This past week, the concept of “slowing down” has been a reoccurring thought of mine. I often feel as though I’m too busy to breathe and just… be. I’m sure many others can say they feel the same. In our capitalist society, “hustle culture” has tainted our minds and views of what our day-to-day lives should look like.
Now don’t get me wrong, some kind of work must be put in to achieve any goal of ours. But recently I’ve seen it taken to an extreme. It feels as though we’re competing to get the most done in the shortest amount of time. Wake up, work, sleep, repeat. I’m not sure about y’all, but that doesn’t seem like much of a life to live. Slaving away for 5 days of the week, 8-9 hours a day, leaving only 2 days to recuperate and do it all over again. We are more than this. We are more than the amount of work we do or how busy we are. This is leaving many of our youth and society exhausted, burned out, stressed, and feeling unfulfilled.
It’s been ingrained in us to think that for us to be able to relax, a strenuous amount of work needs to be done first. If you haven’t heard it anywhere else, I’ll be the first to tell you that that is false. Before our careers, work, or money, we are people first. It’s a given right to exist and live a life that’s not motivated by money or a career.
When you step away from the daily hustle and bustle of the world, you realize that the world we live in is truly beautiful. Take the time to reconnect with nature, and in turn, connect with yourself. We often take for granted our environment that functions for our benefit. The trees that provide us with oxygen, the crops that bear our fruits, and the sun that serves as a natural anti-depressant.
So for this week, I challenge you to just exist. Whether that be indoors, or surrounded by nature, do whatever feels right for you. Sit outside and read. Meditate. Listen to your favorite playlist. Or do nothing at all and just lay in bed. It’s up to you. But take some time for yourself to regroup and slow down. It’s necessary for us all.
Granted, many of these things can be seen as a privilege. I understand not everyone can afford a self-care day or a moment to slow down. But when given the opportunity to relax, do your best to advocate for yourself and have some alone time.
This also brings up the point of knowing your body. As operators of our vessel, it’s your responsibility to be in tune with yourself. How does your body feel when you’re exhausted? Do you know when your body is telling you to slow down? Being able to understand when your body is telling you to wind down is key and all a part of living a more intuitive life.