Giving Yourself Permission To Slow Down

Taking the time to slow down can feel like a mental hurdle in itself. Are we even allowed to do that?! What will happen if we do? (No, the world will not fall apart around you, your kids won't die, and you won't lose your job in the next ten minutes!)

For many of us, we thrive on productivity (me!) and/or feel our day may be determined by our responsibilities, how much we accomplish, and who/what needs our attention.

Taking time out to have a meal with no distractions can feel far-fetched and even a wasteful use of our time! And for some of us with heavy burdens in the form of workloads, children or others we care for at home, keeping up with chores and errands and other commitments, our eating habits are basically an afterthought.

Did you know that all our actions stem from our beliefs? If we believe that others depend on us so heavily that we cannot take a break for ourselves, our lives will reflect that. If we believe our work is too important to walk away from for a 10-15 minute quiet meal, our lives will reflect that. If we struggle with FOMO (fear of missing out), we might feel like we cannot disconnect from social media or the news long enough to sit down to an undistracted lunch. If we believe that our lives are ultimately not as important as those of others, we may choose not to guard the time we need to build healthy habits for our own bodies and minds.

It's Your Turn!

REFLECT.

Sit with this for a moment. Are there any underlying beliefs that you can pinpoint about your life, yourself, or your worth that keep you from taking the time you need to sit and eat a meal?

Do you feel uncomfortable with silence or without something to read or distract you while eating? Get curious about what has led you to the habits you have at this point. What would happen if you let the discomfort come?

Ask yourself what beliefs you may be cultivating that are being played out in your daily habits.

Journal out anything you observe in this process. All observations are useful for growth on your journey, so be honest and gracious with yourself.