When you’re busy dealing with work, loved ones, and your social life, it can sometimes feel as though there’s always something else you need to be doing.
This makes National Self-Care Week – which runs from 16 to 22 November – a good opportunity to slow things down.
Organised by the Self-Care Forum, this year’s theme, “Mind and Body”, focuses on making self-care part of your everyday life.
Still, slowing down can be surprisingly difficult. Research from People Management finds that 55% of UK employees work outside their normal hours every day. Meanwhile, 88% have felt guilty about taking time off.
If you’re used to always being productive or making yourself available to those around you, simply doing “nothing” can feel uncomfortable.
Even though changing this mindset can take time, there are several seemingly insignificant habits that can make a considerable difference. Continue reading to discover five practical ways you could start embracing a slower pace.
1. Stop treating rest as something you should earn
It can be tempting to think of rest as a reward. For instance, you might believe you can only relax once you’ve tidied the house or completed every single task on your list.
However, the issue with this mindset is that there will always be something else you could be doing.
For that reason, it may be prudent to view rest as part of keeping up your energy instead of a prize after everything is finished.
Or, if you’re especially busy or are trying to manage stress, you could simply avoid doing everything all at once.
Even reading for half an hour or going for a quick walk without worrying about the tasks you still need to complete could help create some much-needed space throughout the day.
2. Accept that not everything needs to be done right away
You might settle down for the evening, only to remember an email you haven’t answered or a small job around the house that still needs doing.
Even though neither is particularly urgent, it can be challenging to leave them unfinished once they’re on your mind.
This sense that everything needs to be done immediately can make it hard to switch off and give yourself space.
Of course, some jobs will be more time-sensitive than others. Still, others can wait until tomorrow, so learning to distinguish between them could make your days feel less pressured.
You might find it useful to leave the occasional non-urgent task unfinished, as this could remind you that not everything needs to be completed the moment you notice it.
3. Give yourself plenty of unplanned time
A quiet weekend could easily disappear before you realise it. Indeed, one plan could turn into two as you decide to fit in more errands while you’re out and about. Before you know it, most of your free time has been taken up.
So, you may want to try occasionally leaving part of your diary completely blank. Having this freedom can be valuable, especially if much of your working week is already full of meetings or appointments.
4. Pay more attention to what you’re already doing
You don’t always have to clear your diary entirely to make life feel a bit slower. Sometimes, it might be enough to simply stop dividing your attention so much.
If you’re out for a walk while listening to something through your headphones or checking messages every few minutes, you may technically be taking a break, but without ever truly switching off.
You may experience the same difficulty switching off if you eat in front of your laptop or watch TV while scrolling through your phone.
Trying to give your full attention to one activity every now and then could make the more ordinary parts of your day feel less rushed.
You may even start to notice and enjoy the little things that would otherwise pass you by.
5. Let go of the idea that every single day needs to be productive
Some days will naturally be far busier than others, and getting through a long list of jobs can understandably be satisfying.
However, it’s a good idea to avoid judging every day in the same way.
You don’t necessarily need to achieve anything during an afternoon with loved ones or when spending time in the garden, for instance.
If you’re used to constantly looking for the next task, getting more comfortable with a quieter day can, of course, take practice.
Still, over time, it could help you see rest as a worthy part of your life rather than an interruption to your productivity.
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Please note: This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.