Cultivating the Heart: The Practice of Slowing Down
Not everything in life needs to be done quickly and efficiently.
We live in a fast-paced world that emphasizes "getting things done." And getting as many things done as quickly and as efficiently as possible. This has led to some amazing advancements in technology, medicine, art, sports, entertainment, etc. It has brought us the many comforts and conveniences we enjoy living in the modern world today. But at the same time, when left unchecked, this kind of fast-and-furious work ethic can impact our emotional wellbeing and relationships. After all, a person can only run at top speed for so long before burning out and leaving all their loved ones behind.
One of the practices I incorporate into my life to cultivate my emotions and grow my relationships is what I call The Practice of Slowing Down. I intentionally find ways to slow down the pace of my life. I've realized that not everything in life needs to be done quickly and efficiently. I don't have to maximize every hour, every minute, and every second. I don't have to fill my daily schedule to the brim. I can give myself space. I can go slow. I can breathe. Intentionally slowing down the pace of my life helps me live with less stress, pressure, frustration, and an unhealthy sense of "everything is urgent" (the vast majority of things are not).
My emotional wellbeing is usually negatively impacted when I either have too much to do or when things are moving too fast for me to handle. In either case, I've lost some degree of personal control and the consequences can show up in the form of stress, frustration, impatience, and anger. Deliberately slowing down helps me minimize the occurrences of having too much to do or moving at a pace that's unmanageable in the long run. I intentionally consider ways to slow down the pace of my life. Here are some examples of where The Practice of Slowing Down may appear:
I don't overbook my schedule. Having too many meetings or events on my daily plate is a leading cause of stress and anxiety in my life. I try my best to have only one meeting or event scheduled each day. I also try to have some days where I don't have any meetings or events scheduled at all. Personally, those are the best days.
I try to do things slowly. I don't have to always be rushing to complete tasks or activities. I don't want my mind to always be in a state of hurriedness. I might even go slow in doing simple everyday things like writing an email or brushing my teeth. Obviously, I'm not slow at absolutely everything I do. There are some things that I need or want done quickly and efficiently (i.e. not every email is written in a slow manner). But it's important for me to know that I always have the option of slowing down when I need or want to, especially for my own mental/emotional health.
I reserve lots of time when being with people. Since I try not to overbook my schedule, I have ample time to spend with people. I avoid back-to-back meetings like the plague. If a conversation with a friend goes on longer, it's totally fine and welcomed.
I arrive at where I need to be early. I don't rush going from place to place. I use the extra time to relax, think, or read.
I spend lots of time in activities that require a slower pace such as meditation, reflection, and journaling.
Do we really have to move so fast in life? I can't think of many instances where time is really of the essence—like it's a matter of life and death. If a fast-paced lifestyle is stressing us out and causing anxiety, we should consider ways to slow things down. This will allow us to live with better emotional health and have better relationships with others in the end.
Barnabas the Monastic
Servant of Christ. Husband. Dad. Modern Monastic. I have a wild ambition in life: get as close to the Lord Jesus Christ as I can while on earth. I explore and integrate ancient Christian monk wisdom in modern everyday life. Lives in Canada.
