Life in The Slow Lane

But if you find yourself addicted to being busy or envying others their jam-packed life, then I invite you to honestly ask yourself why? Does this busy-ness truly delight you? Or is it a habit? Or is it something you think you should do? Taking time to savour the small pleasure in life rather than missing life as it whizzes past in a blur. So I choose no longer to play that game of envying people who appear to be full of energy and achieving loads — and are probably stuck in the prevailing consumerist culture. Monthly Friday night Restorative Yoga Class: Expect to move, breathe, relax, open and look within.

Create space, allow new perspectives. Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Let me help you to help yourself

Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. I know I have. But then I take a moment to reflect. Why do we glorify being busy? Why is appearing to have so much energy and be doing all the things something we envy? Keep yourself busy … keep a lid on those uncomfortable feelings!

And I also invite us all to acknowledge that human beings need rest. Our body and mind needs to rest and restore. Focusing on one thing at a time. Doing what brings you joy rather than what brings you kudos. Filling up your well rather than draining it dry.

Thanks for this overdue article. What we have been encouraged to do in school is nothing short of supporting the American Dream scam. I have talked about the realities of extracurriculars as a guest post on http: That means not working weekends. Making them into a career. Not for everyone, I know. But there are people out there more than most of us think that are doing jobs they love, everyday. Does anyone else find it amusing that this article ends with a call to action to follow him on Twitter? I really enjoyed this post after I had time to go back and read it again.

I am at the beginning of a busy some irony here, lol! Ironic that the post I had already written and scheduled for friday morning is 10 ways to not be so busy! My psychologist even used it to define how we saw me, as frantic. Even now I can feel it start to come on me again, even though I have very few responsibilities right now. It becomes a habit, almost a drug, I feel. And the activities truly are enjoyable ones, yet having them scheduled puts such pressure on all of us. We think that the education system promotes children to be in fast lane. If you look at the college application, there is a whole section for students to list their activities.

We have seen kids having a long list of activities, so many that it makes us wonder how they have time to do all of those things. We know they usually say that time-management is everything but we all have only 24 hours a day. They may be busy but they might be just squirrels running in a wheel after all. By the way, we include a story about the squirrel running in a wheel for your entertainment.

It will take you like 8 seconds to read it. How to cut debt, how to do nothing, how to say no, how to clear a cluttered room, how to not be distracted… This movement really needs some fresh thought and new thinking. Also, why the heck is everything always in list format? Maybe you should start your own blog with some fresh thoughts and new thinking if you have some ideas.

I know what you are saying, but if you already have it all down, maybe you should spend time only following 3 or 4 blogs that actually apply to you as Mike recommended. I work on highway construction in the summer. We work 12 to 14 hours a day 6 days a week. I am laid off right now for the winter and I have so much work around the house to catch up on, but I am just being lazy.

Once work starts I will not even see the grandkids that much so I am taking it easy. Thank you very much for the daily inspiration! I have been following for a few weeks now and so many changes have begun to happen! Applying the things that that are being learned a little bit at a time are making a difference in the way I look at life, love in my relationships and learning to be happy just to be me.

Im so excited for the changes that are still going to take place! Thanks for this inspiration, I needed to hear it. Even today, a Saturday, I feel the need to get busy! I love your blog, and will choose it as one of the few that I continue to follow. With 4 children, the oldest two are on their own, and have children of their own now, and I babysit a LOT for them. As a busy perfectionist, I have a hard time finding balance and keeping things done as it is.

I find social media a way to escape from my hectic life, but I do need to cut back.

Thanks for a great article! I have been doing this for a long time. Maybe it is my age 59 or my personality.

• 5 Pillars of Success.
• Live life in the slow lane - Flow Magazine.
• Le syndrome de Sherlock Holmes (French Edition).
• Christmas On A Dime.
• Reclaiming the Streets: Surveillance, Social Control and the City?
• The Collapse of Civilizations? (German Edition)?

I do like to read on the nook. Keep up the great posts…if just one sinks in.. I still work about 30 hours per week — and my goal is to get down to 20 hours per week…maybe less if I can swing it! I am so happy I found your website……. I recently resigned from a company I was with for 21 years.

The last two years, being the most challenging to simply get there. I have not taken another job but rather am taking time for myself right now. I have been surprised at the number of times in a day where I feel I have to be doing something and feeling uncomfortable with just being. This revelation has been a source of introspection and hopefully a guiding force for what comes next. Your post is timely. I had the benefit of a dad who worked at home raising cattle and selling used farm equipment.

• A Life in the Slow Lane – Follow us as we travel in Basil the Motorhome around Europe.
• life in the slow lane.
• Product details.

He lived his life without getting caught up in the rat race. He enjoyed each day to the fullest and always made time to literally smell the roses or marvel at the birth of a new calf. I talked to him 3 nights before he was killed in a tractor accident on his farm. His last words to me were: I became determined to follow his example. We never allowed our children to be in more than 2 extra curricular activities.

Sundays were for church and family. No company, no going anywhere, no talking on the phone. Family dinners at least nights a week. Playing with my kids was more important than a perfect house. Being in the fast lane can deprive us of noticing, enjoying, and even experiencing the current moment.

Thanks again for yet another post validating simplicity and NOT glorifying busyness. I love my naps. I love to curl up with a book. I have a relationship with my husband to work on, 3 young kids to love and bring up, a house full of pets to care for, a house to clean, a job to keep, friends to see, a parent to care for, volunteer obligations to meet…but I love my naps! The love and opportunities to play, nap and read will NOT! Great post, As I sit here in my bed on Sunday morning, and allow my children and grandchildren to sleep in! My wife has already ask me what I was going to do today, and make sure everything got accomplished with the family.

This is most excellent. Re-reading it this morning. I love how God answers quickly, when we need it so. Your blog has been very inspiring and it is refreshing to hear the important messages brought forth with clarity, hope and encouragement. When weeding out my subscribed blogs, as the author suggests to do, yours will be one of the keepers! Ever since I married my husband he is in this phase. I guess balance is the key. I thought that I was the only one who felt this way or saw these things happening. This article understands me. But how do you live in a different direction from the world?

Everything is fast pace so it will affect your life. Thanks for your article. I hope everyone liberates themselves from the shackles of their own minds and simply enjoy life…. I became a minimalist after most of my life was spent like,a chicken without a head. No amount of work was ever enough, and I gave and volunteered and let people waste my most valued possession, my time on this Earth. Now I have slowed way the heck down and it feels so good. Not at first, but with practice!

Live life in the slow lane

Before I do anything for anyone, I do something for myself. If a time-thief tries to occupy my day, I say I have plans and spend the day gardening. I also take lessons in life from my dog, who is a genius. Learning how to embrace life in the slow lane has already made me so much more content as a person, and this article hit how I feel about it spot on. I feel the same way. I used to feel guilty about not being competitive and being out there.

Life in the slow lane - Idioms by The Free Dictionary

But this is how I am! I like to enjoy small things. I want to live in a slow-paced coastal town. Desiring less is a virtue. It feels like it. I was literally working months a year just to pay that bill. I was in the rat race, too busy to notice. Did I hit the brakes with both feet. I made a small change n put a high efficiency wood stove in my house.

This might seem insignificant to most people, but now instead of working 4 months at a my job n paying lining the pockets of the electric n oil companies, I pay myself. Now getting 20 cords of wood is a lot of work, but now I spend months a year in the forest gathering my wood absolutely stress free with my dog Simba.