Do you need to slow down?

Have you ever tried slowing down? How does it feel?

Are you more effective when you slow down?

Are you always on your mobile, or your iPad or whatever technical gismo is on the market?

Are you constantly being entertained in some way? TV, eating, chatting, Reading.  No time for just having a quiet mind and arranging your thoughts peacefully, instead of that constant chatter we hear in our heads.

Steps You Can Take To Slow The Pace of Your Life:

1. Cut down the amount you do. Prioritise and just focus on one thing at a time. Do a few things well instead of lots of things badly.
2. Be present. Don’t let your mind wander. Slow down and just live in the here and now. Really enjoy whatever activity you are doing and be present.
3. Live in the moment.Do you find when you meet friends you’re not really present and listening but instead you’re thinking about what you want to say? You may think your friends or colleagues don’t notice, but in actuality they probably do. Be a better friend or work colleague by taking the time to slow down and listen.
4. Don’t rush your food… Really enjoy your food. How often do we even chew our food properly, never mind even taste it properly? As we are always rushing about or not being present, and an example of this is eating your dinner in front of the TV.

Slow Down And Other Tips:

1. Slow down. Leave more time for car journeys. Don’t stress yourself out. Better to be early and calm and relaxed having enjoyed the drive, the scenery, saving petrol and driving well and avoiding accidents.
2. Find enjoyment in all you do.It may sound silly at first but think of the daily chores we all have. Washing up, changing the bed sheets, ironing and so on, Try and enjoy each activity by being present, such as feeling the crisp freshly ironed bed sheets, slow down and smell the fragrance of the washing powder you have chosen, think about how nice it will be to lie in the fresh sheets later. Try and do this with everything you do. It will eventually become a good habit.
3. Stop multi-tasking. Don’t jump from one task to another, instead do one thing at a time. Slow down and focus solely on that task.
4. Breathe. When you’re running around like a headless chicken, just stop and take a deep breath, do this 3 times and this will bring you back to the present, help you slow down and re focus you.

Consider a Digital Detox:

Being available 24/7 due to smartphone technology is one reason we find it hard to slow down and switch off, take steps to combat this now with a digital detox:

• Notice what’s around you. How often do we really enjoy being outdoors, looking up at the sky and slow down enough to watch the clouds float by? Or feel the warmth of the sun and close our eyes. Appreciate what is all around us. The greenery and nature. For most it is not very often I would imagine, as we are listening to our iPod or on the phone.
• Remove yourself.   Turn your phone off and your PC, anything that will not allow you to relax or focus on the job at hand. It’s very intrusive always being available to everyone and subconsciously you just won’t relax properly if it is possible to contact you. Slow down and let yourself have some me time.

For more advice like this consider Annie Fontaine life coaching! Call 07872055567 to receive your complimentary 30 mins coaching session.