What Slowing Down Looks Like for Me This Month
Christmas is a few weeks away now. Many of us are busy trying to complete our to do lists: gift shopping, wrapping, decorating, and planning dinner. Then there’s the added stress of running a business: getting taxes ready to file, filling Christmas orders, scheduling last minute appointments and equipment maintenance. Most of us are ramping up our work days and going overtime at home. I know it feels like now is the time to rush and overwork but I am going to challenge you to wind down a bit.
That probably feels super counter-intuitive. It did for me for a long time.
When we are rushing we are more likely to make mistakes, miss crucial information, and our stress levels skyrocket, causing tension at home and at work. Right now we all need to be focused and calm. To be clear: I am not saying let’s stop our work. What I am saying is that it is important to make time for rest in between the chaos.
It may feel impossible, or just another thing to add to your endless tasks, but there are simple ways to add in a moment of calm throughout your day. This month I’ll be sharing the ways I make time for calm during my hectic day.
Daily morning coffee
I rarely miss my coffee in the mornings. The coffeemaker is on while I stretch and eat breakfast. All it takes is a moment to stir in the artificial sweetener and milk, then I’m off to my desk to start working. Yes, my cup of joe helps me feel more awake but it also creates a daily ritual of calm. Very few things beat holding the warm mug and sipping in between responding to emails.
Stretch breaks
Turns out stretching is good for relaxing as well as your overall physical health! Usually while my coffee is percolating, I do a few leg, arm, and neck stretches in the morning. It helps me feel invigorated and wakes up my body and mind.
Tea or Hot Chocolate in the afternoon
It’s like making coffee in the morning, the simple act of steeping, pouring, and holding the cup of tea brings me comfort. It also gets me away from the computer screen, my eyes rest and my brain slows down for a few minutes.
Hard start and finish times
This is one of the hard boundaries that I set for myself, unless there is an emergency or urgent situation that comes up. By keeping set hours and sticking to them it opens up time for tasks around the home or downtime in the evenings. It also helps me create a routine around other household and wellbeing tasks, like a set time for bed and waking up every morning.
Hobbies
Making time for stuff that brings me joy is so important for my wellbeing. This way work (and the state of the world) isn’t all that I think about. These days I took up crocheting. I love learning new skills. Other hobbies of mine include painting, reading, Magic the Gathering, and Dungeons and Dragons. These hobbies also include seeing my friends consistently which is a bonus!
Take at least one day off a week
So, I saved the most challenging practice for last. I take one day (usually a Sunday) a week to do absolutely nothing. Yup, you read that correctly. On these days I light a candle, soak in the bath, read, and watch TV. If I feel like it, I’ll tackle a chore or two. I know it feels near impossible to take an entire day off but this gives you a chance to reset and refresh.
Most of the things on this list take less than ten minutes. They are super easy to fit in your schedule! Bigger habits, like set hours and days off, can be challenging to implement. We are constantly being told to hustle, keep busy, and our worth is based on what we can provide. It could take time to process and accept that hustle and productivity is not our only source of worth. It’s usually easier to start with simpler goals, like a daily stretch or afternoon tea. Then the larger goals feel less intimidating.
I hope these little tips help you find some calm in between the chaos! Still feeling overloaded? I can help take things off your plate. Reach out to book a consultation today!
