Don’t Hurry

I have been aware for quite some time that the pressure to hurry through every activity is overwhelming today. This “hurry up” attitude puts an extra layer of stress onto everything and everybody; it permeates all parts of society.

It should be obvious that this pressure to hurry has been increased due to the internet, text messages, emails, and the increased speed of just about every form of communication, except for traditional United States Mail. It is so easy to go on the internet at home or on our phones, delete an email in a second, or click through purchases – or people- we don’t find particularly attractive. I have been watching how this attitude affects our relationships, and everything else that we do.

In the distant past – that’s about ten years ago these days – I rushed through things I labeled as unpleasant, or bad. I would definitely put final exams in law school in that category, or some visits to the dentist, or certain social obligations with people I wasn’t all that fond of.

All that has changed today. When I started to observe the things I was rushing through, I noticed there were almost no exceptions. I observed I was less likely to rush when the activity did not involve another person; I had more control over the time spent. I decided to stop hurrying, and start enjoying the moments of almost every activity. Here are some things you can do to slow down, and not hurry through everything:

1. Take a few breaths and relax. Look around and appreciate what you have right now. If you can, watch an animal go through any activity and just observe.
2. Write down six things missing in your life you think you need to be happy.
3. For each thing missing, try and write a few sentences on why you need it.
4. If you can’t explain why you need any one thing, cross it off your list; you will probably be left with two or three items.
5. Consider that though these items may still be important, you might be deluding yourself; once you achieve these items a whole new set of “needs” will surface.
6. Realize that even if those remaining items are important to your happiness, there is no reason to sacrifice your present happiness or peace of mind to achieve them.
7. Give yourself permission to just slow down and enjoy your life. It is as simple as that.

Try these steps if you like, and see if you can’t savor more of your present moments