How a 'Slow Morning' Can Calm the Chaos
By Sandy Schroeder
Something interesting is going on in the midst of our ever present 24/7 lifestyle. A lot of people are reacting to hectic over-scheduled days with something new called a "slow morning."
They get up early to actually breathe a little and remember who they are. They spend the first part of their day in complete quiet. Often their families are still sleeping.
This is their time to use anyway they choose.
The Wall Street Journal said fans of the "slow morning" say it creates a new base for productivity, relaxation and focused sharpness that plays through the whole day.
All sorts of people, from artists to business leaders to parents who work at home, are using this approach to reduce stress and gain control of a turbulent world.
People using slow mornings may just sit and contemplate the day, go for a run, bounce on a trampoline, work on special projects, or plan their day. It is their time to do what makes their day work.
Norwegian founder of the World Institute of Slowness, Geir Berthelsen, says intentionally starting the day with slowness can spark creativity: "Business leaders need to take time to forget about time, which helps them be creative when they arrive at work. That's the goal of doing this before going into the workplace."
If you think about it, many of us have been doing this in other ways when we take the afternoon off or head out for a weekend getaway. You may have your own special time off formula for decompressing. Most of us are just trying to establish a clear space where the mind gets to do whatever it wants as we slow down. When that works, we come back to the office ready to work with new ideas.
Making this a daily staple with some early morning solitude may be even more effective. Free time to "just be" may make our days a whole lot more effective and focused. If the idea appeals to you, take it out for a test.
- Get up an hour early to do whatever you wish
- Enjoy the quiet as you plan the day ahead
- Let your mind drift as you listen to music or exercise
- Keep a notepad nearby to jot down ideas
- Do something you have wanted to do but never found time to do
- See how it feels later when you work through your day
Slow mornings, afternoons off or weekend getaways are real opportunities to shed stress, blow off steam, and keep our balance. Use them whenever you can.
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