When forgetfulness gets the better of me I take it as a sign to slow down these days. A cluttered life results in a cluttered mind. Way too much multi-tasking can result in multi-disasters. While I have never literally missed the boat I have, metaphorically, done so a number of times.
Slowing down is something that I actually find hard to do on a normal basis but am forced to when things get too much. My to-do list is always unrealistically long and packed. There is so much that I want to accomplish in mid-life and I get frustrated when I can’t tick everything off my list at the end of the week.
Having said that I have finally learnt to take steps to slow down because it is easier, to state the obvious, to accomplish things with a less hectic mindset. These days my to-do list is a leaner version of my previous template which had things like ‘do the washing’ or ‘do the hoovering’.
My mid-life to-do list is one of aspiration instead and filled with new perspectives. As an example, I have been wanting to start a Vlog for some years. I finally took the first steps and attended a course on Vlogging at City Lit University yesterday. Watch out for my Vlogs, by the way.
Life’s perspectives change as one gets older. Life without full-blown stress is a life that is more enjoyably lived.
Here are some tips for slowing down:
- Taking up mindfulness
- Pare your to-do list down to only those items which you absolutely need to do to keep you going mentally and physically at optimum level.
- Go for walks even if it’s around your local neighbourhood. I have started doing this and have discovered green spaces.
- Find pleasure in new things. I have started cooking Vegan dishes as an alternative to meat curries and am feeling fitter.
- One thing at a time rather than multi-tasking.
