Life is full of surprises; sometimes a little thing, like starting the morning with a mess you didn’t anticipate having to clean up, can feel like it throws your entire day off track.
But here’s the truth: an unexpected moment or obstacle doesn’t have to set the tone for a stressful or bad day. The other morning, I watched a tiny bird limp along after colliding with my door. When I knew I needed to take time out of my morning to help it, it made me realize how often we let minor surprises derail us, simply because we are lost in the vicious cycle of being in a rush.
Here’s the reality: stress and overwhelm are the biggest thieves of joy, health, and meaningful relationships. When life throws those unexpected curveballs, as it inevitably always does, our instinct might be to overreact or shut down. Instead, what we really need is to slow down and be present in the moment. We don’t just need to slow down in big moments, but in the everyday; in our words, our listening, our movement, and even in how we handle our relationship with food and stress.
Our bodies still react to stress the same way they did thousands of years ago, whether it’s a wild animal chasing us or a never-ending inbox. That fight-or-flight response is universal, and if we want to stay healthy & enjoy our lives while doing so, we need to acknowledge when stress is causing us to move too fast.
When life throws those unexpected curveballs, as it inevitably always does, our instinct might be to overreact or shut down. Instead, what we really need is to slow down and be present in the moment. We don’t just need to slow down in big moments, but in the everyday; in our words, our listening, our movement, and even in how we handle our relationship with food and stress.
The solution? Return to the basic human need of being present and give ourselves permission to slow down, breathe, and focus on what truly matters. This could look like slowing down during eating, being present with the food, and taking time to appreciate the taste without distraction.
Maybe it looks like slowing down before grabbing seconds and having a glass of water while you give your brain & body a chance to catch up on the signal that you’re full. Maybe it looks like slowing down to listen to someone speak, taking time to look into their eyes, and register what they’re actually saying. It could also look like getting intentional with each movement in the gym. Picking 3-4 exercises to execute 110% on, instead of 8 – 9 that are rushed through.
No matter where slowing down is most important to you, I encourage you to take the time to be present in the moment, because this is a life hack that will allow you to make the most of your time and enjoy life while you’re doing it.
