Slowing down in a fast-paced world

There's this illusion that faster is better, but let's be honest, slower is faster because Slow Is Smooth and Smooth Is Fast. Confused? How many mistakes come from doing everything in a hectic, unorganized manner? There are people who argue that working fast is an advantage, but I've come to realize that working with clarity is the only way to make progress. In today's day and age, society expects us to work faster and longer hours, and take fewer breaks. And while Elon Musk is out there encouraging people to work 90 hours a week, most of us are on the verge of burning out.

Perhaps the world is moving faster than most of us could catch up with. Or perhaps it is moving faster than it should. Up until a couple of years ago I was all for hustle-culture. But the impact it had on my mental health was massive. Along with the pandemic, my beliefs have come to change and now I support slow-living. Being in academia at the moment, slow living is next to impossible, since most academics adopt a hustle lifestyle along with the multitasking one. So I have come up with a few ideas to incorporate slow living in a fast day in spite of the world.

What is slow living?

Slow living is the art of slowing down and being mindful. It's the opposite of multitasking, and an enemy to hustle culture. Slow living is all about being mindful about what you're doing, how, why.

Taking a break between tasks counts as slowing down. You don't have to do things slowly, you just have to be mindful. Here are the ways that have helped me slow down:

1. Check in with yourself

I have noticed time and time again, how often I forget to check in with myself. Am I sitting in an uncomfortable position? Am I thirsty? Am I hating the task I'm doing at the moment? All these are important questions for your wellbeing, and taking a second to slow down and check in with yourself won't cost you a day's work (not even an hour's work).

2. Be present

When it comes to mindfulness, being present is by far the most important thing. I've been practicing mindfulness for the last couple months, and I've noticed a huge difference in my levels of concentration, my ability to recall things, and the knowledge of where everything is placed. Another advantage is knowing where you've parked your car at all times.

3. Take a moment to breathe

I have stated before how underestimated and taken for granted breathing is. Just a moment of mindful breathing can do wonders for your psyche.

4. Unplug

One of the most evident ways we know we are living in a fast-paced world is through the news and social media. We live in a time and age where news fly faster than planes (obviously), and in this digital age we should learn to unplug. I would argue that unplugging for more than 12 hours a day is ideal, but most people use the internet for work. And so unplugging completely is not efficient. Do what works best for you. Even a couple of hours will do.

5. Create something

I suppose this isn't for everyone, but if you're a creative soul like me, this might be useful. Creating something with my hands is not only liberating but also mind-clearing. Facing a computer all day might make my head foggy and so I always dedicate a couple of hours at the end of the day making something with my hands, whether that involves cooking, gardening, painting or something else.

6. Eat at the table

Slowing down while eating is not only good for your mind, it's also good for your gut. So take your time while eating, and eat at the table, mindfully, without watching anything, or working at the same time.

7. Don't Count your steps

Although it is important to move and exercise regularly, nowadays, counting our steps has become an obsession. I'm guilty of wearing a smart watch that shows how many steps I take everyday. Most of us are. But I don't look at it but before I go to bed, just to check in with myself . That way I know if I could improve the next day.

8. Read a book

Is it just me or does time slow down when we read?

9. Connect with nature

It's hard to believe how humans have little to no connection with nature. The benefits of spending time in nature are robust, whether that be your own garden or a forest outside the city. Gardening is a new hobby of mine (adding to my endless list of hobbies and interests) and I've found spending time caring for plants makes me so peaceful.

Slowing down and being mindful during a huge part of my day has brought clarity and peace that my life lacked. Do you slow down? I'd love to learn more ways to incorporate bits in my life toward slow living.