Do you consider yourself to be the type of person who can’t sit still? If you answered yes, this blog post may benefit you. If you’re feeling burned out, overwhelmed, and stressed from constantly running around, then it may be a sign telling you to pause and slow down. 

I’m the type of person who simply cannot sit still. When I’m finished work, I’m thinking of what to do next – go to a workout class, start prepping dinner, run an errand, etc. I have to constantly be doing something, and if not, I feel unproductive with a sense of shame and guilt. I realized this isn’t a healthy mindset to improve my overall wellbeing; and I knew that I had to switch my mindset prior to having surgery. 

Being in recovery with little-to-no mobility has ultimately forced me to slow down. I have to admit that prior to surgery I was extremely anxious at the thought of having limited mobility. But, this could be a sign from the universe telling me that I need to slow down, and take advantage of having more time for myself. More time for myself allows me to do things that I didn’t have the time for prior to having surgery, such as blogging, podcasting, journaling, reading, etc. 

One thing that helped me accept this new reality of slowing down was to create a list that can help motivate me when I’m feeling unhappy. Take a look at my list below, and see if anything resonates with you.

There are so many things we can do for ourselves to keep us feeling busy and content, without having to physically strain our bodies. Incorporating tasks that serve as positive distractions will help to pass the time quickly, and will alleviate negative feelings of shame and guilt. In fact, the tasks will help to boost self-esteem and improve your overall wellbeing- helping your mind and body to heal (if you’re also in recovery). 

If you’re not in recovery but you would like to slow down, grab a piece of paper and a pen: On one side of the paper, write out a list of tasks that require you to be up and moving around. On the other side of the paper, write out a list of things you’d like to do for yourself without running around. Circle things that bring you joy, focusing on the things you don’t always have time for. Make it a goal to complete at least one positive distraction task for yourself, and see how you feel afterwards. Try this exercise out for yourself and see how slowing down can work in your favor. I hope you find the time to do something for yourself that brings you joy!