The Joys of Slow Living

Rate This

Photo: Getty Images

The world is too fast. From fast food to fast alarm clocks, fast talking and driving too fast; waking ourselves and our children up quickly, eating and dressing at the speed of light -- it can cause a myriad of health and emotional problems.

Stress levels, as we know, increase under pressure and decrease when pressure is reduced. What exactly is pressure but the quickening of molecules? As the water boils, the pressure is intensifying and so many of us find ourselves thrashing about like lobsters in a pot.

Some times people have heart attacks, life-threatening illness, car accidents or other traumatic experiences that not only act as a call to cherish life, but as a call to slow down, to appreciate each moment as it comes, to leave the speed to the racers.

Is it even possible to slow down in the face of our every day responsibilities, our children and significant others, our jobs and our homes? Can we slow down inside even if we’re rushing through things like traffic to get to work on time?
Inner peace is having the quality of peace inside of yourself even as the storms are raging and the stressors of life are attempting to whip you into a frenzy of activity and hurrying.

Stillness in meditation means finding that candle flame, the core of you, and maintaining not only your focus, but your calmness in the midst of chaos.
Some suggestions for ways to slow down are:
• Deepen your breath. As you move through your day, remember to breathe. You may have paperwork, a nasty co-worker or boss, a million phone calls to make or heavy items to lift, but you are still allowed oxygen and the rhythm of your deepening breaths will lower your blood pressure and slow down your heart rate.
• Drink a lot of water. By cleaning out your system with water, you will be less tempted to use caffeine and sugar to enhance your energy levels. This is crucial because both caffeine and sugar keep you speedy but crashing all day long; the opposite of slow, cultivated inner peace.
• Bend over and touch your toes a few times each day. Stretching can be a form of meditation in and of itself (what is yoga, after all?). By doing a few simple moves, you could lower your blood pressure and get the oxygen moving around your blood stream, leading you toward a calmer place in your head.

Aimee Boyle lives and writes in CT. She is a regular contributor to EmpowHER.

How do you typically manage day-to-day stress?

I try to get more exercise, like walking, yoga, swimming, or running

23% (35 votes)

I try to get more sleep

12% (18 votes)

I call my best girlfriend and we talk about what's bothering us

10% (16 votes)

I tend to eat more, especially foods like ice cream, Doritos or donuts

18% (28 votes)

I have a glass of wine or beer or other alcoholic drink

17% (27 votes)

I engage in retail therapy--time to head to the mall!

4% (6 votes)

I manage my stress in another way--feel free to add comment below!

16% (25 votes)

Vote on this Poll Check Out More Polls

Total: 155 Votes

Add a CommentComments

There are no comments yet. Be the first one and get the conversation started!

Aimee Boyle View Profile Send Message

We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.