I am currently sitting in one of my favorite coffee shops, slowing down my morning routine slowly sipping on a hot cup of coffee as I look up academic research papers about time management. Don’t judge me. I know it’s nearly summer, but I consider iced coffee a drink for a refreshing afternoon break. Mornings are for hot coffee. Just coffee, creamer, and maybe a little raw sugar or spice when I’m feeling extra frisky.
The music is upbeat. The company is inspiring. My mind feels relaxed. Too relaxed. Have I actually been doing something useful or am I just goofing off? Immediately, I think of all the things I should be doing to remain productive and my brain panics for a moment as it searches for that comfortable fight or flight mode and reaches for the soft landing I’ve spent months teaching myself.
I hesitate, and give myself permission to breathe. Never forget to breathe. Even while I’m fidgeting and my mind is running through the to-do list of tasks that aren’t even scheduled for this week, my mind takes that one last lunge and jumps before settling back to what I am focused on. It’s not something you would notice in passing. Eventually, I hope this part of the process becomes a thing of the past.
Although I am writing notes and have a lot of brand new ideas that can expand over the next weeks and months about relaxation, slow living, and saying no to frustrated hustling and busyness, I am so used to that adrenaline rush of productivity and the hurry-it-up society that I immediately feel lazy when I am at my most productive. Once I let my mind and body finally relax and focus I accomplished more in one hour over the cup of coffee and notebook than I would have if I had chained myself to my laptop first thing in the morning.
The fact that this is considered some kind of coffee house writer’s fantasy instead of reality tells us a lot about why we have become so stressed and overly stimulated. We feel like we’re on a constant treadmill of life, always moving forward, yet never reaching a worthwhile destination. We have become convinced there will never be enough time.
When was the last time you went on a vacation? A real vacation. Not the kind that has a minute by minute agenda. Or, when did you last have a weekend all to yourself? A weekend where you didn’t spend all your time running errands. Think about it. Remember to Breathe. Picture it in your mind. Do you remember that feeling of ease? That time when you ate better, had more exercise in a few days than you had in the last year, or that day when you got so much done, yet still had time to rest?
Did you notice how time slowed down? It wasn’t a never ending pattern of time that rushed past without any meaning. There was time to savor the moments throughout the day. You made real connections. Tasted each bite of your food without rushing. Maybe you even saw the sunset for the first time in years. You probably told yourself, “I need to do this again” and yet…
What happened? You still have the same 24 hours. Yet, you feel like nothing’s getting done. You’re constantly burnt out and even when you sleep you wake up tired. That’s because we were never meant to live in this mindset of hurry. You know it. That’s why you’re reading this.
So, what are we going to do about it? Again, Breathe. Don’t rush forward yet. Just Breathe. Next pick a weekend, a day, an hour. Any moment of time to just exist. No rushing. I’m not saying you don’t need to do anything, but be a little more mindful with your pace. Enjoy slower moments. Drink your coffee before starting your work for the day. Try it this weekend. Let me know how much actually gets done when you slow down a little.
Slowing down isn’t about doing less. It’s focusing on the right things first. Tiny Tasks helps clear the mental load with appointments, menu prep, event planning, and getting rid of that paperwork pile, so you can get more of your time back for yourself. When you’re ready to make this part of your ritual Cozy Coffee Notes lands in your inbox every Thursday.
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