I'm over being "busy" and prefer SLOW LIVIN

As I sit down late on Wednesday to start writing this week's article, I realise that many of you probably won't read this article or even have time to read it til the end because you will feel "too busy" or have something better to do than read. 

Reading is a fantastic example of SLOWING DOWN. I still struggle with the practice of reading as well, to be completely honest, but it is an intention I am working on. 

But I hope you read this article because what I have to share could help shift or inspire a new life-changing habit that can help your overall health and well-being by slowing down so that you can FEEL less busy. 

This will have an amazing effect on you, showcasing you CARE MORE about yourself.

Side note: Owning a vintage van like our 1974 VW Kombi forced us to learn to drive in the slow lane, literally and spiritually. Anywhere we wanted to go, Google Maps would say it would take an hour, but for us, it would take 2. We grew to appreciate this concept and learnt to savour all the moments we stopped on our road trips to take in the beautiful locations. It became more about the journey and less about the destination.

(On the side of the road, free camping with the full moon in the sky)

So, let's start with the most obvious questions...

Why are we so busy? What does busyness look like?

If we are so busy, how do we slow down? And why is it not something we are trying to achieve?

Why are we so busy?

Is the term "busy" is used automatically without even a thought nowadays?

Are we busy, or is it a fill word we use unconsciously because we don't know how to describe what is happening within us?

Most of us probably don't know how to describe everything happening within ourselves because we don't allow ourselves to slow down to notice how we feel and think.

How we are feeling and how we are thinking are two different aspects of ourselves, but when someone asks, "How are you?" we reply with

I'm good

I'm fine

I'm okay

I’m busy

These are such vague responses in the grand scheme of how we probably feel and think.

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First issue

It occurs in how we greet one another as how are you is way to vague of a greeting or question.

Since being pregnant, I have gotten more questions about how I am feeling vs. how I am, which is nice to hear as I can describe in more detail what is happening specifically to how my body is feeling or how my emotions are feeling on that given day.

TRY THIS to greet someone in a more CARING way by asking, "What's been on your mind lately?" if you do not wish to ask them how they are feeling.
What’s been happening in the past week or since we last spoke? Be more specific the next time you text your friend.

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Second issue

 Our culture demands a more fast-paced work ethic for us to achieve our goals by hard work and putting in more hours.

This is something that I have felt since growing up with my mother as she still to this day asks me what is one thing you are going to accomplish today. I used to love it as it created me to be ambitious in life. Still, as I've gotten older and started changing things in my life, I realised that it can be very unhealthy for me personally always to be "doing" vs. "being," which is why Slow Living practice has been wonderful to embrace.

I know myself well enough now that I am naturally ambitious and a doer, so what doesn’t come to me naturally is to slow down.

TRY THIS: Instead, think back to who in your life, growing up, motivated you or maybe unmotivated you, but you created this programming to always feel like you have to be doing something or achieving something every day. Acknowledge it and then decide how to make a balance within your day to do the things you need to do, and whatever doesn't get done, be okay with it not getting done. 

Let's be okay with not doing EVERYTHING in one day.

Just to remind you, there is enough time in the day to do what needs to be done.

What does busyness look like?

Well, this will look different for everyone, as when we say we are busy, to describe how we are feeling. We are overwhelmed by all the things we have to do. The ironic part is we are the ones who control our schedule.

So, if you are in total control of tasks, appointments, meetings, catch-ups, and after-school activities, we may need to book LESS of things to do.  

TRY THIS: 

• Block out in FREE TIME to do nothing in your weekly planner

• Book in time to do things that you feel like you don’t have time for, like watch a movie with your partner or friend

• Schedule all the creative things you want to do but never seem to have time and your schedule like you would a doctor's appointment and not miss it because you don't want to be charged a fee. 

  

Don't cancel on yourself because when you do, it is sending a message to your brain to it indirectly telling yourself... I DO NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR DEEPEST DESIRES. 

We think we can do it later, but why do we believe we have so much time later when we say we are already busy? 

Unfortunately, this vicious cycle repeats; I’ve noticed it happen in my life and everyone around me. I’m not perfect, and I cancel on myself, but I have a lot of awareness now when I do it. I try to avoid saying I’m busy as I feel like it is an excuse and a lazy word being overused in today's culture.

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If we are so busy, how do we slow down?

We have not considered the health benefits of slowing down for your overall wellness. In this next part, I will share the top ways I have slowed down at home that you can introduce into your lifestyle today.