Life around us is fast paces and you may feel like that’s the only way you can live. Never taking the time to slow down or maybe you don’t know how to or that it was an option. Slowing down in life doesn’t have to be hard or complicated.
I go through phases where I want to slow down and spend my time and especially my free time doing intentional activities that make me feel like I am taking care of myself and are giving me low stimulation. Here is what I do when I want to create a cozy environment and take in less electronic time.
My hope is that seeing what someone else does you will be able to get some ideas that you can do to slow down and relax. It can fit into your life quite easily if you’re intentional about it.
Reading
Reading instead of consuming everything in visual forms helps your mind be able to think and create the vision for you. Reading gives you information in a slower way that helps you be able to process it in a easier way as well.
Switching TV shows for books and TikTok for blogs has helped me become much more intentional about what I am consuming and really take in the content I am consuming. This helps also to only take in one thing at a time instead of watching TV while scrolling on my phone.
I have created a habit of taking in multiple things at once. I found reading has helped me unlearn this habit and forces me to slow down, relax, and truly take in what I am reading.
Create an ambiance
Creating the mood that you want to emulate is a great way to set your intentions and have a visual reminder of what your goal is for that set time. If you want to wind down and relax, doing so in a brightly lit room with tons of clutter may not be your ideal environment. Doing a quick pickup, getting yourself a drink, and creating mood lighting may get you better in the headspace you want to be in to relax and read or do whatever activity you want to do that helps you slow down.
Maybe get yourself a beverage and a snack and set up a comfy seating area for this time. When you are intentional about slowing down, making a spot where you do this can help you make the switch from the busy world into a mindset you can fully relax in.
I like to create a dimly lit area, maybe light a candle, and get myself a drink and a snack while I read. This makes me love reading and the time I spend doing it feels so much more special and like a treat to be able to do so.
It doesn’t have to be complicated to set the mood, but it makes such a difference if you take the time to do it.
Take in the longer form types of content.
If you find yourself scrolling through short-form content you may notice you are taking in a lot of all different kinds of information in a short amount of time. Switching the time you spend watching short-form content to longer form even if it’s a 10-minute YouTube video will help you take in much less at a given time.
Media like longer videos or podcasts are great to start shifting the content you are watching. Picking the content you are watching or listening to will make it so you are more intentional about what you are consuming. This helps you create the environment you want to create and not watch things that bring you down or bring up anxiety. Unlike short-form content, you don’t have much of a say on what content you are going to watch and consume.
I found I got to learn and watch more about my interests when I made this switch. One thing that made me want to do this is I was I started realizing a lot of the short-form content that was popping up was either negative as a whole or had a negative tone to the content or as the hook. They do this because this is what gets them their views, but for me, as a consumer, it would make me feel bad or even bring me anxiety. Once I switched over to picking what I wanted to watch and listen to I found how I felt during and after watching things was much more peaceful. This then filled my cup rather than emptied it or left it at the same level.
Take in media while moving or completing a task
If you tend to put off doing tasks by scrolling on your phone, watching TV, or going on your laptop. Leaving you feeling rushed to get everything done on time. Try consuming media while you work. Try it for a day where if you are going to consume any type of media you must be doing a task that you set out to do that day. Once all your tasks are done you can resume to normal life.
This will help you be able to enjoy what you are doing, while also having much more time to get things done and being able to slow down and take your time. Sometimes life can get busy and feel rushed by our own doing. So try to take away as much stress as you can where you are creating it.
When I do this, I feel so much more motivated to get things done. I not only see how much time I have gained to be able to complete my tasks, but I also get to consume media that I want to listen to while doing tasks that don’t seem as fun. I found I will do more just so I can continue to listen to what I am currently on if it hasn’t finished. Not only has it freed up time to get my normal tasks done, but also things that weren’t on the list.
Do nonelectronic activities
Getting off electronics and doing lower stimulating activities can be so good for you. Just in case you can’t figure out any things you can do, here are a few ideas. Do a puzzle, color, connect the dots, a hobby you like to do, or find a new one, etc.
I like getting a book of assorted puzzles so that I am able to switch to things that feel fun in the moment. It gives having options in a more convenient way. If I don’t want to spend money on activities I will print off something I can work on like a coloring page, word search, etc. There are many options for getting things to do that aren’t on electronics.
If you really can’t find anything you want to do try getting chores done, cleaning, or tackling a project you have been putting off. Forcing yourself to let yourself get bored and not fill all your free time with electronics will help you find new things and get creative. I may even get you to do things you haven’t made time for.
Self-care time
What better way to spend your internal like slowing down and relaxing than taking some time to take care of yourself? Maybe you are already good about doing self-care and maybe you’re not. Either way, making this a part of your routine to slow down is a great idea.
You can make this look however you’d like and would fill your cup most. Maybe a daily self-care routine would be beneficial to add to your day. Maybe you want to try different ways of taking care of yourself and once a week or month you try something new. Get creative with it and make it a priority. Take care of yourself the same way you take care of others.
I like to switch things up and try something new every once in a while and this has made me stay consistent and want to make this a priority in my life. If you don’t feel the motivation to do self-care, maybe try to find something you can do that seems fun and makes you excited to do. Maybe it’s going to a coffee shop, going out with a friend for lunch, going somewhere new. It doesn’t have to be what you normally view self-care as like having a spa day, think outside of the box.
Try these 6 tips out to start learning how to slow down and relax
Taking care of yourself and not always being in a rushed state is so important. Take the time to make these adjustments in your day-to-day and see the improvement. Having a calmer mind and environment is priceless so invest in yourself. You are more than worth it.
There are plenty more ways you can intentionally slow down the way you are living. Come up with some ideas that you think would be helpful for you and implement them. Stay consistent, some days it will feel impossible. Do what you can and try again the next.
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