Finding Balance: Embracing the Art of Slowing Down in Life
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Chapter 1: The Importance of Intentional Living
Living with intention allows for more thoughtful decision-making while still striving toward meaningful goals — just at a pace that is manageable.
On those brisk winter mornings, my day begins at 5:30 a.m. Not because I’m rushing to the gym or tackling my emails, but because I choose to spend that time however I please.
From 5:30 to 9:00 a.m., I engage in activities that bring me joy. Most days, that means painting — not for profit, not to reach a specific target, but simply for the pleasure it brings me.
Other days, I might prefer to indulge in a long bath, immerse myself in a good book, or simply sit quietly with my thoughts. Occasionally, my husband joins me, and we relish a cozy morning together at a local café before the day’s chaos begins. On tougher days, we might cuddle with our pets, soaking in the tranquility. (For those seeking inspiration to cherish the calm of the morning, I highly recommend the book Dawn in My Pocket.)
This peaceful routine is a far cry from my past. Not too long ago (ahem), I was a college student who jumped straight from bed to my desk chair, firmly believing in the necessity of saying "yes," giving my all, and assuming there was no other way to navigate life.
My Encounter with the Rush
Despite my long-standing habit of rushing, I often found myself struggling with the relentless pace of modern life. Combine that with perfectionism, a desire to please others, and a sparse social life, and it’s clear why my experiences in school, work, and everyday life felt overwhelming.
Looking back, my tendency to rush stands out as my greatest regret. Hurrying to finish tasks, respond to emails, and make decisions that rarely required immediate action took a toll on my health, relationships, and even my career.
Soon, I’ll delve into why I believe rushing has such significant repercussions, but first, we must examine how we ended up in this predicament. And since self-reflection can be challenging, I’ll humorously point a finger at society.
The Societal Pressure to Rush
We enjoy our coffee but often criticize other indulgences. We promote relentless productivity while urging others to prioritize self-care. We celebrate achievements without questioning whether the costs were justified. We create to-do lists without evaluating their necessity and respond to emails late into the night, often for messages that could have waited.
Productivity is celebrated, primarily gauged by tangible results. Rejecting this metric often frustrates those who thrive on the rush.
Moreover, the curated images we see online — a glossy display of happiness, success, and beauty — can create a sense of urgency. As we scroll through these snapshots, we may feel the weight of time pressing upon us, wondering what we could achieve if only we tried harder.
But this pressure is deceptive.
The Myths We Create
In our rush to do more, we fabricate reasons for our haste:
"I just need to finish this one project."
"I can take a break after I get this promotion."
"If I’m not married by 25, I’m behind schedule."
"I won’t find happiness until I acquire that item."
"We must do whatever it takes to impress this client."
Yet, the urge to rush will always be present. In English, we often say we are "making up for lost time," "saving time," "time flies," "finishing ahead of schedule," or lamenting that "we will never reclaim that time."
The reality is that everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. However, the way we experience that time can vary dramatically based on how we allocate it.
Just as the law of conservation of mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed, our time functions similarly.
When we rush through our days, we miss the opportunity to reflect on whether those 24 hours are truly serving us best. We often neglect our physical and emotional needs, leaving us unavailable for the people who matter most.
Are you skipping meals? Holding off on bathroom breaks for hours? Tensing up from the stress of urgency? Frustrated from burnout and lacking time for what truly matters? Forgetting to plan that camping trip or beach day? Responding to emails during dinner with loved ones? Completing numerous tasks yet failing to prioritize the significant ones?
While some of our time will inevitably be spent managing daily demands, how you choose to spend your time significantly impacts the meaning of your life. Slowing down and being intentional allows for better decision-making while still pursuing important goals at a sustainable pace.
In the video The Art of Slow Living - Stop Rushing: Less Is More, we explore the benefits of embracing a slower lifestyle and how it can enhance your overall well-being.
Envisioning an Unrushed Life
If you’re tired of the constant push for efficiency, take a moment to envision an unrushed day in your life.
In your unique circumstances, what might it look like to slow down?
Perhaps it’s about not being attached to your phone, regardless of how irritated your boss may become. Maybe it’s about lowering your expectations while getting your family ready, ensuring the morning rush is less frantic. Or perhaps it’s about eliminating activities that you feel obligated to do, recognizing that you can’t be everywhere for everyone at all times.
Once you define what an unrushed life looks like for you, the next step is to take action. Achieving a slower pace doesn’t happen overnight — it’s a gradual process of making decisions that allow you to savor life more fully.
The second video, The Art of Slow Learning: Why You Should Stop Rushing Through Books, discusses the importance of taking your time in learning and enjoying the process rather than racing through it.
How I Transitioned to a Slower Pace
For me, an unrushed day means avoiding the pressure to be constantly productive or responsive. Here are some steps I took to cultivate my peaceful mornings:
- Resigned from a job with unrealistic demands.
- Blocked my work calendar until 10 a.m. to prevent early meetings.
- Aimed for a balanced calendar.
- Set achievable work goals for the day.
- Accepted the time required for major projects.
- Acknowledged my natural productivity rhythms.
- Reduced the time spent projecting productivity for others.
- Limited my LinkedIn engagement.
- Worked through my tendencies toward perfectionism and people-pleasing.
- Communicated my intentions to my spouse for support.
- Hired a cleaning service to free up some personal time.
- Organized my tasks to minimize procrastination.
- Prioritized my physical needs — no more skipping meals or delaying bathroom breaks.
- Nurtured a fulfilling personal and social life.
- Set my phone to "Focus Mode" and "Bedtime Mode" to minimize distractions.
- Firmly embraced the significance of slowing down.
I understand that not everyone has the same opportunities to make these changes. The key takeaway is that choosing to live a slower life is a conscious decision that requires effort.
"But I Really Do Have To Rush"
This sentiment may resonate with you at this moment. You might find yourself in a situation where the pressure to rush feels overwhelming.
My question is: what’s your strategy for breaking free from this relentless cycle? Where is your light at the end of the tunnel? Constantly rushing is not sustainable — something will eventually give way, or you’ll need support. While solutions exist, they may be difficult to accept.
Having rushed through much of my life, I can attest that there were times when rushing felt essential for survival rather than a choice. However, looking back, I realize I could have improved my situation and lessened my need to rush by confronting certain issues directly.
Instead of having those tough conversations and making necessary choices, I often opted for the path of least resistance, believing I could just make it all work. Choosing not to rush would have required humility, seeking help, reassessing my relationships, and making different choices. The results wouldn’t have been immediate, but they would have been attainable.
While I’m not perfect, and moments of rushing still arise, I continue to strive for a balanced life.
And here you are, still reading.
Life goes on, regardless of the rush.