Tue, Feb 7 2012

How to Get More Out of Everyday Life

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There is more to life than increasing its speed.

-Gandhi

Get Slow

Who doesn't feel as if there aren't enough hours in the day? We rush through the day, running here and there, and end up exhausted. Somehow these days full of duties, obligations and busyness have begun to build up and become our lives. We spend our time doing things we don't really want to do, yet feel we should. We've come to believe that being productive and crossing things off our to-do list is the ultimate goal.

The truth is, life on Earth is a brief gift, and our time is too precious to be used like this. If we want our lives to be balanced and healthy, we need to lessen our load and increase our down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that make our hearts sing and de-prioritizing those things that are not imperative.

If we must accomplish many things each day, we can still change the quality with which we do things. How can we transmute that sprint to the train into something delicious instead of the usual gripping and tightening experience? Where can we find ease in the midst of stress? How can we cultivate the art of going slowly?

Take a few moments before you climb out of bed in the morning to remember your dreams and to think about what you want from the day. Leave your watch on the bedside table. Take the scenic route. Sit for a moment with your eyes closed when you start your computer. Check email only twice a day. Don't pack your schedule so tightly that there's no time for a short walk. Light candles before you start to cook dinner. Add one moment here and there for slowness; it can be done simply and will have a profound effect on your well-being.

Adapted from an article by Marco Visscher & Jay Walljasper, Ode Magazine, Issue #15, www.odemagazine.com


Erica Cowart
About the author:

Erica is a Holistic Health Counselor, Model, and Freelance writer living in Las Vegas, NV. She decided to become a health counselor to fulfill her passion of working with busy Moms and career oriented women to improve their health, happiness, and family life. Erica is certified through the American Association of Drugless Practitioners, Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and SUNY Purchase College in NYC, as well as having a Bachelor’s in Biological Sciences. She leads teleclasses on nutrition and healthy shopping tours, writes holistic health articles/newsletters for her clients, and offers individual/group coaching to busy women and their families. You can schedule a free consultation with Erica through her website, ericacowartswellnessforlife.info

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