12 ways to stop and enjoy life- how to slow the rat race
How is it we can want the same thing for years and never feel like we find it?
I found an old Lenten journal of mine asking God for happiness. All I wanted was more quality time with my husband and kids. I have the same wants today. Why do I still long for the same thing over and over each year? Could it be because of life’s relentless busyness, or perhaps even though I have it, it just doesn’t feel like enough? One thing that never seems to change for me is the need for time. I write about ways to save time. I long for days where money isn’t an issue. I constantly pray for the guidance I need. Yet life just keeps hurtling forward. The cancers don’t stop, the bills keep coming, sickness happens and worries constantly arise. How are we to feel like we are really happy and doing good?
Some of the happiest moments in life have been when we escaped societal pressures. Camping trips, boating away from the world, and even Hurricane Ian when the city was dark. However, escaping seems to be increasingly harder each year. Life is so busy and cluttered.
How do we find the ever-elusive happiness that is promised to us? Is it really only for those who die in God’s good graces, or is there more to living while on Earth? I do not doubt God and his promise of eternal life. I believe with all my heart, but that is the end game. What about the middle game?
Who really cares what your credit score is or what chronic illness you have? No one. But how do we put these things behind us and slow the rat race? Me being me feels like I need to plan it.
A piece of advice for you and myself don’t get stuck in the rut of life. Write down what you are thankful for each day, no matter how small, and steal as much time as possible for yourself. The only way to change society is to stop being a part of it. Stop mindlessly scrolling through social media, endlessly watching YouTube, or obsessively checking email. Instead, focus on reclaiming your precious time from these trivial distractions. Financial burdens and poor health will always be here. Time will not.
12 ways to stop and enjoy life, slowing down the rat race.
1. Use a whiteboard to communicate things that need to be done around the house
2. Choose 1 night a week to watch TV- Only one
3. Shut the power off for one night a week and sit in candlelight playing games.
4. Set timers for social media usage to prevent excessive time consumption.
5. Limit email and social media checks to once or twice daily.
6. Read The Five Love Languages and apply what you find to each family member.
7. Seek free or inexpensive things to do weekly. They’re out there. You just have to look.
8. Never get too old for anything- remember what it was like to be a child
9. Sneak into nature- do whatever it takes to go outside at least once a week
10. Journal – It’s amazing how writing can help with clarity
11. Learn to be thankful. Gratitude is truly a gift.
12. Just say no – easier said than done.
1. Use a whiteboard to communicate things that need to be done around the house
This one has been essential to keeping our lives more organized and flowing. We put everything on it. Projects, chores, meals, and all communication about the household. Using a whiteboard will help keep you from scrolling through pages on the web looking for something to make for dinner or trying to remember little things that need to be done. It works like a big brain dump, so you have room for more important things like family time
2. Choose 1 night a week to watch TV- Only one
This one seems strict, but if you spend all your free time watching TV, are you really enjoying each other’s company? Playing a game, taking a walk, or connecting is a valuable way.
3. Shut the power off one night a week and sit in candlelight playing games.
It is amazing how quiet everything gets when the power is out. The peaceful feeling that overwhelms me is incredible. Detaching from the grid, even for a few hours, can be healing. If shutting the power off is a no-go for you. Pretend you did and enjoy the candlelight and old-fashioned entertainment. You won’t get that total silence, but you will get a much-needed slowdown.
4. Set timers for social media usage to prevent excessive time consumption.
Let’s face it social media, the news, and the internet can be a time suck. The posts and articles keep our minds in a frantic state.
5. Limit email and social media checks to once or twice daily.
We live in a world where everything happens now. There is no patience. Checking email several times a day is a time waster and causes interruptions. Most of the things that need to get done are not emergencies. We are so connected now, that people have no respect for time.
6. Read The Five Love Languages and apply what you find to each family member.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. It’s short and takes approximately five hours to read, but the information is priceless. Learning what each member of your family’s love language is, will change the way your household runs. Especially if everyone reads and participates in it. The book speaks to how each of us feels love differently. When we are full of love, we can process the distractions and hardships of life more easily. Taking the time to really truly love will slow life down.
7. Seek free or inexpensive things to do weekly. They’re out there. You just have to look.
Financial burdens are only getting harder. Being creative about how you can enjoy life can get tricky. However, picnics, camping trips, hiking trails, beaches, and parks are all ways to have fun for free. Look for concerts in the park or go out to a bar with live music and only order a dessert. Google 10 free things to do in my (hometown). You may be surprised by what you find. Don’t underestimate volunteer opportunities either. Some events need volunteers and will comp tickets for your service.
8. Sneak into nature- do whatever it takes to go outside at least once a week
Many of the ideas I listed as free fit here as well. Getting outside is essential to our mental and physical health. I read an article in the Irish Times recently. The article was written by a psychologist. The article speaks to how bad man-made noise and distractions are to our health. How we aren’t meant to be stuffed inside buildings all day or live in these massive concrete jungles. He said the man-made noise irritates our brains, causing us to be distracted, angry, depressed, and have anxiety. Nature is the only medicine. He went on the explain; that the sounds of nature have the opposite effect on our brains. I personally have noticed this about myself. I crave nature and peacefulness. Sneak into nature, it’s worth it.
9. Never get too old for anything- remember what it was like to be a child
My Grandma would tell me to never put an age limit on anything. She never wore, “old lady clothes”, or wore her hair to fit her age. She was adventurous, only her body told her what she could and could not do.
Kids skip and run around. They look at everything almost as though they are seeing it for the first time every time. They are explorers. Oftentimes, we get stuck in a rut. Dinners are the same, work commitments are the same, and activities are the same. Routines are a good thing, but not if you’re feeling restless or tired of life. Choose something you label, “too Old or too Young”, to do and do it.
10. Journal – It’s amazing how writing can help with clarity
My Lenten journal gave me the inspiration to write this post and the opportunity to reflect on my life practices. The human brain is fickle. It remembers things wrong all of the time. You forget alot of the good things in your life and tend to remember snippets of the bad more clearly. It’s a form of self-preservation, but it doesn’t always work the way it was intended. Journaling will help you remember the things in life you choose to write about. It can help you to see growth or areas you may need to work on. Sometimes, just the act of writing things down will give you the answers you are looking for.
11. Learn to be thankful. Gratitude is truly a gift.
I never realized how powerful gratitude was until I started practicing it daily. I found that just saying thank you wasn’t enough. You need to reflect on the things you are thankful for, even the little stuff. However, you also need to reflect on changes you need to make personally. Together, you will find life to be a happier place. Learn more about Gratitude: Spiritual spring cleaning! 30 Days of Gratitude- a Path to Happiness or buy our guided journal: Embracing Gratitude: The Key to Happiness.
12. Just say no – easier said than done. This is one I see everywhere, but how do you just say no to things that need to be done?
Well, first of all, there needs to be a passionate reason you are doing them in the first place. If not those should be the first to go.
Second, sometimes it’s ok the let everything fall apart. If it’s not critical let it happen. Maybe then others will see what you were really doing.
Third, take a break from volunteering or signing up for any extra work-related task. If you remove yourself from the temptation you will already be saying no to it. This is how I finally stopped saying yes to everything. I volunteered and worked for several companies over the years that burned me out. I would nearly bleed for them and got little in return. There is always someone else who can do the job.
Incorporating these practices into your life may help in finding balance, reclaiming joy, and slowing the pace of the relentless rat race.
“Personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a checklist of acquisition or achievement. Your qualifications are not your life.” —J.K. Rowling, novelist
What are things you do to take life a little slower? Leave us your answers in the comments.
As always, Thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations!
