Which do you value more your money, or your time? Author Carl Honore mused, "All the world is a store, and all the men and women are merely shoppers." Tempted and tantalized at every turn by advertisements and a driving desire to have the latest and greatest things, people seek to cram as much consumption and activity into their already overfull lives. By wanting to do it all and all at the same time, there is a disconnect between what one desires from life and what can be realistically had. This feeds the sense that there is never enough time.
This desire to do it all causes people either to accelerate their pace or to squeeze in more than they can do and fully enjoy. Technology is an enabler and false friend to the acceleration generation. While it saves time, it also creates a new set of duties and desires. In order to use all the new time savers, you must spend time learning how to use them. Moreover, just when you have mastered this marvelous device and all its features, a new improved and better one will take its place, starting the learning task once again.
While offering a valuable service, email, voicemail, cell phones, answering machines, and texts, exponentially increase the demands on your time. Where before, people would have to wait until they saw you or could track you down, they now expect your immediate attention and response to their inquiries. This increased availability has many virtuous uses, but make no mistake, it ups the stress factor in a generous way. Keep in mind, quantity of interactions does not equate to quality. In most cases, it dilutes the quality by forcing people to weed through a volume of interactions before finding any of real meaning.
Living at an accelerated pace creates a cycle that starts by reducing meaningful interaction. This leads to a lack of fulfillment in life and causes people to accelerate further in an attempt to avoid confronting those feelings. This fast life can feel good temporarily, as it fuels the neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, but like a drug, it soon wears off leaving you seeking more. Over time you can become used to this cycle, it can begin to feel normal. This insidious tolerance can numb the feelings that seek a deeper and more meaningful existence.
It is possible to learn to use the good aspects of a 24/7 culture, while not becoming a slave to it. Having extended access to people, places and things can be wonderfully useful, however without knowing and setting your own limits, the constant access to "more" can leave you worn out and used up.
The sad truth is that most people have no idea why they live life so fast. In the words of the Alabama song, "I'm in a hurry and don't know why." Part of this comes from mirroring what we see in those around us. Being busy is normal; it is accepted. Reducing activity and slowing down to savor life sounds... well, lazy. That is only because of what we have been conditioned to want.
Look no further than television or a magazine to find ads touting every kind thing imaginable that would make life better, if we would only buy it. Because we are conditioned to equate happiness with material things and money, someone who is working less and playing more, goes against what we subconsciously believe is right. But in reality, is it?
It comes down to pinpointing what you really want from life and understanding what brings you the most happiness. After digging deeper, many people find that it is meaningful connections with people, places, and community, which brings about happiness. Slowing down is essential to make such connections.
While noble in idea, slowing down is like breaking any other habit. You must first make a connection with a real reason to slow down and deeply desire to do it. Then you can start the process of feeling comfortable with slowness. This is not always an easy transition and may require time and effort to make new choices. Just as acceleration and irritation can spiral from event to event, so can going slow and being calm.
Slower living strengthens connections and leads to a stronger sense of community, all of which encourages people to relax and slow down further. You can make a choice to stop and take in each moment. Deep breaths and calm thoughts can bring about a deeper sense of personal fulfillment, but it all starts with the choice to slow down. If you are worn out and run down, what have you got to lose? Become a trailblazer in the slow movement, take back your time and make time for what is truly important to you.
"Wellness Matters" Article Series by Lisa Schilling RN, BSN, CPT
Speaker, Writer, Wellness Coach & Consultant
Lisa Schilling is the author of "The Get REAL Guide to Health and Fitness-FIVE STEPS to Create Your Own Personal Wellness Plan." She juggles life as a doting wife and the mother of three boys, who keep her feet firmly planted on the ground!
Lisa is a Registered Nurse, author and recovering pageant queen, who spreads hope with her Get REAL approach to wellness. She empowers women, caregivers and groups to unleash their fullest potential by helping them to see their true beauty and discover their REAL value.
As an outspoken advocate for wellness and prevention, her motto is: "See one, do one, teach one!" Visit Lisa's website http://www.getrealwellnesssolutions.com to claim your FREE Bonus Gifts! Providing quality counselling articles, hynotherapy writings and other mind help resources online, counselling hypnotherapist and life coach in London.
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