Our minds and lives can feel like complete chaos…
That is, until we do the most difficult thing in this whole entire world…
SLOW DOWN.
? Anyone else feel like this is not natural for them?!
We go go go, but who are we really helping?
NOT OURSELVES! (And you already know you must help yourself before you can really help others.)
Super Quick Story:
I was talking with a friend this past weekend with a new baby who had just went from wedding, to funeral, to a 7 hour day serving at church… all in one weekend! She was fried… zapped… tired. Her husband had Monday off so I suggested she take the day off to be with him and rest. But she just… couldn’t… do it!
Isn’t that like so many of us?
We have to justify our slowing down… like we have to be on our death bed to call in sick, or have all our work done before we’ll relax!
But what if we looked at slowing down not as a last resort, but as a first line of defense against burnout, overwhelm, depression, anxiety, etc…
We are not made to just “get things done.”
We are made for the memorable moments and life lessons on the journey. But you will miss them if you’re not careful.
Here are 5 practical ways to slow down:
- Prayer: Quiet moments alone center your desires and bring gratitude to the forefront.
- Meditation: Slows not only your thoughts, but your breath and heart rate into a truly restorative state.
- Journaling: Putting pen to paper slows down your thoughts enough to realize your own breakthroughs, allowing you to move forward with clarity and peace. You may even journal through your desires to get crystal clear on what it is you are working so hard toward.
- Walking: A trip around your neighborhood promotes mindfulness as you notice your surroundings and senses at this slower pace. Also, bilateral movement helps our brains process our thoughts and even releases “feel good” chemicals! Pro Tip: Leave your phone at home.
- Sabbath: One restorative day out of 7 is not selfish… It’s God’s design for our bodies and our lives. (Did you know it’s scientifically proven that we humans physiologically need additional “catch-up rest” every 6 days!)
Slowing down takes practice, but the more you do the things above, the less forced, foreign, and forbidden it will feel over time.
Eventually, you will be taking on your life from a place of overflow versus the restraints of burnout! Imagine what that could look like for you AND the people you impact?!
?Which of the 5 will you start with?
Let me know how it goes. ♥️
