The importance of intentionally slowing the pace

 Savoring Simple Daily Pleasures

I have several friends who thrive on being busy and jam packed all the time. Every evening has an activity, a meeting, a guest a dinner- something, and weekends are scheduled start to finish - even though much is fun and pleasurable it allows very little, if any, time to actually relax and just be. And more often that not in adequate sleep too. 

Having said that, while I have come to realize how vital "down time" is for me, "down time" is mainly productive for me, but in a gentle way. Another friend observed recently that I'm an Active relaxer, and I think that's spot on. I like to be home, to bake, read, write, tick off my housework list, meal plan, tidy, take walks, and allow quiet moments to savor the weather -calming rain, or a blue bird day. 

Enjoying and savoring the simplest of daily tasks and rituals; that first sip of coffee, putting the last of the laundry away, walking in to a fresh bedroom with the bed neatly made, smelling a bloom from the garden, petting my cats in the morning while they eagerly await their breakfast. 

One of of my most treasured moments in my week is waking up on a Saturday morning. I don't like to wake late (any time after 6.45am is getting on in my book)  but I like to wake naturally, allow myself time to fully come round and most of all to lie in bed- just for a few minutes, listening to the bird song, maybe the rain, and watch the trees moving in the breeze- or gale, or whatever mother nature has in store that day! I gather my thoughts, loosely map out the day and feel deep gratitude for all I have in my life and all there is to come. My husband and I usually then throw the bed covers back, the windows open and head down stairs for coffee and to feed the cats and have a chat before we start our respective morning fitness regimens. The girls are usually asleep and we can digest the week that was, and plan the weekend ahead. 

Other rituals I look forward to are my Friday evening bath, where once dinner is finished and cleared away and the kitchen is tidy and clean for the next day, I go up stairs, usually do a little yoga or stretching, while my bath runs, then sink into a hot deep bath with whatever salts, soaps, oils I feel like that evening, and either enjoy silence, my book, or a podcast. It seals and rewards the end of a busy week for me and shifts my mind set to weekend mode.

On a busier weekend I find I need to actively schedule in quieter moment's in order to cope and enjoy the more social or hectic elements. A full day celebrating my daughters birthday with friends out side of the home meant I kept the evening very simple and the following day a peaceful catch up day mostly at home to clean, iron, read, bake, write, walk and re set for the week.  If I don't balance the more busy and stimulating times with these more tranquil restorative moments I find my anxiety climbing and my stress level rising and a familiar and unpleasant feeling of over whelm creeping in.  

It is SO important to listen to what you need. I have recently come across the term HSP (Highly sensitive person)  across several platforms. No, this does not mean someone who blubs at advertisements and is emotionally unstable. But a person who is deeply affected by physical, emotional or social stimuli. This means we need to de compress, have time alone with our thoughts or pottering, and may find social situations very draining- even if we thoroughly enjoy them at the time. I brushed the term aside initially -not dismissing anyone who did identify with being and HSP but that I wasn't one. Turns out, I pretty much tick every box. And to a degree, that's actually very comforting and reassuring as it validates my feelings and need for tranquility, time in nature, and being home.