There is so much that the pandemic lockdown of 2020 taught us. We all suddenly realised how it was possible to be self-reliant without expecting others to do all our work for us. We realised that it was possible to live perfectly happy and complete lives with a lot less – there is so much that we do and own that is actually superfluous. Many of us simply got to know and appreciate our own family in ways we never had before. Most of all, the lockdown showed us how it is possible, and even desirable, to live life at a different, slower, relaxed pace.
Why slowing down is important
In a place like Mumbai, the frenetic pace of life is a given. The lockdown forced us to think of a different way of life. More relaxed and less hurried. We could hear the birds instead of the traffic, didn’t have to live our lives by the clock. This gave us a perspective and showed us a different way to live life. While yoga does teach us to be physically still, to become calm and strive for inner peace, this was a time when most of us got a crash course in slowing down. Suddenly we didn’t have to rush to places, worry about battling the hordes and the traffic. We had been given the gift of time and we found out about the delights of slowing down.
Slowing down means there is less stress, anger and angst in life, and more time for relaxation. Lower stress is associated with better heart health, better digestion and healthier body weight. Slowing down also means doing things mindfully and living more completely in the present moment. It means taking the time to listen to the birds or simply enjoying the sight of the sunrise or the tree outside the window or enjoying the cool evening breeze. It means eating with greater appreciation and awareness of the flavours, the aromas and the feeling of satiety that this brings. It means taking more time to cuddle with a child or play with a pet.
Slowing gives us the time and ability to be calmer and more patient. We understand that we don’t have to be rushing around doing things and being busy every minute of the day to feel productive or happy.
How to slow down
Firstly we need to remove the negative connotation of slowing down. We have to stop seeing it as laziness, aimlessness, aging, or a lack of drive and ambition. Make it a point to do nothing for some time each day. Maybe you can simply sit looking out of the window in the morning or gaze at the night sky, watch the waves or simply lie still with some favourite music on.
You can do yoga and pranayama without letting your mind race thinking of the hundred things you need to do. Be present, commit to the moment in all that you do. I read this somewhere: “Meditate for 20 minutes a day unless you are too busy; then you should sit for an hour” and it makes so much sense.
Actually we have seen the template of life in ‘slow-mo’ during the lockdown. We saw how so much of our life was consumed by the unnecessary and the excessive. We realised there were many things we want but very few that we actually need. So, to slow down, we need to take stock of life and honestly examine the actions and the objects that are actually necessary, and whether they are productive or make us happy.
Decluttering also helps. Donate furniture, clothes, vessels, books, furnishings that you don’t need. Less physical clutter also means less mental clutter. Find your own ways to slow down. Once you do, you will realise the merits of this yourself.