for memories, so I am not ready to delete. But I too, am working hard at limiting my time scrolling! I hope we break the habit!
Such incredible wisdom here. My husband has and expression. “Slow is smooth. And smooth is fast”. I realized fast leads to slips and trips and stumbles and clean up. We now look for slow stable steps and when we look back we can’t believe how far we’ve gone.
I love that expression! It's wild how little changes and small steps make suxh a huge difference to your everyday but also your spirit ... I treasure calm in my soul and bones 🙏
I loved all of this and found some similarities in how I have tried to slow down even more in my every day life. Thanks for the reminders and for even more inspiration to keep slowing down!
You are so welcome 🤗 thank you Liz. I love exploring slow living and really thinking about how it can transform your life. It doesn't have to be big, earth moving changes in fact I think the beauty and power of slow living is in the small things 🐢🙏
I really enjoyed your post, thank you. Only this year did I start to get some structure into my days, esp mornings. This was very much spurred on by morning pages, which I then began to follow with yoga/meditation and or a walk. I had no idea just how essential a good morning is to a good day. I do not 'try' to be productive but I notice that I just feel better and more alive. Being new to Substack, I hadn't really been counting it as social media, oh what a web of denial we weave, thinking instad that it's a higher plane of existence. Thank you for the gentle reminder. A screen is a still a screen. x
Welcome to Substack! Oh it's certainly different here but yeah, still a screen.
I love your development of your morning routine... I still haven't found the right routine for me, but I work shifts so my mornings don't always look the same. I love the sound of yours ... ! Thank you for sharing , and I'm so glad you found your way here 💞
I love how you designed your mornings with intention. That's what I'm currently working on after a big change (both sons now away at Uni). And totally agree with the social media thing too. I don't regard Substack as SM in the stressful sense but it can certainly suck me in and keep me distracted unless I set a timer to limit myself.
Morning routines are the hardest to get right but the most impactful ! I do vary mine thought the seasons and it's a constant evolution!!!
Time limits on socials and Substack definitely help! 💕
Another wonderful newsletter, Emily (love the merch!!!)
I have just started time blocking and tracking my time as well. It’s interesting to see what things take longer than you think etc.
One thing that has been super helpful is not over scheduling. I have done this in the past when I have had a burst of energy. I plan all the things and then rebel against myself.
I kind of accidentally left a lot of spots in my day and it has been game changing. It has meant that I have been able to shift things around to adjust to little side quests or tasks that I want to spend a bit more time in!
Thank you Mika 😊 that's so kind. I'm glad you like the merch ... I am so pleased with it !
You are so right, I'm getting better at understanding that sometimes I just need to go slow and then trust myself that other times I'm in the zone and super productive... So much of my work ebbs and flows with my energy levels.
You know I keeeeep meaning to track my period and my energy levels as this fluctuates through my cycle, I'm sure this effects me alot but I've never taken the time to understand it !
The book “Optimized Woman” by Miranda Gray was life changing! She talks about the permission to slow down during certain times of our cycle and those are the times that we can lean into our intuition more. And as we do this, we will be ready when we rev up to our more energised part of cycle.
Thank you Mika ! I'll see if my library has a copy 📚❤️
I love your new signature! Feels like it's loaded with your generous spirit to share that living gently is always possible.
What I love about slowing down more, being an essentialist and protective of my time, is I've got more time to reflect.
People don't drain me, activities don't drain me, so long as I've got time every day to pause, reflect, and journal of each day. In fact, it makes all the encounters more meaningful. Instead of rushing from one meeting to another, one meet-up to another, we can space out things to make time for thinking.
((this is why I don't really have the goal to climb up career ladder even further, imagine how busy a director/ceo's diary is with all those activities! Even if they want to journal, they need to sacrifice time such as quality connections or sleep, ugh))
Thank you so much Sekar 🙏 you are so kind.
I really love your experience with slow living, it honestly fills my heart up! I really think it is the magic sprinkle on top of life, and it just changes so much, and like you said brings with it so much more meaning ... For yourself and with others.
So glad we can be slow living cheerleaders together! 🤣🙏
I really liked the concept of injecting slowness into the day. I often fall into the trap of ‘all or nothing’ as if slow living is a binary thing. Thank you for the tips!
Thank you Jason ! I think it's honouring the ebb and flow of life ... Both around us but also with our own energy too.
i absolutely agree with slowing down more and more to achieve things with ease
When it finally clicked in my head I felt like I had unlocked the most amazing secret !
Great tips Emily, really interesting read.
I'm in the middle of a social media reduction experiment and what a difference it makes. I think I've gained back around 2-3 hours a day just by not doom scrolling Facebook and Instagram. I'm not entirely sure I'll give them up completely yet, rather use them more intentionally.
Thank you Debbie! I agree, I feel really attached to social media for connection with loved one who don't live close by and for memories, so I am not ready to delete. But I too, am working hard at limiting my time scrolling! I hope we break the habit!
Good tips.
Thank you James 🙏
Such incredible wisdom here. My husband has and expression. “Slow is smooth. And smooth is fast”. I realized fast leads to slips and trips and stumbles and clean up. We now look for slow stable steps and when we look back we can’t believe how far we’ve gone.
I love that expression! It's wild how little changes and small steps make suxh a huge difference to your everyday but also your spirit ... I treasure calm in my soul and bones 🙏
So so true.
I loved all of this and found some similarities in how I have tried to slow down even more in my every day life. Thanks for the reminders and for even more inspiration to keep slowing down!
You are so welcome 🤗 thank you Liz. I love exploring slow living and really thinking about how it can transform your life. It doesn't have to be big, earth moving changes in fact I think the beauty and power of slow living is in the small things 🐢🙏
Time audit is a very useful way to understand one’s time usage. It helps to evaluate and readjust. The changes you made give a good example to others.
It was an eye opener... And I tried to be really honest with myself. I hope you continue and maybe look at it again in a couple of months or so. 🤍