Slowing down: The ultimate power move

I left the hairdresser with a spring in my step and a thousand to-dos in my head. My usual pace is about 100 miles per hour, so flying out the front door of the salon, I found myself behind a couple of elderly ladies out for a stroll. I had a choice - Zoom past them and get on with my day? Or slow my pace and give them (and me) space?

I elected to slow down ... and boy, am I glad I did. Let's face it, the hustle is REAL. We're all about crushing to-do lists and conquering inboxes. But what I learned in that pivotal moment was slowing down is a secret weapon that left me less stressed for the rest of the day (and dare I say ... more productive?).

Here's the thing: when we're constantly on fast-forward, our brains get fried. We miss important details, make snap judgments, and forget to, you know, breathe.

As I slowed my pace and walked behind these lovely ladies, I began to notice the smell of pizza coming from the local eatery. I looked up and saw the coolest low rider (it's a thing in New Mexico, check it out). I even got a smile from one of the ladies who looked back at me.

I made it my goal for the rest of the day to slow down and simply notice.

What I found in taking a deliberate pause:

• My stress level took a nosedive: I took the feeling of slowing down into the rest of my day. It was one of the best, most peaceful days I've had in quite a while.
• My decision making got sharper: No worries about sending a Teams chat to the wrong person! My mind was clear, and I was able to mark a ton off of my to-do list.
• My creativity got a turbo boost: I've been struggling with a craft project at home. The afternoon following my adventure, I had the most glorious breakthrough.
• I was actually able to appreciate the good stuff: That New Mexico sunset? Breathtaking. The smell of lemons while making dinner? Delicious.

So, how did I embrace it (without quitting my job and parking myself on the back porch in a hammock)?

• Schedule the slow down: Even 10 minutes of deep breathing or meditation when transitioning from home to work or work to home can do wonders.
• Ditch the myth of multitasking: Psychology Today reports that we lose up to 40% of our productivity while multitasking. Do one thing at a time and do it well.
• Learn to say no: You're not Wonder Woman / Super Man, and that's A-okay.

Remember, slowing down isn't about slacking off, it's about working smarter, not harder. And who knows what you'll notice / achieve / see / feel /do when you hit that pause button.

#bewellworkwell #wellbeing #mindfulness #balance #pwc