Many of us operate in a perpetual state of rush. From the moment we wake up in the morning, we are launched into overdrive.
We rush to get out of bed, to brush our teeth, to make the bed, to get dressed. The pattern continues throughout the day. We rush to make breakfast, to get to work, to get started on a project, to get to the gym. As the day wears on, we rush through bathroom breaks and phone calls, meals and conversations.
On the road, we want to be in the fast lane; in the grocery store, we look for the shortest line. Everything is a frenzied maximization of time, leaving no room for pause.
Most of us are operating on auto-pilot; our bodies performing one task while our minds are already on the next.
When do we ever get a moment to slow down? Perhaps for a few moments just before bed, but even then, as soon as our heads hit the pillow, our minds are racing with the next day's to-do list, preventing us from falling asleep.
On the occasions that I have succeeded, if only for a few moments, to slow down and pay attention to what I am doing, I notice the effects: tense muscles, raised shoulders, clenched teeth, shallow breathing. No wonder I don't feel very good. How can anyone maintain such a state for very long? But many of us do. We feel like we have to in order to keep up.
We operate like this, and we wonder why the days go by so fast.
My own habit of rushing has developed over many years spent keeping up with an overloaded schedule of work, school, commute, socializing, and all of the other things that fill up a day. But the funny thing is that I've greatly reduced my schedule: I'm finished with school, I work part-time instead of full-time, and I no longer commute more than 20 minutes. And yet, I am still rushing, still anxious about losing time, still worried about falling behind.
I have learned that there are a few things we can do to interrupt the rushing, to bring a little peace back into our lives:
Walk slow: you probably won't recognize you've been walking quickly until you make a conscious effort to walk slow. And once you do it, you'll notice everyone else rushing around you. Your heart rate will slow down, your muscles will relax, and you'll notice a little more of what is going on around you.
Chew your food: many of us rush through our meals, inhaling our food without even tasting it. Take the time to slow down and chew. You'll overeat less and your stomach will thank you for not feeding it a helping of anxiety along with your food.
Breathe: when you spend your life in an anxious hurry, you forget to breathe—literally. You take quick, shallow breaths and even hold your breath for long periods of time. Stop and take long, deep breaths. You'll immediately feel calmer, and the clutter will clear from your mind.
Give yourself more time: many of us plan things right up until the last minute. We rarely give ourselves enough time to prepare or to get ready. So we're always rushing, worried about being late. Make a habit of giving yourself more time, even if you don't think you need it.
Stop and take stock: Recognize that you are rushing; do you have an actual reason, or are you simply doing it out of habit? Taking the time to become aware of your behavior is often enough to interrupt it.
Don't overbook: learn to say no every once in a while. Many of us fill up our schedules so that we don't have any time to simply relax. After a few weeks like this, where every minute of every day is filled with something, we're left feeling exhausted and mentally drained. Clear your schedule now and then and make more time for you.
As simple as these may sound, none of them are easy to do. Once you start trying them out, you'll recognize just how much rushing you've been doing and how accustomed you've become. Your own mind and body will rebel against any attempt to slow down.
But each time you do these things, you'll feel a little better. You'll start to like the way it feels to operate without the rush. And if you continue to do them, you just might succeed in slowing down.
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