Slowing down time is a wonderful habit to develop.  We all get 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, 365 days in a year.  We all get the same deal. Only we don’t know how many of those days we get.

My grandmother is 99.  She is lively, walks every day and still tries to cheat at cards.  (We don’t let her.  That would be disrespectful.  And we wouldn’t share nearly as much laughter.)  Our Auntie Evelyn, Gram’s younger sister, died in her 50’s.  She was slim and danced and was full of energy.  Until she wasn’t.  She has been sorely missed for many years.   We just never know.   The question we each have to ask ourselves periodically is, “If I were to die today, have I spent enough of my time doing what truly matters to me?”

In our very speeded up world, busyness fills precious hours and steals away our energy and focus without our realizing it.   We must wake ourselves to this modern thievery if we want to look back on our lives with satisfaction and contentment.

In my studies over the years on happiness, authenticity and brain function I have found two much repeated conclusions:  1) our deepest happiness is gained by moving toward our long-term goals and 2) to perform at our peak, we need the balancing power that active leisure brings us.   In order to do either of these activities we must slow down.  Successful, satisfied people slow down enough to do what is important to them.   You can too.

2 Questions and 1 exercise to help you Slow Down Time 

1.  How much time would you estimate you spend doing unsatisfying activities?  Or worthy activities that are not aligned with your goals?    Keep a log of the time you spend on these activities for one week.  Add it up at the end of the week.

2. If you knew you would be more content and come closer to fulfilling your purpose if you let go of these activities, would you do it?

For Next Week

Ask yourself,  “If I substituted an activity directly aligned with my purpose, what could I accomplish in 1 year?   In 4 years?   In my lifetime?”

Start by giving up one activity not aligned with your purpose and replacing it with 1 new activity that will take you one step closer to fulfilling your purpose.  Be specific,  define the activity toward your long-term goal in  small steps and schedule the first few steps in your calendar now. Schedule the next few steps every week.  Keep these appointments for one month and see how much you miss that old activity and how you feel about what you are doing now.  You may surprise yourself and those around you.