7 Practical Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy Life
Write down how you feel
I chose to start with this one, because how often do we really take the time to check in with ourselves? I think it’s important that at least once a day, you take a few minutes to ask yourself, “How am I REALLY doing?” Part of the healing journey of trauma and negative emotions, is first addressing them, then doing the work to process through them. We can’t practice healing if we never acknowledge what we need to heal from in the first place.
Breathe
Taking a few minutes out of the day to breathe is essential, especially if you have a stressful occupation or jam packed day. Even if you don’t have enough time to just sit and relax for a minute, there are breathing exercises that you can do at any time that will help bring about calm and peace over an anxious heart
One I love is the square breathing exercise:
Breathe in through your noise for 4 counts
Hold for 4 counts
Exhale through the mouth for 4 counts
Hold for 4 counts
Repeat a few times, then tune into how you feel.
Enjoy a good meal & stay hydrated
This is a delicious addition to your routine. Simply taking the time to sit, drink water, mindfully chew your food, and enjoy what you are consuming. A lot of times when our schedules are busy we rush through lunch or scarf down our dinner to where we don’t actually enjoy the act of eating and instead it becomes a chore. It’s important to enjoy food mindfully so that it’s enjoyable for you and it digests well.
De-clutter your space
There’s nothing like a clean space that brings about productivity, clarity, and peace of mind. It can be easy to let the space you spend most of your time in become disorganized. However, setting time aside to rectify that can bring your space back to a place of calm enjoyment.
Make a gratitude list
We all have bad days right? And sometimes life can feel like it is moving in the wrong direction. However, at the end of the day we all have something to be grateful for. I find that making a gratitude list before bed, not only de-clutters my mind from what may have been a horrible day. But it helps me refocus on the things that are going well and that can be so refreshing.
Move your body
This one is important, establishing a movement routine is so essential for the health of our bodies and mind. Our limbs crave endorphins and the positive energy that exudes from exercising. Not only can lack of movement be detrimental for our health, but it can also wreak havoc on the mind. Try moving your body for at least 20 minutes per day, and I guarantee you will see a huge difference within yourself
Make time for yourself
Finding time for ourselves can be so hard in a society that is constantly on the go. But we cannot forget to take care of ourselves and give our bodies the rest that they need weekly. Even if it’s only for 15 minutes, treat yourself to some self- care. Examples include; taking a walk, a warm bath, yoga, getting a massage, getting your nails done, reading a book, or even taking a nap. Making sure to carve out time for just you and loving yourself in the process.
