How to Slow Down – A Guide for Type A Personalities

I’ve always been an action taker. I decide what I want, then I proceed to make detailed lists, action steps, and to-do lists.

Can you relate to this?

This way of being has got me far in life, I won’t lie. However, sometimes it gets in the way of me enjoying the things that are most important to me–my family, my friends and my health. It also means I am so future-focused that I never take the time to appreciate the things I have already accomplished . So here’s how I am making myself slow down–starting today–and maybe it will benefit you too (I’m looking at you type A personalities).

Start the day with meditation

This sets the tone of creating space for mindfulness throughout the day. Meditation enhances your focus, reduces stress, sharpens your thinking, and has a host of other physical and cognitive benefits. It doesn’t have to be super long either–I do 15 minutes and that is plenty. In fact, studies show that doing more than 15-20 minutes of meditation has little additional benefit.

If you’ve always felt like meditation isn’t for you, is too hard, or you just don’t know how, I encourage you to try the free 12-day meditation course from 1 Giant Mind. I could never stick to a meditation habit until I did this course. Once you learn how to meditate, the benefits it brings will enhance your life ten-fold.

Do one thing at a time

This is super hard for me, but doing one thing at a time actually makes us more focused, and allows us to be more productive. Studies show that in fact, when we think we are multitasking, we are actually just quickly moving from one task to the next. This not only makes us less productive, but actually conditions our brains toward distraction. Commit to doing one thing at a time and I promise you, you’ll get more done without feeling flustered.

Find little moments of mindfulness throughout the day

Find a few moments where you are completely immersed in the present and engaging all your senses. An example is while having your morning coffee, notice the sensation of the liquid on your tongue, the complexity of flavours, and the smell of the coffee beans.

Another example is while doing the dishes, notice the feeling of the foamy liquid on your hands, really notice the colour and patterns of the plate, listen to the sound of the running water . These are both great examples of how to invite mindfulness into our lives throughout the day.

Let yourself be bored

This will definitely be a challenge for me–but I love a good challenge!

Carve out one slot in your day to do absolutely nothing–no tv, no reading, writing, music, etc–just you and your thoughts in the stillness. Studies show that boredom breeds creativity. So filling your day with endless to-do lists is actually hurting–not helping–your ability to create more. You can start with just 5 minutes a day, and who knows, maybe you will enjoy it so much you start allowing yourself to be bored for 30 minutes. Try it and see what works for you.

Decide when you will finish working each day, and stick to it

Sometimes I get carried away when I start working on a new project. I get so excited that I allow myself to keep working sometimes right up until bedtime. This affects my sleep quality because I find myself thinking about it as I try to fall asleep. So, decide when you will finish working and stick to it. Put your phone/laptop in another room if you have to. Make it a rule and don’t break it.

Create a bedtime routine

This brings me to my final tip–create a simple bedtime routine that you will enjoy following each night. When we were kids, we had a bedtime routine and it worked great for us right? Why do we think that because we are grown up we no longer need it? Humans need structure, routine, and ritual. Creating a simple routine that you can stick to will actually create a signal in your brain that it is time for bed. This will improve your sleep quality and improve your focus and creativity. Your bedtime routine doesn’t have to be long either. It can be as simple as having a cup of tea while reading a book. Do what works for you.

These are the tips I am committing to from today. Will you try them with me? Be sure to let me know if you do.

More By Crystal Nicholls:

How to Create Boundaries As Part of Self-Care

3 Hidden Signs of Burnout in Performers