The Art of Slowing Down
by Valerie J. Deady
Easier said than done, of course. Especially when we are thrown into the deep end of work, family life, relationships, studies and general social interactions. It’s hard to stop, take a breath and tune in when we are also trying to keep our heads above water. With practice, however, it can be easily said and easily done. Slowing down means giving ourselves the permission to take a break when we need it (and because we deserve it!)
Slowing down doesn’t mean we have to turn our backs on our duties and those we love. It just means we become more aware of ourselves, our thoughts and our feelings. If we are in a space of overwhelm, we can take a look at what needs to be prioritised and get curious with how we hold our boundaries. Saying no to others can be a powerful tool when we need to take a break. We also get a chance with our newfound awareness, to hear ourselves better. For many, keeping busy is a form of escapism but the truth is, we cannot run from the feelings that we keep buried within us.
Feeling stressed and overwhelmed doesn’t always have to be a bad thing, it is just a natural way for our body, mind and spirit to tell us that we need to take a deep breath, slow down our pace and address what needs a little attention from within. We can run all we like but we cannot hide from our truth.
“But how do I slow down when I am busy?”
The thought of even figuring out how to slow down can be overwhelming for so many of us but starting with short pauses throughout your day can really help. Having an awareness of yourself is one of the main keys to mindfulness, which leads to opportunities that honour your needs, your boundaries and your authenticity. Notice when you feel the intense pressure pushing up from your to-do list, the kids need to get picked up, the dinner needs to be made, assignments and deadlines are coming towards you from all directions and the emails are flooding your inbox. Notice when you are drowning in your busyness. Notice the feeling of pressure and then, pause. Take a breath and ask yourself, “What do I need right now?” Do you need to ask for help? Do you need to take five minutes? I bet you the answer won’t be to suck it up and get over it. Take your moment, realise you are doing your best and listen to what exactly it is you need before you end up fizzling into burnout.
Slowing down in the midst of a busy life asks you to prioritise. Perhaps, getting up a little earlier before the rest of the world n order to get some time to check in with yourself might help. Having as much as fifteen minutes at the end of the day to do a meditation, read or journal, might be your way of slowing down. For some, going to therapy, exercising or being in nature is their way of taking some time out of their busy lives and checking in with themselves. For others, it’s doing something creative, having a cup of tea, reading a book or meeting a friend. Whatever we choose to do, the idea is to slow down, tune inwards and for a moment, tune out of our busy world. The world can wait for a moment.
No matter what is going on in our lives, we are responsible for ourselves and we are worthy of creating space to take care of ourselves every single day.
About Valerie
Valerie J. Deady has been a mental health and well-being blogger for over three years, advocating for self-compassion, curiosity, and self-love. Her blogs aim to normalize mental health awareness online. Beyond her blogs, Valerie is actively fostering a supportive community for those facing mental health challenges, destigmatizing mental health and offering solidarity, within her community in Clonakilty, West Cork. Outside of her writing, she pursues studies in Psychotherapy, works with children at Sherpa Kids and continues to experience and explore life with pockets full of self-love.