How to Slow Down the Pace of Life (When the Rest of the World is Running) by Gina Fontaine
Parents lead very busy lives. With kids’ sporting events, school functions, business meetings, social gathering, and looming deadlines how can we ever catch a break? Recently I began working with a private client. She is a nurse and is now taking a 6 month disability leave of absence from her job. She recognized the signs of burnout and turned to me for help.
“My life feels so busy and chaotic. I can’t seem to slow down, even now when I am not working,” she explained to me. “When the rest of the world was in lockdown, I was running my tail end off every day.”
While lockdown forced most of us to surrender our previously fully scheduled life, this woman kept on going. Now the rest of the world is back up to speed and she is feeling the pressure to join the race daily. She is committed to self care for the next 6 months and slow the pace of her lifestyle.
There is a process I use to help clients hit the snooze button on the perceived urgency notifications that life hands us every day. Let’s break it down so you can begin slowing the pace of your life today.
Pause more often - If you have made it this far into the article. Congratulations! You have accomplished step 1! No, really. The fact that you are interested in this topic tells me you are ready to do things differently.
Instead of jamming each day as full as possible. Imagine planning white space on your calendar to fill in with your heart’s desire. This morning, for example, I spent a couple hours jogging at the park, doing yoga on the deck, playing with the dogs and drumming. Now, I am ready to write with a clear head and open heart.
Be Intentional - To maintain the serenity of my morning preparation, I had to turn off all the notifications on my phone and decide to delay responding to people who might be texting me. With my intention set, now, I can catch myself when I begin to stray and wander onto my social media feeds or into the kitchen for a snack.
When the feeling of flow leaves my body and mind. This might feel like irritation or stiffness in my body. These signs are indicators to move and breathe, PAUSE and find center again. I like to get up and dance, take a walk or stretch to reset. Do you have ways you reset throughout your day or do you tend to push to the finish line working even through lunch hour?
Reach Out – Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Employing the assistance of friends and family when you are overwhelmed taking care of children or hiring a coach to help you stay on track with your business are wise investments.
No one wants to appear needy or helpless. When a friend offers you help, your gracious receiving of her service is a gift to her. People love to be of service especially. It is rewarding and satisfying to give, unless you are going through your own season of loss.
When I was receiving food donations and public assistance during the early days of my divorce, I felt guilty at first. The pastor of my church assured me that I was going through a season of receiving and that my season to give again would come again.
I am happy to say that after a 5-year struggle to keep pace with society’s standards during the restructuring of my family as a single mom, I am choosing to surrender and be in my flow. I stand as a leader in the movement to do less to be more. Sure, I have had to sacrifice some material things and, yet, my life has more meaning than ever before. More importantly, I am modeling for my kids how to appreciate the simple things in life.
Life never slows down . . . until you do. It starts with a pause. Intentionally moving slower and more mindfully through each day. And reaching out for assistance when you feel overwhelmed.
Gina Fontaine, CPT is a SuperMom mentor, helping women slow the pace of life so they can catch up with themselves and model health for their children. For over 30 years Gina has been on the cutting edge of body/mind fitness. She released the book You Are a Supermom in 2021 and she lives in Denver, Colorado with her 3 children.
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