Finding the yellow light: slow living

American culture is one of hustle and bustle and this constant go go go can quickly erode the soul and tire us out making time for rest and recovery almost unheard of. Especially as college students, we are pulled in many different directions, and this can be extremely taxing. It is an art form to learn how to balance completing everything that needs to be accomplished and prioritizing time for rest. Life is more than being constantly worn out and exhausted, but it takes a journey to learn how to live a more restful life.

Slowing down can start with simple five-minute breaks between activities. This small pause can be grounding and even on the busiest of days hopefully, you can squeeze in this time to take a breath. During the fall semester, I found myself living days that felt blurred together and I couldn't tell the difference between one day or another. I was so busy that there was no time to myself. This kind of hurrying doesn't just happen when you are making plans, but when your mind isn't content with itself. When I feel the least content with myself is when I feel the most drained and tired. I am slowly learning to feel at peace about the person I am. Not wishing I was someone else or feeling shameful about my existence. I am learning to take up space and to do it with confidence. We get to live our whole lives with ourselves! We must learn to feel at home in our own skin, and through this time alone won't feel so hard.

All this to say, hurrying through my day is something I do to distract myself from well, myself. Now I understand that working on peace won’t stop all the meetings and work and classes, but maybe these events won't seem so draining. It is also important to learn when to say no. I struggle with the fear of missing out because–being completely honest–I am scared I will sink into oblivion if I am not constantly around people. My worth isn't measured in how many people know I exist or how many events I am invited to. I live a meaningful life because I am alive, not because other people validate my existence. And so do you. Your time is special because it's yours, and it's okay to spend it with yourself sometimes!

Another way to stretch out the day and slow down is to appreciate moments throughout the day instead of rushing through them. Your morning coffee (or tea), the sunrise on the way to work, or eating meals are great places to try to slow time. This appreciation for the otherwise overlooked can add to your overall satisfaction with the day. I know it might seem trivial and irrelevant to make time to enjoy drinking coffee in the morning, but this time can be a safe space for your mind to relax and prepare for the day ahead. Mindful rest is also important. It can be easy to scroll on your phone or overstimulate your mind with social media during breaks in the day, but these actions are still tiring. While the internet can be funny and beneficial, too much of it can be a problem. Some suggestions for rest periods other than your phone could be literally resting, drawing, reading a book, or even painting. These tasks take little mental effort and can be good for the soul.

In today's society, it takes a conscious fight to be able to have time to rest and mindful time alone. It is worth fighting for though because one aspect of having an abundant life is having the time to enjoy it.

I have good news! We can start right now. Take a deep breath in…..and out…..and look around. You are alive! You are loved. The time is yours. 

Strike Out,

Writer: Aubrey Anne Ross

Editor: Jane Dodge

Graphic: Stuart McGuire

Chattanooga