The Slow Progress Report

I resolved to slow down on January 31st. We're well into March and I'm still no master of the art of taking it slow and easy. The tortoise would still run the race and I'm still a bit like that hare: rush, rush, rush, crash. The road to the finish line is paved with good intentions, but we don't always come in first. That said I can definitely state that it's not a waste of time to slow down. I think today I'll try not to gulp my lunch so that I send burning cheese down my shirt front and burn the roof of my mouth. Easier said than done considering my lunch, today, will fall on a ten minute break. Not burning my mouth or incurring another dry cleaning bill to get the oil stains out of my shirt are both positive results - if I can swing them - of slowing down.

In what ways do you believe you could see some results if you slowed your own life down? If you took the time to prepare your own food from good ingredients you might not only see a result in increased health but perhaps increased pleasure and satisfaction? Maybe taking meals with your family instead of eating in front of the computer or TV might increase the value of your loved ones in your life. Don't let time run away from you. You might have a paper to write, an exam to study for, or just trying to fit all the stuff you want to do between the times you have to punch the time clock, but think how much more energized you'll approach those tasks if you had some good relaxation or pleasure between?

I got a good night's sleep, but I didn't sleep in. I got up early. I drank coffee. I didn't rush into my tasks. I allowed my brain to catch up with me, and then I wrote this morning. Man, that felt good. It wasn't a marathon writing session, but it was a productive one. Then I made a nice breakfast that a hobbit would be proud of (it involved mushrooms). It so energized me that... oh look, I'm writing a blog post even and it's not even 9:30 a.m. I still have time to take a nice hot shower and dress for the job. Of course it helps that I start late today. Tomorrow it's just going to be: up, coffee, fire up the brain, breakfast, shower, dress, drive - but I'll take my time and be ready to start on the job with all synapses firing. Taking it slow doesn't necessarily mean not doing stuff. We all still have to do our things. Life is not something that will wait for you, or rather not too long. But taking your time, getting in your relaxation, and focusing more should lead to greater productivity and creativity rather than less.

Avoid that heart attack. Take your time.