People’s lives today move at a very fast pace. This is especially true for interesting lives. One major downside of this is that it is easy to become overwhelmed and thus paralyzed mentally. It’s as if our brains overheat and we get nothing done. The best thing to do at times like this is often counter-intuitive…
Go slow to go fast.
I have found this to be true for myself. The more things I have to do, the more I rev my internal engine leading to feelings of stress and temporary burnout.
When you feel like there is too much going on and you feel overwhelmed you must realize what is happening. Take a few moments to pause and take a few breaths. Ideally you should take out a piece of paper and write down everything that is on your mind. At a minimum just write down the main points. ie: Pick up food, pay ____ bill, make phone call, straighten up house, plan trip, order ____ online, etc.
Slow yourself down as you get your bearings and ground yourself. You can usually get more done at a slow pace and a clear mind than at a hurried pace with a fried mind.
Slowing down and re-balancing yourself also feels better and keeps you from burning through energy you might need later in the day.
One way to do this is to literally slow down all of your thoughts and movements. Slow down the voice in your head. If you are picking up something from a desk do it at a third of the normal speed. The most important thing is that you are taking action albeit slowly. You will find that you are cooling down mentally and recharged to continue with your day.
Some action is better than no action. Most procrastination comes from feelings of being overwhelmed. Starting and doing something really really slowly never feels overwhelming and gets the ball rolling.
The story of the tortoise and the hare gives a valuable lesson both for kids and adults.
This was a hard lesson for me to learn in life since I always prided myself on being able to multitask and pile a lot on my plate. I learned though that even with the best car you need to let the engine rest sometimes. You also need to let the engine warm up other times or drive slowly down an icy road.
We often become overwhelmed at various points in our day without fully realizing it. Learn to become more sensitive to this. Slow down and regain your focus.
Going slow to go fast will lead to getting more things done in the long term. It will instill a habit of keeping your cool. You will conserve energy and feel better throughout your day.
Alllllll theeee beeeeeest,
- – D
Leave A Response