Carrie Fisher said it well when she quipped, “These days even instant gratification takes too long.”
What’s your reflex response when someone asks you, “How are you?” Is it “Busy”? Do you suppose that “busy” is our new four letter word?
We are all about getting things done. Often this results in our lives having disconnected relationships, reduced time for self-care and careless eating. “Busy” can crowd out any time we have to stop and consider if we are living on purpose and according to our highest values.
For 2022, here’s a challenge: What if the focus this year is more on being than doing? What if we all build in more slow-down time to our days? The data are clear that slowing down actually results in better production on tasks, more fulfilled lives and better relationships. If you are someone who feels chronically in a hurry, pushing to go faster, perhaps it’s time to evaluate your life. Find where the hurry and the busy are crowding out the important, and then make changes.
How do you make those changes? It has to be intentional, and it’s usually connected to using a planner once a week to decide what’s important and make space for it. For example, if you allow “too busy” to crowd out eating well, then make a plan, and create space on your daily calendar for cooking real food at home. You won’t be “perfect” at it, not ever, but being intentional is what makes changes.
Exercise often gets lost in our busy days as well. What if you created a behavioral cue (a predictable time, place or activity), so that each time that cue happens it reminds you to exercise? What is something you do every day several times a day? Eat? Use the bathroom? Walk down the hall to someone’s office? Microwave your cold coffee? Think about your repeated activities, then connect a few of them with a commitment to do at least a small exercise each time you do that activity.
What if every time before you get water, or use the microwave, or after you use the bathroom, you require yourself to do 30 jumping jacks, or jog in place for 2 minutes? Be creative and have fun.
If you already have the habit of going to the gym or running, you can use those behavioral cues for other new habits, such as a 3-minute breath meditation. And please don’t add these activities if it feels like “one more busy thing to do.” Figuring out what in your life is not essential, not true to you, and letting that drop away is a good first step before adding things that may even cause you to rush more.
I once heard a speaker say “get in touch with your inner tortoise.” It may seem counterproductive, but some time to do nothing but breathe and be present could be the best “activity” you add to your day. Enjoy the space, the chances for being grateful, and even being more productive and effective because you slowed down just a little.
