Instead of letting the fast-paced world control your life, steps, and pace, it helps to slow down and enjoy life a bit. By slowing down, you get to dictate your own pace. You get to say ‘no’ to things that frazzle you and you get to choose those activities that bring you joy. It helps you to live your life, and not to only exist in it.
Here are some tips on how to slow down, be more grateful, and find some inner peace. Remember, life itself is a gift. Embrace it. Enjoy it.
Okay, are you ready to jump in?
Let’s do this!
1. Observe 5 minutes of calm
There’s a reason why CNN observes 30 seconds of calm several times a day. This is a mild meditation which helps you notice your breath. More importantly, it helps you get your rhythm and starts to slow things down around you.
2. Focus on your cup of tea/coffee
If you’re someone who likes a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, try to focus on the drink when drinking it. Don’t combine it with watching the TV or reading a magazine. Sip the tea/coffee and do nothing else. Let your thinking revolve around the tea/coffee.
In my life I found that doing a Tea Meditation with my local Sangha (Buddhist meditation group) really was quite a pleasure and I don’t even like tea. Having the warm cup in both hands and the smell of orange tea, or whatever flavored tea they used that week, really captured my senses and created a calming experience beyond those few silent moments of just being.
3. Stop multitasking
Humans are not programmed to multitask. When you do, it will take its toll on the results of the two tasks. You can’t possibly carry out two tasks at the same time, like you’ll carry them out one after the other. Trying to multitask is spreading yourself too thin and nothing gets done well enough to meet expectations.
I multitasked for years and I know some of my business friends will disagree with this idea, but I can tell you when I focus on a single item the experience is so much stronger. Give it a try.
4. Get to sleep earlier to rise earlier
If you wake up a little late, you’re more likely to do everything in a rush. You don’t want to be late for work. On the other hand, when you wake up much earlier, you’ll be in total control of your day. You’ll be able to do things at your preferred pace.
I’ve always said… “the early-bird gets the worm.” and I guess I always thought this was just because I was a morning person and joking with those who weren’t, but I will say I think there’s something to this. Benjamin Franklin said… “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise”. There are some studies done related to your circadian rhythm (24-hour cycles that are part of the body’s internal clock) that say consistent and regular sleep times are beneficial, so be aware that really leveraging the power of this could take commitment if you want a more permanent change.
5. Talk less and listen more
If you need to have a discussion with anybody, it is better to listen more and talk less. Everyone you meet knows something you don’t. If you look at conversations as a fun way to learn, you might find out that every person may be a teacher. When you listen more, you may also find out interesting facts about that person or a brand-new-to-you topic.
In Buddhism, they call this Deep Listening and it is almost and art to practice being more mindful. In the sales world, there is a saying – “Telling Is Not Selling” which basically means you need to listen more than you talk and a reminder that you are there to serve the person not talk about you or your products. Again, what you learn can be really interesting and helpful for building relationships no matter who you are talking to or why. Just sit back and enjoy!
6. Live in the moment & Be Present
Every moment is special, and the people we have around make it even more special. Enjoy the best of it. Forget about the issues with your work and other little problems. Just focus on the beauty of nature and enjoy all that the moment brings.
Do you have any idea what every moment means to someone who’s on their death bed? Don’t waste any moment, discover the beauty and joy in every moment. This is really the basis of mindfulness and meditation and since becoming more aware in the present moment I can’t tell you how much more I appreciate life and notice beauty that I often overlooked in everyday things (like the green of the leaves meeting the beautiful blue sky when I’m out on my walks, or truly enjoying playing with my son free from phone or other distractions).
7. Contentedness - Be happy with what you have
Naturally, human needs are insatiable. When they get what they want, they’ll start aiming higher. That does not stop you from appreciating what you have. Are you longing for a new car or a bigger apartment or house? Do you realize that what you consider as your ‘old’ car is someone’s dream car? Be content with what you have, and you’ll derive joy from it.
Besides, inner peace and joy do not come from material things. Wasn’t it the same car you used to drive your kids to school every morning? Wasn’t it the old phone you used to call your late dad a few days before he passed on? The point is, the real value of our personal items lies in the memories tied to them.
8. Exercise outside
Apart from its health benefits, regular exercise gives pleasure. Doing some exercises outside doubles the fun. You’ll admire your surroundings while you work out, especially if you have colder winters when you prefer to stay indoors. Don’t forget the Sun is your best source of Vitamin D, so this is an added bonus.
This could be yoga in the park, biking, swimming, or just taking a walk. No need to make this too complicated.
9. Unplug in the evenings
Don’t let your smartphone and social media take over your life. Several social media chats can never replace an in-person chat. Shut down your computer and drop your phone somewhere, so you can spend quality time with your family. When you shut down physically, you should also turn off mentally by taking thoughts of work off your mind entirely.
10. Get enough sleep
Adequate sleep resets the human system. That’s why people wake up refreshed, re-energized and re-invigorated in the morning. Several hours of sound sleep kicks stress out of the body. Also, it boosts your productivity. Turn off electronics at least one hour before bedtime to get a longer, more rested sleep.
11. Adopt positive thinking and language
In every seemingly negative situation, there’s a silver lining, but you may not see it if you focus on the negatives. Attract positive energy by focusing on positive things. Instead of complaining about the difficult task that your boss gave you, consider it as a chance to take on a challenge and learn something new.
Solving a difficult task comes with a certain level of fulfillment that you may miss if you don’t make an effort. Sometimes difficult tasks aren’t as difficult as they first seem but you won’t know if you don’t try.
12. Find the silver lining or lesson in every situation
This has become one of my favorites and has really changed my life in big ways.
As mentioned above, there’s a silver lining in every situation. Find the one in yours. You just woke up to find a negative review of your brand. Instead of getting annoyed, you could respond to the review, address the grievance, and use the chance to win the hearts of more people. Maybe the issue the poster complained about is the reason you’ve been losing a lot of sales. Addressing it will boost your sales tremendously.
Keep in mind this could also a personal situation where a friend or family member made an ugly comment on one of your social posts or maybe even an ugly private message. Try to step back from things and maybe ask yourself… “why would they do this? what is going on in their lives that they felt the need to push this ugliness to you?” You might find ways to respond in a healthy way to mend the relationship and current issue.
There is an idea called Post Traumatic Growth that takes this to the next level. PTG (post traumatic growth) is when something awful happens in life and you turn that situation around to be a positive situation. So for example, my car was stolen from my drive way and I nearly caught the guy. Although I was angry for around 6 months, I eventually moved from “why me?” too forgiving this guy and asking “What must be going on in this guys life that he is moved to a life of crime in my neighborhood?”. Through thinking about him and his life I started volunteering to help underperforming kids learn to read because this can lead to dropping out of school and even a life of crime. So this awful thing turned into a way for me to give back and help other people maybe NOT head down a path of crime and hopefully have more opportunities in life.
13. Reflect on your day at bedtime
While in your bed, it is a good idea to reflect on your day, including the positives and negatives. For anything that went wrong… can you still salvage the situation? If not, what lesson did you learn from it? How can you avoid making the same mistake again?
Answer the questions at bedtime. But also remember to pat yourself on the back for your accomplishments, no matter how small. Bedtime is also a common time to write an entry in your gratitude journal while you count the day’s blessings.
14. Take a Look at The bigger picture
Instead of complaining about the small problems, think of the bigger blessings. You’re worried because one of your car’s headlamps no longer works. That’s an annoyance at best because at least you can afford your car payments and/or can afford to own a car. You’re also probably able to feed your family with no concerns when others cannot. Try looking at situations from a different angle instead of getting angry or worried.
15. Write thank-you notes
Think about all the little things that people have done for you. Remember the day your neighbor offered to help to drop your kids off at school because you weren’t feeling well? What about the boss that recommended you for promotion? Do you remember the stranger that notified you of your phone that dropped out of your pocket while you were jogging?
Write a thank you note for each of these people who helped. You don’t have to send the notes; you can even just write short journal entries recounting the kindness. Each of these notes represents what you should be thankful for.
For my business, I always printed branded note cards that folded over and I’d put a stamp on and a mailing tab to seal it shut and include a hand written note. I cannot tell you how this set me apart in business, but it also made me sincerely think about the people I meet with or did business with and what I appreciated from our time together. We both got joy from it!
As the old saying goes, “The days are long, but the years are short.” It’s never too late to live a grateful life.
Need Some Encouragement Finding Gratitude?
Join My Newest Challenge…
Sometimes we just need some extra help slowing down and putting ourselves first. That’s why I’m offering a Grateful Living Challenge… 5 Days to Gratitude, Peace & Contentment (click here to join!). During these 5 days you’ll receive an email from me with a “homework” assignment and then you can come into the private Facebook group and share your thoughts, struggles, and accomplishments. Need someone to pull you up from a bad mood? You can count on the group. Need to brag about something? We’re all ears! Sign up for the challenge here and I’ll send you the link to join the Facebook group.
Just click the button below to join!
Can’t wait to see you on the inside!
Dale, this is a very helpful list. You have published so many things over the last several months that have enhanced my life, and I’m sure, the lives of others. I am also grateful that you seek to live the things you believe, moment by moment, day by day. A good day to you!
Thank you for your kind words and for following me through the Hellagood Life brand and for your friendship and ongoing support. I appreciate it and you very much! It is nice to hear when some of my work benefits other people it feels great helping others.
As for living what I believe, it’s taken a long time to get here, but I like where I am at and feel very aligned with my purpose in life. I try to stay in alignment as much as possible, but really just make sure I am pointed towards the end goal – building connections, being kind and loving life.
Peace, Love, and Respect to you, my friend!
Dale