Routine and sameness makes the days whizz by, so try to incorporate spontaneity into your life. Taking trips to explore new places, learning a new skill, and connecting with new people are all brilliant ways to do this, but it can be as simple as finding a different lunchtime walking route, or changing up where you’re working from.
Start single-tasking
When we try to do many things at once, our attention flits around like a butterfly which, understandably, can make it feel as if time’s going by faster. Single-tasking encourages us to focus on one thing at a time which, as well as improving productivity, can help us slow down the perception of time. So, next time you have a task to do, shut out any distractions and focus on that, and only that.
Carve out some white space
The more we stuff our time with to-dos, the more our days feel rushed. We slip into reactive mode, and lack a sense of spaciousness. One way to change this is to intentionally carve out white space i.e. space to do nothing. Space to stare at the clouds, to just listen to music, to daydream. When we do this, we stimulate the default mode network in our brain. This acts like a factory reset, helping you to recognise how you’re feeling and where you’re ‘at’.
Start a reflective practice
Finding a way to reflect on your days is a wonderful way to capture the passing of time, and give it the weight of significance it deserves.
You may want to try journaling, drawing, scrapbooking, or even just chatting about your day with a loved one.
Here are some reflective prompts to get you started:
- What felt good today?
- What small moment do you want to remember about today?
- What excited you most today?
Savouring is about really enjoying and taking in every detail of something. This may look like going for a walk and focusing on the way the sunshine feels on your skin, or taking pictures of the flowers you pass. Try engaging all of your senses and notice what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel.
When we stop to pay attention, we pull ourselves out of auto-pilot, and plant ourselves in the present.
