There is more to life than increasing its speed.
No time?
Acceleration has become second nature to humans, says British psychologist Guy Claxton. Our constant feeling of lack of time arises from a discrepancy between what we want in our lives and what we can realistically have.
To reduce this, we are speeding up more and more. Better time and task management. Multi-tasking on ever faster devices. Push notifications that serve us the most important things.
Socialising via social media instead of face-to-face meetings. Fast food on the go or in pressure cookers at home - after all, cooking and eating are time wasters. And finally, reducing our sleep time - after all, all great geniuses slept very little...
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The price is high...
What does this lifestyle, which we can call fast living, lead to? To a loss of presence and superficial living.
To inner restlessness, irritability, constant aggression. Lack of concentration, loss of performance and mistakes at work. Sleep disorders, exhaustion, anxiety or depression.
Physically, the constant adrenalisation leads to a predominance of the sympathetic nervous system, our accelerator pedal in the autonomic nervous system. This tension leads to heart disease, digestive disorders, skin problems and various disorders in the nervous, immune and endocrine systems.
Our system compensates for some time. And then - quite suddenly from one day to the next - it fails.
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Slow is wonderful!
Dolce Vita: Do you know the feeling of strolling through the alleyways of Italian old towns, stopping for an espresso or vino rosso and following the tempo giusto? In Provence, they call it savoir vivre.
Slow living extends to many areas of our lives at all ages:
- Slow Workless speed, more success!
- Slow Food: cook and enjoy consciously
- Slow Fitwith Yoga, QiGong, TaiQi & more...
- Slow LearningUnderstanding things in depth
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True strength and creativity arise from inner clarity. This arises from stillness and conscious presence in the present moment. Here. Now.
How to slow down - quickly
Start every day with a break
We start each day in bed with a delicious cappuccino in silence - listening to the birdsong from the garden.
Enjoy to the full
Go shopping at the best market, then cook a sexy dinner and enjoy it with loved ones in peace and gratitude.
Spend time in nature
Plan a daily walk in the forest, park, by the lake/sea or in the mountains. Leave your smartphone at home. Just you in nature.
Meditate or contemplate
Through meditation we learn to become aware without being aware of anything. Just 15 minutes a day leads to greater serenity.
What is (more) important?
That is the crucial question. If only three of your ten wishes can be realised, which seven will you give up? Do it - now!
Replace push media with pull media
Switch off ALL notifications on your mobile phone (apps) and computer. You decide when you switch on and are ready to receive notifications.
One thing at a time
Stop being distracted and concentrate on the task at hand. Multi-tasking doesn't work and makes you ill.
Breathe out consciously
This activates your parasympathetic nervous system, our inner brake. 4:5:1 >>> Breathe in for four counts, out for five and then take a short break.
Better instead of faster
The faster you become, the more susceptible you are to failure. Instead, try to get better every day. That works wonders.
Sleep at least 7 hours
Go to bed before midnight and get up with the sunrise. Important: Sleeping time is more than lying down. Seek help in case of disturbances!
Cultivate rituals
Rituals help us to pause for a moment. Prayer at the table, a small tea ceremony, daily personal hygiene. Which rituals are sacred to you?
What if...
You received the news of a terminal illness today and only had three months left? Would you continue to rush like this?
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