Self-care Challenge- Day 23: Slow

We live in a world where we can get food delivered from a five-star restaurant right to our door. We can go on our phones and order $300 worth of groceries and expect it to be ready for pickup in one hour. We walk into our kitchen and can make ramen in less than 3 minutes. Our world undoubtedly runs at a very fast pace.

However, there can be a lot of benefits to slowing down. And a lot of harm can come from never taking a break.

Recovery- If we’re the kind of person who enjoys going to the gym, slowing down and taking a rest day can help our bodies recover. Also, it’s an essential part of healing when we’re sick. If we continue to work through illness or injury, we slow down the healing process and run the risk of making things worse.

Balance- Constantly going at a fast pace can take a toll on our bodies. It can also take a toll on our minds. Our brains can become overstimulated the longer we try to maintain a fast pace. This can cause our productivity to slip, cognitive function to slow, and feelings of anxiety tend to rise. If we can slow down for a moment, even just 10 minutes, it can help relax our minds and bring some balance back into our bodies.

Sustainability- Even the fastest runners can only maintain their top speed for so long. And when they’re at the finish line, they have to slow down or they’ll crash into a wall or pass out. Going at a slower pace is more sustainable. I’m not saying go slow all the time but you don’t always have to go fast.

Where can you slow down today?

If you’re interested in more info about the self-care challenge, check it out here.

Thank you!

^{((Cover Photo by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash))}