How I Slow Down in a Fast-Paced World
Between an infinite amount of social media networks, constant breaking news, and a global pandemic, it’s easy to say the world has changed. Change is a part of life, however, it’s crucial we make sure the world isn’t moving us in the right direction. When we’re able to slow down our focus is better and our ideas are more creative. This helps our careers, but it also brings positive changes to our personal lives. It can be tricky, but here are some of my tricks to scale back.
My Morning Coffee
I’ve reduced my coffee intake since my college years; however, I still enjoy a nice cup of coffee. So, instead of chugging coffee like I did as a student, I take my time to taste the coffee. I know this may seem small, but it reminds me to start my day with the right mindset.
My Favorite Book
Reading fiction has become one of my favorite pandemic activities. I’m a life-long book nerd, but I realized I didn’t read for fun like I did before college. Most of my reading was for university or for work, even general knowledge.
Now, try to pick one fiction novel a month to read. With this, I’ve been able to pick different genres. For example, I’ve read romance, historical-fiction, and more recently mystery. One of my top suggestions would be The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. It was also announced this book will be adapted into a Netflix movie, so get started if you want to finish before the movie is released. Also, if you have any fiction novel recommendations, please send them my way!
Less Social Media Time
Now, this one can be very challenging for me. Like many of us, I can be “online” more than I’d even like to be. This happens because of my work (hello my fellow marketing people) and is also just the impact of my age. We connect online, especially when germs are spreading and the world sometimes closes down because of it.
Despite all of this, I still take my social media breaks. Sometimes it can be for longer amounts of time, like a couple of months. Other times, it can be for shorter times, like major holidays or vacations. This forces me to be more present in my life. Do I miss a couple of things when I do this? Yes, but the benefits always seem to outweigh the cons. I’ve also gotten to the point where I only have one social media network app on my phone (it’s Pinterest).
My Nightly Cup of Tea
ICYMI, I’m very big on coffee and tea. Part of my night-time routine includes a cup of tea. Much like my morning coffee, my nightly cup of tea is my way of telling my brain the day is almost over. I typically drink chamomile tea or ginger tea, but I also switch it up depending on my mood. The key to remember about any tea at night is to look for teas without caffeine. This would prevent any burst of energy most of us don’t want. There are also tons of health benefits associated with chamomile tea and ginger tea, which makes it a win-win situation.
Are any of these tips going to absolutely save you? Maybe, but they’re more likely to help you have some more joy (which is one of my favorite words) and maybe even some fun. When we slow down, we’re able to see the amazing things right in front of us. These are some of the strategies I like, however, feel free to change it up based on your personality and hobbies.
