The Gifts in Slow Activities
here is my list of 30
In a world of rapid changes, critical challenges and a lot of stress, I want to remind us all of the value of slow activities. In this article, I will share 30 examples and the gifts they bring.
I am a former big-city woman and coach who has lived and sailed around the world for a few years now. I used to love the high speed of the city. Now, with some perspective, I can see that it brought me a lot of good stuff, but also feelings of stress and overwhelmed.
For private reasons, we had to slow down more than we had planned when we arrived in New Zealand (from Sweden). My husband had osteoarthritis and needed two new hips. Something to take care of, so we did. There was a two-year wait, with two operations three months apart and finally rehabilitation.
For me, who used to be fast, it was a time of trial to slow down even though I have been meditating for more than thirty years. I decided to accept the situation and be curious about slowness and what it could bring to my life. I am pleasantly surprised by the many gifts it brings, and now I love being slow.
30 Slow Activities
Here are 30 examples of slow activities, some I’ve used a lot and others are new ideas and options. I have grouped them; the first three are with yourself and the last with others:
· Go inward
· Learn and experience something new
· Be outdoors
· Be with others
Be Slow with Yourself — Go Inward
I want to start with slow activities that we can do on our own and that takes us inward, as that is something many people never feel they have time for. It’s about closing your eyes, looking and feeling inside. Here are some suggestions.
Meditate — find your corner or place where you take time to meditate in the morning, when you get home from work, or in the evening. Sit with your back straight, close your eyes and witness your breathing, thoughts, feelings — everything that comes up. Let them pass, like the clouds in the sky.
Reflect — this can be done in so many ways, I suggest using pen and paper instead of the computer. Research has shown that there is a connection between the hand and the brain that is very valuable. When you reflect, zoom in on a certain topic, such as your life — look at the whole from different angles and perspectives. Reflect on questions and patterns that repeat themselves.
Journal — What has been important to you today? What are you grateful for? What are you wondering about? What has been challenging? What has touched you? What has surprised you?
Write down your dreams and analyse them. Yes, be curious about what your subconscious processes for you during the night. What is the dreamer (you) doing in the dream? Are you active or passive, relevant or not? What can you learn from the dream?
Be Guided to Relaxation — by one of the vast arrays of guided meditations available today. The purpose is often to take you to your alpha state, a slower frequency level where you have more access to your intuition and creativity.
Deep breaths — lie down and breathe with your stomach. Tingling is energy!
Body Scan — if you prefer and/or long to lie down, scan your body from head to toe — listen and feel what the body wants to tell you and how it wants to be cared for. Excellent before going to sleep.
Slow bodywork — there are many versions of slow bodywork, such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, and yoga — especially the slow ones, where you hold the pose longer.
Be Slow by Learning or Experiencing Something New
Read — that thick book, on paper, that you think you will never have time to finish. Choose carefully and take the one you find most worth reading.
Draw or paint — keep going with your hands and choose the medium and colours you feel drawn to. If you were to choose a colour and shape for today, what would appear on your paper?
Or, if you want to learn the skill of drawing a human or something else so that it looks natural. It takes a lot of practice to become a master.
A photo can now be retouched, but still, compared to an oil or watercolour painting, it is often a quick activity where you capture a moment. Go slowly and try to make a drawing from the photo, and you will see the many details that are there. Or, if you want to stick with photos — pick an object to study for a longer period.
Listen to music — sit down and just listen, maybe even with headphones to make the experience bigger.
Play an instrument and/or learn a new one.
Or, use your voice and sing.
Needlework
I had a breakthrough when my in-laws were visiting us. They were long retired, but we were in the middle of our careers with a lot going on. A weekend with them revolved around food and conversation, maybe a little walk. We sat and talked quietly when I felt the stress coming on, I thought about my long to-do list. Then I realized I had some buttons to replace. I went to pick it up and found myself completely calmed by the needlework. My mother-in-law is very good at knitting, so for her, it was very natural.
Have not women in all times and parts of the world gathered to talk while at the same time doing handicrafts? Think of all the crafts a hand can make!
Be Slow with Yourself — Get Out
Nature is a perfect reminder and environment to go slowly. Forest, mountain, sea, desert including wild animals and flowers. Experience the seasons and the different elements.
Take a very slow walk — slow down to your natural speed and go as slowly as you can — like a Zen monk, notice and experience every step your feet take. Walk in wonder.
Another beautiful way I’ve learned from Byron Katie is to walk at your own pace and name what you see as you pass it. Name it as if you were God naming it for the first time — no classification, just the highest order — human, flower, car, tree, etc.
Note — sit still and alone in a place, preferably outdoors in nature, and just look ahead, note the details and immerse yourself in what is. Could be watching the sunrise or sunset, a bird table — a place you love and can come back to often.
Hug a tree — it’s special, try it.
Go out and pick wildflowers — walk slowly along the roadside or on the trail and look at the flowers and greenery. Notice what grows and how it grows. What flowers are you drawn to?
Plant something and watch it grow. Talk to and take care of your plants.
Fish.
Watch birds.
Track animals.
Study slow animals, like ants, turtles or snails — imagine you are one of them.
Build a sandcastle or a work of art that will disappear in wind, waves or rain.
Go to a perfume department and find a new scent that you fall for.
Let yourself be rocked in a hammock.
Be Slow with Others
Here are just a few examples of what we can give each other daily.
Slow food — cook slowly together with friends and family. Eat slowly and chew carefully. Enjoy some slow time together. How about a leg of lamb braised for hours, it’s delicious. Maybe with some fermented cabbage (sauerkraut), another slow process.
Thinking time in the presence of someone who listens deeply — give yourself and your partner undisturbed time to think more deeply about a topic you are thinking about. You know how easily things can start going around in circles. If you set it up as an exercise and ask your listening partner to be quiet, present and just encourage you to think, feel and talk about a chosen topic, you’ll notice how much easier it is to go deeper and even come up with new aspects and ideas. Set a specific time (up to an hour, start with less) and then switch after a break or at another time. The listening partner does not interrupt or comment on anything, just supports you in finding more of your thoughts and feelings.
Look into someone’s eyes and just be.
Give someone a long hug.
Be together.
This became a long list, and I am sure it is only the beginning. What came to your mind? What are you doing when it comes to slow activities, and why? I would love to hear your comments.
Our Resources
To summarize — the gift of being slow is that we use other parts of ourselves and therefore reach more of our resources.
The brain — the right side is engaged when we do creative activities, play music, zoom out, visualize and more. Thinking is also different — the fast one is automatic, our autopilot — the slow one is used to consciously think through (reflect) over something complex. Deep listening is a huge gift we can give each other.
The body also carries a lot of wisdom about our unique needs. For example, the muscles can give us an answer if something is supportive or not. When you hug someone, you get a lot of information right away. We also use our own energy and access how to increase it.
Breathing is a great way to get more energy and release stress.
Feelings are our great guides — feel them, and you’ll know immediately if you’re on the right path, or if there’s something to learn and adjust.
Soul connection — when we close our eyes or just listen within, we connect with our soul. We will get perfect guidance. When we look into someone else’s eyes, we connect with their souls.
The Subconscious — with deep relaxation and in dreams, we get in touch with deeper layers of ourselves, such as our intuition and creativity.
Small muscles — when we are still, we can use our many small muscles, for example in the hand.
The senses — we also turn to our senses and let them speak in our lives — each one of them gives us unique information. Using one at a time and changing now and then is a good way to recharge.
Being in the moment — playing, dancing, enjoying what is.
Thank you for taking the time to read.
Enjoy your life!
All the best from Anna
