Do you struggle to slow down? Read on!

This can be a common experience in our face-paced world where we are expected to be “on” all of the time, and contactable at all times. But this way of being really is not serving us, both on a personal level and a collective level. 

Read on to see some of my favourite, simple techniques to slow down after the fullness of the day.

1-5 mins of conscious breathing

Find a comfortable seat, close your eyes, and place one hand on your heart, the other over your belly.

Draw a deep breath in through your nose, feeling your entire torso expand, and a long smooth exhale through your nose, feel your torso contract. Continue in this rhythm for as long as feels comfortable. If you can, allow the exhale to be slightly longer than your inhale, to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. 

Legs up the wall

Find yourself a wall space (or the side of the bed or couch!). Gently swing your legs up the wall, find a comfortable position for your arms to rest. Close your eyes and connect with the natural rhythm of your breath. Remain here for around 5 minutes (longer if you have it available!). 

Legs up the wall is a beautiful way to calm your nervous system, cool your body down, nourish your digestive system, move the lymphatic system and blood, and so much more! It is a must do every evening before bed (if you ask me!).

Dharana (concentration)

Close your eyes and bring your internal focus to your third eye (between the brows). You might see colours, shapes, images – or you might not see anything at all. Use this opportunity to drop into presence. Stay here for as long as feels comfortable for you. 

Create more space between the external output vs your response

Create more space between a task/experience/interaction and your response. This could be in conversation, in a particular task that you might need to complete, it could be in making a decision – or pretty much anything! Creating that space will allow you to respond in a more calm and grounded manner, rather than moving from impulse or obligation. 

Put things into perspective

If you lean more towards feelings of stress, anxiety and overwhelm, this could be a game changer for you! Be honest with yourself and zoom out a little – is this thing going to matter in a year from now? Is this thing actually urgent? Does this decision actually need me to be stressed and ruminating over it? Do I actually need to do this thing right now, or can it wait until later? By putting things into perspective, it will allow us to move from a more calm and grounded state at a steady pace, rather than rushing, forcing and stressing our way there.