Why Does Slowing Down Feel So Hard?
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And Why It Might Be Exactly What You Need Most Right Now
Be honest, when was the last time you truly slowed down? Like, really slowed down. Not the “five minutes before bed scrolling through your phone” kind of break, but a genuine, soul-deep exhale where you let yourself simply be.
If that question makes you squirm a little, you’re not alone.
“Slowing down” sounds so peaceful in theory… until you actually try it. That’s when all the mental chatter kicks in: the grocery list, the laundry, the emails, the guilt. The moment you stop moving, your mind reminds you of every single thing you should be doing instead.
Here’s the truth — slowing down isn’t hard and doesn’t make you lazy. It feels hard because you’ve been taught to move fast. It’s the pace we’ve all been sold into believing we need to approach life at. We live in a culture that applauds busyness. We’re rewarded for checking boxes, for staying productive, for pushing through exhaustion. Somewhere along the way, we confused constant motion with meaning and now, rest feels foreign.
The Myth of “Productive Happiness”
We’ve been told that happiness comes after we’ve done enough. After the inbox is cleared. After the house is spotless. After we’ve hit that next goal.
But joy isn’t waiting for you at the end of your to-do list. It’s woven into the quiet moments you’ve been too busy to notice — the warmth of your morning coffee, the way sunlight hits your kitchen table, the sound of laughter in another room.
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that rest has to be earned. That stillness is indulgent. But here’s the secret: those peaceful moments you crave? They’re not luxuries — they’re lifelines. We are meant to experience them a lot more often than we do.
You don’t need a week long retreat or a mountain cabin to slow down. You just need to give yourself permission to fully be present in the moment you’re already in.
A Wake-Up Call (Literally)
A few years ago, a friend of mine was running on fumes — juggling work deadlines, family schedules, and a mental checklist that never seemed to shrink for her. All relatable and something most of us could understand. Every day felt like a race she couldn’t win.
Then one morning, in her usual rush, she spilled her entire cup of coffee across her open planner. All the color-coded week — meetings, reminders, notes — completely gone.
For a moment, she panicked. She started to cry, then surprisingly, laughed.
In that messy, coffee-stained moment, she did something unthinkable for her at the time: she took the day off. No rescheduling, no catching up — just off. According to her, it was the best day she had in a very long time.
She walked. She napped. Watched the clouds move. And by evening, she felt something she hadn’t felt in months. A sense of calm and recharge. It was an eye-opener to her the day-to-day life she was living needed to change more than she realized. Not just for her well-being, but her entire family.
That day reminded her slowing down isn’t about doing less; it’s about feeling more.
What Happens When You Slow Down
When you allow yourself to slow your pace, something beautiful happens. The noise quiets. The tension softens. Your senses start to wake back up.
You notice the scent of your tea. The sound of birds outside. The rhythm of your own breath. You remember what it feels like to actually be in your life — not just move through it.
It’s almost like coming home to yourself.
Try This: The “Still Hour” Practice
Start small. Pick just one hour each week — your “still hour.”
During that time, do something that nourishes you without multitasking or distraction. Take a walk and actually listen to the crunch of leaves. Sit with a cup of tea and watch the steam rise. Read something that fills your mind instead of drains it.
At first, it might feel uncomfortable or even boring. Your mind will want to wander or find something “useful” to do. But stay with it. Peace takes practice.
The more you honor that quiet space, the more natural it becomes to carry that calm into the rest of your week.
How to Add Slowness Back Into Busy Days
You don’t have to overhaul your life to feel more grounded. Start by adding small moments of intentional pause. Little anchors that remind you to breathe.
Say no (kindly but firmly). Every “no” to something unnecessary is a “yes” to your peace and gives you ownership back on your time.
Replace scroll time with soul time. Swap ten minutes of social media for journaling, stretching, or sitting in stillness.
Create small rituals. Light a candle before you work. Sip your coffee outside. Write one line of gratitude before bed. Tiny rituals build big calm.
Check in with your body. Notice when you’re clenching your jaw or holding your breath. That’s your cue to pause.
Slowing down isn’t about abandoning your responsibilities. It’s about approaching them with more clarity and intention. It’s about being in rhythm with your own life instead of racing against it.
A Gentle Reminder
You are allowed to rest before you’re tired.
You are allowed to pause before you’re burned out.
You are allowed to choose peace without needing to justify it.
When you slow down, you don’t fall behind. You give yourself a chance to come back to yourself.
And maybe that’s the most important destination of all. Getting back to ourselves.
With warmth and inspiration,
Cottage Craft Studio
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