It feels like the world is moving at breakneck speed.

Everywhere you look, it’s about how to do more in less time. How to be faster, more efficient, how to check 27 things off your to-do list before 10 AM. But have you ever stopped to ask: Why are we so obsessed with saving time? And what exactly are we doing with all that time we save?

Scrolling on our phones watching people tell us how to save more time? 😂

My ‘Mach 10 With My Hair On Fire’ Era

I remember interviewing for my corporate design job and the recruiter told me, with complete seriousness, that the department was running at “mach 10 with their hair on fire.” And my ADHD brain was like, Okay, sounds spicy…let’s go!

Spoiler alert: I stayed at that job for five years. Then I spent another ten running a business I built from scratch. And while I’m proud of what I accomplished, the reality is… I was running at mach 10 with my hair on fire for fifteen straight years.

Eventually, my body broke down. My mental health tanked. It felt like there was a tiny motor in my chest that just wouldn’t shut off.

But because the chaos was normal, I kept going. I thought, this is just what you do.
But it’s not. And we don’t have to keep doing it this way.

So How Do You Slow Down?

Especially when you’re on the hamster wheel, everything feels urgent, and stopping feels like the whole thing might collapse?

Bite by bite, my friend. Just like eating an elephant.

Here are some small, intentional ways to start slowing down:

1. Give Yourself Some Grace

You didn’t fully create this pace alone. Our culture, especially in the U.S., tells us our worth is tied to productivity. If what you’re doing isn’t making money, it’s deemed “useless.”

That’s a freaking lie.
You are valuable simply because you exist.
It takes time (and rewiring) to untangle from a system that taught you otherwise.

2. Practice Being Intentionally Slow

Slowing down doesn’t mean quitting your job and moving to a cabin in the woods (althought that does sound nice).

It can look like:

• Not racing through the grocery store and taking time with your shopping.
  
• Sitting and savoring your morning coffee instead of chugging it on the way to your car.
  
• Chewing each bit of your food 30 times before swallowing (plus it’s a game-changer for your digestion).
  

3. Challenge Your Beliefs About Slowness

What stories are you holding about what it means to go slow?

If yours is “being slow is lazy” or “being slow is wasteful,” try reframing it to:
Being slow allows me to recharge so I can be intentional when it matters.

4. Calm Your Nervous System

That constant buzzing in your chest? That’s your body stuck in fight-or-flight.

A few ways to regulate:

• Stimulate your vagus nerve (singing and humming are great for this).
  
• Lay on the floor with your legs up the wall before bed.
  
• Take three deep belly breaths before your next task.

5. Set Tech-Free Boundaries

We do not need to be plugged in 24/7.

Before picking up your phone, ask:
What am I here for?
If it’s to check in on friends or do some quick research, great. Do that—and then close the app.

6. Build in Buffers

Back-to-back everything is burning you out.

Give yourself permission to:

• End meetings 10 minutes early
  
• Leave time between errands
  
• Actually pee and grab a snack between Zoom calls

7. Single-Task (Yes, Really)

Multitasking is a scam, and not the flex we thought it was on our old resumes. It makes us feel productive but actually fries our brains.

Try this:
Do one thing. Finish it. Then move to the next.

8. Create a Wind-Down Ritual

You don’t need a 10-step bedtime routine with moon milk and lavender mist (unless you want it!).

But a consistent cue like reading, journaling, stretching, or even working on a puzzle can help your brain shift into rest mode.

And yes, I say this as someone who sometimes finds herself scrolling gardening TikToks at midnight. We’re all human.

Give Yourself Permission to Go Slower

Pick one or two of these suggestions. Try them out. Let yourself build the muscle of slowing down.

That motor in your chest? It can quiet.
The hamster wheel? You can step off.
And guess what? Everything won’t fall apart.

In fact, your body, your mind, and your spirit might finally start to feel like they’re coming back online.

You don’t need to earn rest.
You don’t need to keep proving your worth.
Slowness can be your rebellion—and your healing.

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Want More Support?

If you’re craving more intentional living, nervous system support, or ways to simplify your business or life, check out the free What Do You Really Want Workbook. It’s a gentle guide to get clear on what actually matters to you.

And if you try one of the tips in this blog, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a comment or send me a message—I’m a real human who reads them all.