Slowing down

This one’s for my girls ‘n boys who are always in a rush: slooow down. Ideally everything in your daily routine but if I had to pick two that are really important it’s to slow down your walking and eating. For the sake of your health: take your time, even if you feel like you don’t have it. If you’re in a constant state of hurry your nervous system will constantly be in a state of fight or flight and as we now all know: this is a big trigger for anxiety. It messes with your whole system, your hormones, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, the list is endless. 

Slowing down might mean you need better time management. If you feel like you’re always running behind or late, reassess your timing. You might need an extra 15 minutes to get to work without having to rush. So: wake up 15 minutes earlier, or set an alarm half an hour prior to you having to leave the house. Being on time or, even better, being early will give you space to prepare for the tasks or conversations ahead without your brain having to jump from one task to the other fast. 

Intentional eating:

I’ve mentioned this in my post about multitasking as well: be present while eating. That means no screens and ideally sitting down at a table. Intentional or mindful eating is said to aid with digestion, will help you consciously taste what you're eating and will make you recognize when you’re full better. I bet you will enjoy your food more and might even start changing things in your diet.

Intentional walking:

Slow walking is good for numerous reasons, not only physical. By walking slowly and with intention you force your system to calm down. It’ll take some practice - especially if you’re used to a fast city pace. But always running around means your nervous system is most likely always in overdrive. Try it for yourself and notice what happens. Look around you, pay attention to your movement, get in touch with your senses, unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders and notice your heart rate lowering.

Question for you: What else do you feel you need to slow down on?
Let me know in the comments!