a special feature from Kay Ziplow & Leslie Zinberg, Founders
Our parents warned us about it, but it’s hard to understand until you experience it firsthand: as you get older, time seems to fly. It catches you off guard, probably because it’s such a powerful and bizarre concept. You can’t add more time to the clock, but by understanding how this phenomenon works, you can at least try to make life seem like it’s passing by a little slower.
So, how can we slow down time? A quick and easy first way to do so is to put down your phones and limit time on social media. Get outside with your grandkids or take a long walk in the fresh air with a friend!
Here are 4 ways to help you slow down that ticking clock!
Structure your days
Many of us are still struggling to re-create consistent routines. The increasing use of hybrid schedules has bled into all waking hours. It can easily feel as if we’re never really off the clock. Structured days calm our internal pacemaker because they’re more predictable. While you’re at it, give your to-do list a curfew- the time each day when you will set it aside until the next day. You’ll buy back a little free time to do what you want and feel more in control.
Think Big Picture
Often, we’re lost in the minutia of our days- food shopping, helping with family schedules and school drop offs if we are close by, work deadlines, cooking, planning, cleaning, and the list goes on and on. Only thinking in this tunnel vision mindset about ‘what you have to do’ can make time appear to fly, by reaching our daily goals. That being said, take your mindset a bit further- think about other situations or possibilities to your day or week and It will help to broaden yourself. Take the act of planning a vacation as an example. If you focus on all the small tasks that need to be done, you’ll most likely feel time-crunched and stressed. Widening your focus and thinking about how lovely the trip will be will help your internal clock slow down because it helps you see your purpose behind your actions.
Give Away Time
It might sound counterintuitive, but research shows that giving time to others makes us feel as if we have more time. Doing so boosts our confidence and efficiency. So, stop what you’re doing and really listen next time your partner is talking. Try sending a text to someone who may need a kind word – or you haven’t spoken to in a long time. Reach out and spread a little bit of you.
Reach for Awe
Awe is the emotional response to something vast that expands the way we see the world. It’s the opposite of feeling rushed, narrowly focused and overwhelmed. It can enhance our well-being and make time feel more plentiful. You can feel awe in plenty of situations: nature, music, a spiritual experience. Even the tree outside your window or that beautiful flower in your garden can inspire awe…if you pay attention. So can your relationships. (Ever watch a baby take their first steps?) A little goes a long way: research on awe and well-being shows that even 10 minutes a day helps. And…remember, to breathe…
