Slow down: Take the long road

Faster is not always better; We can become easily deceived by the notion that the main route to a destination is the fastest way to get to where we are going. Often it isn’t, because it is conditional on a lot of other factors like too much traffic, road works or bad weather. Life can feel the same sometimes.   

“The fast route doesn’t always get you there quicker”

For the past three years, my regular commute to work has been fraught with numerous delays. These delays have mostly been caused by significant road works and then exacerbated by peak traffic and bad weather. To combat the effects of the delays that occur I have implemented other strategies. These include, viewing google maps, leaving earlier, working from home, and taking longer routes through the country, away from the main flow of traffic. The other day as I was travelling on one of the country routes, I reflected on how much better this was for me, I realised that because of less traffic, I felt calmer, relaxed, present and grateful not to be moving slow in gridlocked traffic. Also, it took about the same amount of time.

When you think about your daily life rhythm, do you find it easy to get caught up in the busyness of it and then be dictated by the pace it sets for you? So much so, that slowing down or finding other solutions to the daily hustle and bustle appears impossible.

Here are 4 tips to help combat getting caught up in the fast pace of busyness:

Consider what you are doing, why you need to do it, and is it important:

Like the fastest route, cramming can occur because you have inserted too many things into your day. You do this because you perceive that you have enough clear space and time in front of you. Set strategies that enable you to consider what is important for that day, so they happen first.

Identify potential hindrances:

It’s a bit like looking at google maps before you travel, they identify if there are any delays or stoppages and what the alternative route is. If you create space to think and reflect on where potential hindrances could occur in your day, you will rethink how you might achieve the same outcome, but in a different way.  

Allow for the unexpected:

There is only so much time in the day, and you can’t predict the unpredictable. Be realistic about your busyness and think if you have made room for the unexpected.

Take yourself out of busyness and slow down:

Like me taking a longer route through the country, when you slow down, you allow yourself to become more present and mindful. Slowing down and removing yourself from your fast pace releases you into a posture of relaxing and rest.

I’m not suggesting busyness is a bad thing, but when you become captive by a life rhythm of busyness you need to consider the impact of that on yourself and how it is affecting other important things in life, like relationships, health, and relaxation.

My 5 Learnings:

·       The main route is not always the fastest or the best

·       Slowing down helps me to be centred and mindful

·       I should consider things that could hinder my day and make adjustments

·       I need to allow space for unexpected events in my life

·       I need to be intentional about slowing down for the sake of my health and relationships

When life is uninterrupted and flowing smoothly, it becomes easy to add more to it, eventually though, this can end up like gridlocked traffic.

My 3 Questions for you:

·       Is the fast pace of your life actually slowing you down?

·       Do you know what is important to you?

·       Do you need to slow down and access your busyness?

“Life is not a race but a pace we need to maintain with reality.”

― Amit Abraham

 If you need help with the pace of your life, or if you have questions, please talk to me. I would be happy to chat with you and help.

 Remember daily to, “Find value in your influence”

Written By: Paul Fawcett.