Go back
Oh, we can be so good at fooling ourselves. We tell ourselves we’re so zen because we go to yoga class and meditate every morning. But can you honestly say that when that yoga class is over, you don’t quickly pop on your socks, roll up your mat and hurry out the door? Or that those morning meditation sessions are basically just you killing the two minutes it takes for the coffee maker to finish, after which you gulp down your coffee and storm out so you can catch your train or beat the worst of the morning traffic? Don’t feel bad. We all do it. Present day society puts so much pressure on us, there are simply not enough hours in a day to really stop rushing, right? Well, you better try. Because an ongoing fight against time will never enable you to life a happy and fulfilling life. Below, we’ve listed some tips to help you to stop rushing all the time.
How to stop rushing
#1. Focus on your breath more often
Take mini-breaks throughout your day to focus on your breath. It can be as simple as taking a few seconds to pay attention to each inhale and exhale, after which you proceed with your day. If you think you’ll forget, simply set a reminder on your phone – or use your The Watch NOW.
#2. Look around you
When we’re rushing from one thing to the next thing, we have a tendency to get tunnel-vision. But you’re not a horse pulling a cart! Open your eyes and look around. Take in your surroundings. You might see things you had never noticed before – or maybe catch the eye of an attractive stranger.
#3. Spend more time with kids
This may seem contradictory when you have kids of your own (and maybe secretly feel that the attention that they require is part of the reason you’re rushing all the time). But try to follow their lead, even if it’s just for a little while. Kids are anything but time-conscious and not yet aware of the pressures that us grown-ups feel; they’re on their own time and do what they feel like. Let them inspire you.
#4. Learn to say no
One way to stop rushing all the time is to stop wasting time on things you don’t really want to do. Your time is valuable and you can’t simply buy more from it if you don’t have enough. So take a critical look at the commitments that you’re making. Do you feel like a certain commitment is or would be draining? Then say no. And don’t feel guilty for doing so! You need to protect yourself.
#5. Get up earlier
Mornings are the time of day when many people feel the most rushed. But the solution is so simple: just get up earlier. Sure, you may be a little bleary-eyed during the first hour, but waking up an hour earlier gives you the time to connect to yourself and do the things you need to do for a calm focus throughout the day. Also check out our tips on how to be more mindful in the morning.
#6. Be smarter with your smartphone
The activities you do on your smartphone may be consuming more of your precious time than you’re aware of. So instead of endlessly scrolling through Facebook or reading up on the latest celebrity gossip, use your smartphone to be more productive – or simply turn it off.
#7. Stop and smell the roses
Take a cue from Mac Davis: just stop and smell those roses. You won’t regret it.
