Week 5
TIME
For Thursday Thoughts this week, let’s consider something that some of you might have found yourself with a lot of recently – time. Without social arrangements, theatre trips, lunch meetings or dinner dates, you might feel that you have less to fill your time with. You might even be looking to ‘kill time’. Or, conversely, you may be busier than ever with multiple demands coming your way. So, today is about embracing stillness and slowness, and learning to fully embrace the time that we have, as well avoiding falling into the trap of ‘over-filling’ our time.
Daniel Kahneman has outlined that we have two modes of thought – ‘System 1’ which is fast, instinctive and emotional thinking, and ‘System 2’ which is a slower, effortful, more deliberative, conscious, and logical type of thinking. It is the slower process that allows us to regulate our emotions and respond more appropriately to situations.
So how can we apply this ‘slowness’ to our lives and embrace time?
“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” – Eddie Cantor
1.
Today, take some time to do absolutely nothing. Sit somewhere quiet and comfortable and just be with your thoughts. Have no purpose or intention, just follow your mind and where it takes you. And if you feel bored – embrace it! Indulge in stillness and doing nothing..
10 minutes+
2.
This passage by Leo Babauta encompasses what slowness and embracing time really means, and why it is important:
“A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you’re doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with — instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them.
Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness.”
1 minute
3.
This TED Talk by Carl Honoré is a really interesting watch. A fantastic outline on why we should slow down.
20 minutes+
4.
Bonus resource! The ‘Slow Movement’ has now extended to television and radio. If you are interested, have a listen to BBC Radio 3’s ‘Slow Radio’.
30 minutes