R&D: How To Slow It Down

I say this a dozen times and then don’t even really try to slow down. So my body decides to do it for me. I am well, and now dealing with a post-bronchitis cough and bronchial tube inflammation. It’s slightly ridiculous. I feel fine. My doctor is concerned about all the countries we went through in May. I did sneeze a lot through the Balkans and Greece. Hm. And now I have a corticosteroid inhaler (yes, like asthma, but not for asthma).

How to slow down?

That’s easy. (Not.)

1. A choice between good or better. Do I sit and read this book or this book? (The novel won out. Yep, back to some novels. Good ones too!) I have to remember what I’ve read that day already. How did I set my mood for the day? Frenetic or calm? If I set it up as calm, I can read the novel (which is what happened). However, if I started out my day as frenetic, I probably should take some time to be still, to stop.

2. Turning a blind eye to what I don’t need. J. Crew secret sale this week. I don’t need ONE THING, so I ignored it and updated my private LiveJournal blog for my Wedding Channel (now the LJ Crew) buddies. I only pop up once in a quarter, so it was time. I felt just as accomplished and everyone knows I’m still alive. Ha!

3. Take time to enjoy my surroundings. Todd’s been working on the backyard, much to the consternation of our backyard critters. The squirrels are upset and more so are the birds. And then we’ve inherited a cat. It has made itself quite comfortable in the backyard, drinking out of our fountain. Hm. But it’s fun to sit out there and watch the squirrels attempt to conquer the abandoned bird house and the bird screech at the cat who is too close to his wife. Ah, nature.

4. Refuse to stress about things I can’t control. Trying to figure out how to work better and smarter. It usually doesn’t work as well as I’d like, but for today, it’s enough. I think I’m winning.

Any other tips on slowing it down you can share?

The Inspired Room has a wonderful post on this very topic that I just love, plus she’s such a great decorator. I love her blog!

Tagged as: R&D, slowing down