The Gift of Time

Slowing Down: The Gift of Giving Ourselves Time

How often do we stop, pause and get a sense of where we are, what's happened and what's coming in the next hour, day or week? How often do we step into the world at a slower pace, without living by the watch, the clock or the calendar?

What rushing does to us

Think about how you're moving through today. Are you walking quickly? Do you have somewhere to be? Feeling rushed shows up in the body. Our heart rate rises, our breathing quickens, and the body settles into high alert. The impact of time pressure on us mentally, emotionally and physically is subtle, but it's real.

That's why I believe giving ourselves time matters so much. It means giving ourselves space to slow down, take a breath, rest and simply be. Let your mind wander. Let your body rest. Sit down, have a duvet day, and allow time to pass without feeling you have to be somewhere or doing something. It's a way of stepping off the treadmill of measuring and catching time.

Seeing more clearly

One of the gifts of slowing down is that we see things more clearly. The more time we give ourselves, and the less pressure we put on ourselves, the more room we have to stand back and notice what we'd otherwise miss. We become more present, more considered, and more of an observer of what's going on around us.

That gives us more information to draw on when we make decisions, and it moves us out of a reactive state. Observing and then responding is very different from seeing, reacting and dealing with the consequences.

If we let go of the pressure to get things done in a set time or respond instantly, we can simply pause and ask:

• What's okay in this? What's not okay?

• How do I feel in my body right now?

• What do I need to give myself over the next hour, or the next day?

Responding differently, to others and to ourselves

This capacity to pause changes how we respond to the people and the world around us. It also changes how we show up for ourselves, and the choices we make for ourselves. When we slow down, we can reflect, observe, gather information and draw on it calmly. That usually leads to better-informed choices and, often, better outcomes, whether you're navigating an employer's expectations or running your own business.

Physically, slowing down tells your body that everything is okay. The hypervigilant, high-alert states begin to soften, and we have more capacity to notice what's happening around us and to check in with what's happening within us.

Your week ahead

If it's Monday midday and you're looking at everything you have to do and all the time you haven't got, pause and take a breath. Look at it a little differently. Is the world going to end if something isn't done by the time you set? What would a more self-supporting pace look like this week?

You don't have to change anything. Just slow your pace. Slow your body down, breathe more deeply, and don't jump straight in with an answer. Give yourself a minute. That simple embodiment of slowing down might be what supports you to have a more self-supporting week.

Something to think about?