Learning to slow down - how it has done wonders for me

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I love to be busy; I always have a planned weekend, holiday on the horizon or enough things to do that I struggle to relax. However, as I've gotten into my late twenties, I've started to appreciate the quieter way of life, slow weekends and learning to relax and it has benefitted my mental health.                   

If you're struggling to relax, here's my guide on learning to slow down and how it has done wonders for me and my mental health. 

Learning to slow down - how it has done wonders for me

 Life doesn't always have to be busy to be fun

This took me a long time to learn, however, life isn't always about being constantly busy, it's about enjoying the fun in all the smaller moments. I always thought I needed to have plans every weekend, ensuring I was doing something big and exciting, such as going to a concert, dinner out or on holiday. Yet, by slowing down and embracing quieter activities, I've realised that fun can be found in whatever you're doing and each activity. 

The little things bring so much joy

Life isn't about the big things, it's about the little moments, from watching the sunset on the beach, reading a book in the sunshine, baking a cake, shopping at the farmer's market to mooching around in your local town. The little things are everything and can make each moment special, especially with people you love. I spend quality time with those who are important to me, it doesn't matter what we're doing as long as we're together. 

Appreciating what slowing down is

I thought slowing down meant doing everything at a slower pace but it can mean whatever you want it to be. For me, slowing down is having evenings with no plans, not overbooking my calendar and embracing life and the little things that fill it. It's about appreciating the joy of a slower way of life and enjoying what life throws at me. I love seeing where the day can take me with no plans whatsoever.

Relaxing helps regulate my nervous system

Being constantly on the go isn't good for anyone, especially me. I always thought staying on the go would help keep my mind distracted from anxiety and depression, however, it can make me stressed and burnt out, dysregulating my nervous system. By relaxing and taking things at a slower pace, leaving space for spontaneity can help regulate my nervous system and calm my mind. 

Resting is productive 

My whole life, I've struggled to relax or didn't know how to relax and enjoy it, always feeling as if I needed to work or be productive. Though, when slowing down, I've realised, resting is productive. With rest, comes energy, a clear mind and more fulfilment every day. Taking things slow and enjoying little things can help you appreciate the bigger things even more.

Connection to people and nature is everything

Life is about what you connect with, especially your loved ones and nature around you. The world is beautiful and when you take the time to relax and slow down, you can appreciate the beauty of nature, from going on a beach walk or a picnic in the countryside. Being connected to people you adore and the nature of the world can make life a million times better and relieve your mind. 

Creativity grows in relaxation 

With relaxation and learning to slow down, my brain can thrive as I start to feel more creative, noticing what's going on in the world around me, instead of constantly being on the go.  I love how my brain finds inspiration in the quiet moments and how it can help benefit my mental health.

Learning to care less what people think

Caring less about what people think is a must we should all learn. We only get one life and we should do with it as we will. The world of social media constantly makes us compare and think we're not good enough or we should be doing more, and that's not the case. Learning to slow down can also help you learn to care less what people think and follow your heart, and mind, preventing yourself from comparing to others. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. What else would you add?

 Thank you for reading <3

 

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Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful in anyway. I'd love to hear any feedback you may have.