I don’t know about you but life feels like a never-ending race these days.
There’s just so much going on and my to-do list feels endless.
It’s like you have to use every single hour of every day to get things done and even THAT’s not enough!
The world we live in glorifies moving at lightning speed but if like me, you’ve decided that doesn’t serve you anymore, here are 5 ways you can learn to finally stop rushing through your own life and start fully living it.
1. Get clear on why you feel the need to rush
Think about it for a sec…
Why do you feel the need to rush so much?
Many of us are so busy running from one thing to the next that we don’t really take the time to stop and ask why.
– Is it because all your childhood friends are “ahead” and you feel like you have to catch up to them?
– Is it because of an imaginary deadline you set for yourself 10 years ago?
– Is it because your parents want you married and with kids by x age and if you don’t do that, it means you’re a failure?
– Is it because society pressures us to always keep going for more, without ever appreciating what we have in the present?
In my case, I think the recent passing of people close to me has triggered something in me. I feel like I need to achieve as much as possible, as fast as possible because tomorrow is not guaranteed and you never know how much time you have left.
But whatever the voice in your head is that’s telling you to rush and move as fast as possible, catch it and redefine it.
Remind yourself that it’s okay to move a little slower.
At the end of the day, life is not a race (no matter how much society tries to make you think it is). It’s okay to go at your own pace.
2. Gently let go of your timeline
Look, I’ll be honest with you guys.
By now I thought I’d have my dream career and I’d be living in a big city with my besties like in the movies 😅.
I never planned for this challenging ass job market and no amount of rushing could have helped me prepare for it.
I also never expected to live so far from my best friends and feel the weight of missing them so much every day.
Still…I’m at a better place now even if it’s different from what I had in mind.
We humans like to make plans but God has the final say. So at the end of the day, take some pressure off yourself.
Accept that you may not achieve the things you want to achieve at the time you set for yourself but you’ll achieve them at the right time. Everything will make sense when that happens and you’ll see why things needed to take as long as they did.
3. It’s okay to slow down and take a break
My sister reminded me of this recently.
It goes without saying but…. it’s okay to rest.
Your goals and your dreams won’t magically disappear because you took a nap or you took one day to rest and recharge.
So next time you feel guilty for slowing down and pausing on your grind, I urge you to give yourself some grace.
Dare to take a break. Close your laptop, go out with friends, have a solo movie night at home or go to bed early for a change.
Your peace and overall wellbeing will be so much better off if you do that.
And you’ll be surprised how much more focused and aligned with your work you’ll be after taking the time to rest!
4. Learn to trust and not rush
I used to think that if I pushed myself, stayed focused and was constantly in go mode, then I would definitely reach my goals in no time.
But life post-graduation in 2024-2025 has taught me that’s not always the case.
Yes, working hard and having drive and focus is very important. But sometimes things take time for reasons that are completely outside our control or that we simply can’t understand.
Sometimes your goals will take however long they need to take to come true and no amount of effort on your end will change that. Honestly you might as well lower the pressure and relax a little.
So do something radical today.
In a world that belittles rest and going at your own pace, give yourself permission to FINALLY slow down!
Have faith and trust in God’s plan.
As long as you’re consistent, that’s all that matters. Your dreams and goals are still there, waiting for you and watching you put in the work no matter how long it takes and they’re not going anywhere.
5. Ignore the imaginary clock!
You know the one.
The clock in your head that says you have 10 mins to get ready in the morning and 10 mins to eat so you can be out the door by X time every single day.
(I’m talking to myself right now😅🤣. )
I was a lot better at this in high school honestly. But adulthood is a full-time job and with the million other things I’m juggling, I’ve accepted that I’m not always going to follow my schedule perfectly and I’m okay with that.
You’re a human being, not a robot. It’s okay if you can’t follow a strict timeline every minute of every day.
This may sound like horrible advice because there are times when you definitely need to be mindful of time but….it’s okay to ignore the clock every once in a while.
If you’re a little late or don’t get something done in time, it’s not the end of the world. You will survive.
I hope this article helped you remember that it’s okay to slow down and enjoy your life even as you work to achieve your goals. Stop putting so much pressure on yourself and just go at your own pace!
