Slow down, take your time

There's even a statue showing a busy person
rushing around London!

Everyone is always rushing, especially in London. I've found one of the best ways to keep myself calm and more positive is to slow down. Just taking a little bit more time to think, to do things, to relax, really helps me stay present and more peaceful. 

I recently caught up with one of my best friends who I don't get to see very often, and we were discussing the importance of taking a little time for yourself. Whether that's writing down how you feel, talking to someone on a more personal level, reading a book, or going for a walk. Sometimes life can throw a lot of things at you, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Even if each thing is only little, if you're constantly rushing and focusing on everything that needs to or could be done, eventually you'll burn out.😩💣💥

I've experienced exactly that. At university, I really struggled in my second year, especially at the start of it. I'd let lots of things get on top of me and had tried to power through, but ended up getting crushed by the weight of it all. Queue skipping lectures, missing out on time with my friends, doctors appointments, constantly feeling like I wasn't good enough, and general exhaustion. It was a downwards spiral.

I'm lucky that since then, I've learnt to manage the demands on my time and to keep a better check on my mental health, and I feel a lot more positive than before. Books like the Self Care Project (and anything by Blurt - their website is brilliant) really helped me take more time with my thoughts and emotions. Madeleine Shaw has just posted a great video on how to stay present and peaceful. I think mental health is so desperately important, and I also know how easy it is to slip back down the negative-slope, so I really am trying to be more mindful and aware of my mental state.

Some mornings the slot of time to fill

is longer than usual!

One thing I'm doing is trying to make my commute my me-time. It might not be the ideal setting for it (since you can't do yoga or light candles on a train), but it is a definite slot in my day where I need to fill time. 

I used to find the train quite stressful in the mornings and it tended to start my day off on the wrong foot. Now I leave the house earlier so I have time to walk to the station (get those steps in!), and also so if the trains are delayed (which they often are), I've got a time buffer and I don't need to worry as much. I carry a book with me so I can read on the train, instead of mindlessly scrolling through social media, or I listen to a podcast (I've got a blog post coming soon on podcasts I'd recommend!). Either of these allow me to feel like I'm making some progress with something while stuck on the train, and also are things I enjoy, which helps me feel more positive about the mornings. These are such little adjustments to my day, but so far I've found they're really making a difference.

In a world where everyone is constantly contactable, connected, and always on the go, it can be hard to take the time off our bodies (and more importantly, brains) need to relax and rejuvenate. Scheduling in little pockets of me-time, as well as finding small ways to make necessary tasks easier, is really important.

Please comment with things you do to stay positive and present! Sorry for such a long post, this is something I'm passionate about. 

Thank you for reading,

Becky x