We all need to learn the benefits of slowing down and then take time to actually do it. Here am I sipping on a glass of vodka and a little coke with a few pieces of ice as I simply look at the beauty of nature. It’s windy out so the branches on the trees are dancing away while the birds are struggling to stay attached and fly backwards and forwards trying to find some shelter. In the background an array of colours, white, yellow and purple of the flowers which somehow stay unmoved and unaffected by the harsh conditions. Such an amazing tranquil setting. One where I can just allow myself to be.
Enjoying nature happening in front of me, worried about nothing, thinking of nothing, totally escaping from the normal demands of my busy day. I’ve pressed the pause button. My websites will still be there, my social media networks, clients, friends, family, but just for now they are not where my focus lies. But they benefit just as much as I by me taking this time out. Relaxing and refreshing my brain recharging my creative juices ready to return before anyone notices my absence. Such an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
Long ago I learnt the benefits of slowing down and the power of relaxing and the magic that we connect to through nature. I now ensure that at least once a week for an hour I will make the time to do this and at least 30 minutes another 2 times a week. It is a key part of my healthy lifestyle, one you need to be adopting in your life. For too long I threw myself into work, trying to devote as much of the time I had to doing this. I’m not saying that failing to make the most of the benefits of slowing down was responsible for me suffering from my chronic illness, but I’m sure it played a part.
You, for your physical and mental health, are actually going to have to force yourself to slow down a couple of times a week. But isn’t this better than being forced to take time out when I’ll health strikes.
Let me share this poem with you by Wm. Henry Davies
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
Says it all really.
I have always lived life in the fast lane. Obsessed by my work and what it gave to me. Yet losing everything and fighting with ill health and loss of vision allowed me to gain a new perspective on life. To give myself the time to enjoy not only the things I was doing, the people in my life and the simple things happening all around me.
Tim Ferris an incredible guy, writer of a 4 Hour Work Week wrote:
“Slow down and remember this: Most things make no difference. Being busy is a form of mental laziness — lazy thinking and indiscriminate action.”
In a world where time is precious, please don’t forget the benefits of slowing down.
Enjoy the time that you have. Don’t get caught up in doing nothing but work, trying to make a living, no matter how important this is. Its equally important to simply enjoy the benefits of slowing down. Sometimes work is better and life is richer when we take the time to slow down.
Do something today where you simply allow yourself to enjoy nature. Maybe take a nice long walk. It will be awesome for a healthy lifestyle.
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