Are you overstimulated by overcrowded schedules, social media doomscrolling, and storming through life at a million miles an hour?
Take a look at seven ways to consciously slow down your speed so you find a better sense of balance in life.
1. Stimulate your vagus nerve
When our bodies are on high alert, it’s because our minds have become overstimulated and overwhelmed. One way to nudge ourselves out of this anxious state is to stimulate the vagus nerve. Some ways to do this are exercise, laughing, and meditation. An easy breathing exercise is the square breathing practice. Simply, breathe in for four counts, gently hold at the top of the breath for four counts, breathe out for four counts, and gently hold and the bottom of the breath for four counts. You can repeat this for as long as you need.
3. Kind(er) words
A little spoonful of self-soothing can go such a long way when it comes to reducing stress. Micro-moments of encouraging words like, “It’s OK to take time to pick this up” and “Mistakes are what help us grow” can provide a deeper sense of self-care when there’s simply so much going on.
4. Sleep
Staying too long in bed can make it trickier to stick to a good bedtime routine and even disrupt your body’s circadian rhythms. Try some good sleep hygiene, such as meditating before bed, limiting screen time, and going to bed at roughly the same time each night.
5. Silent walking
Many of us have gotten into the habit of popping our earphones on while out for a walk, but silent walking is creating room in our minds to notice and appreciate our natural surroundings.
Listening to the sound of birdsong, feeling our feet on the earth beneath us, and connecting with the sights of the changing seasons not only reduces our stress levels but heightens our creative spirit. Walking in a meditative way puts us in touch with the oneness or togetherness of the world around us; we can’t help but slow down when we move to the beat of nature a little more.
6. Restorative yoga
Restorative yoga can help you unwind and encourage a deep feeling of rest. There is usually less movement with restorative yoga than with other yoga practices such as vinyasa or kundalini so you can lean into the poses to receive as much physical and mental relaxation as possible.
7. Take a screen break
In an era of doomscrolling (surfing through bad news) and social media overstimulation, it’s no wonder our senses are saturated with continual news coverage. We sometimes end up slipping into a news wormhole that has negative implications for our mental health. This makes it even more vital to take an occasional break from our phones. So what are you waiting for? Indulge some time away from your screens this week and find some pockets of slow self-care that’s healthy for your hearts and souls.
Is living life in the fast lane causing you anxiety?
You might need to Slow it Down.
