As humans, we are constantly on the go, and our lives are often filled with frenetic activities that we might otherwise not choose to do. We work long hours, get involved in charity work, and are on the go at social events. We try to manage a hectic schedule but often fail to achieve it. Just try to slow down a minute and ask yourself what life would be like if you relaxed more.
We are expected to be constantly on the go in today’s world. It is essential for us to take time out for ourselves, and our body and mind need to rest. However, with the hustle and bustle of modern life, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find time for all the things we need to do. In some areas, the so-called “man-cession” is affecting us. In other areas, we are having to take time out for various reasons, such as having to care for our aging parents or perhaps having to take a long vacation from work.
It’s a common misconception that slowing down will make your life more complicated. But actually, best practices like slowing down, prioritizing, and setting restraints allow you to make better decisions, so your life can be simpler, easier, and more enjoyable. Not only that, slowing down is better for your health: studies show that when you’re constantly on the go and “always in a rush,” you’re more likely to eat poorly, smoke, or engage in other activities that lead to disease.
Slowing down has huge benefits, both personally and professionally. But it can be hard to remember to slow down, especially when you’re in a rush. To help you remember, here are four reasons why it’s important to slow down:
- Decisions are better
It is hard to slow down and take time to be present at the moment. You have to make a conscious choice to slow down. When you are in a rush or rushed, you tend to forget to take a breath in and forget to slow down. You may find yourself on the freeway or riding on the escalator; this can be dangerous and can lead to you making bad decisions.
- Exploit the power of your emotions
Emotions are powerful things. They can touch us in the most profound ways, and they can make us do things we never thought we would do before. We often ignore the way they make us feel, but when we do face them, they can make us do amazing things. This is why it’s so important to harness the power of emotions. They are a key element in our development as people and as individuals, helping us learn how to respond to others and to ourselves. Moreover, they have a major impact on our physical health as well: emotions influence how we metabolize and store nutrients, how we react to stress, and how we recover from physical or emotional injury.
- Have greater clarity
I find it a great novelty that I no longer have to stumble over random thoughts and ideas that pop into my head. It’s as if I’ve turned on a light switch as I’m sitting at my desk in the morning or as I’m lying in bed at night. I wake up with new ideas and thoughts in my head, and I know where I’m headed. It’s a responsibility I enjoy. I truly feel there is some greater clarity and peace in my mind.
- You can’t harness if you are dead
As we get older, we are often told that we should take things more slowly, be more aware of our surroundings, and pay attention to health issues. We should take a break or a day off to rest and focus.
You may be surprised to learn that slowing down is actually a behaviour that is beneficial for you. Slowing down has numerous benefits, including a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, depression, and related conditions like diabetes and a reduced risk for obesity and related diseases. In fact, research has also shown that slowing down can help you age well and positively affect your overall quality of life.
We live in a world of speed, but you don’t have to. While it’s important to get things done so quickly so you can move on to the next thing, it’s also important to enjoy and love the things you do.