Pause, contemplate and enjoy the moment
RESISTING UNNECESSARY SPEED
We have programmed ourselves to decide and act quickly, without wasting a single minute, and we have turned this ability to do many things in the shortest possible time, or to make quick decisions that often produce effects we neither imagined nor wanted, into a virtue. It seems that slowness is incompatible with the need to be productive, decisive and capable in our daily lives. And yet, no organ in our body is designed to perform its tasks in less time than it needs. We think that 5 hours of sleep are enough when the body needs 8, or that 10 minutes are enough to have lunch and recharge, when a meal requires at least 40 minutes to be properly absorbed and minimally enjoyed. A quick shower after jumping out of bed and before rushing off to work while chewing the last bite of toast is the best way to start yet another day of stress and exhaustion. Wellbeing is a matter of time, and if there were one thing worth treasuring, it would be time. We need time to do fewer things and do them better. Pausing, relaxing and contemplating are the fundamental principles of any physical and mental wellbeing practice, whether yoga, mindfulness, a good massage or time spent talking with friends. Is there a way to resist unnecessary speed in order to treasure a little of that precious time?
TIME TO DREAM
Unless you normally sleep between 7 and 8 hours every day, you need to give sleep one more hour. Any other evening task that inevitably delays the time you go to rest is not worth as much as the benefits the body receives from one extra hour of sleep. There are many studies indicating that one of the activities that consumes the most time in the hours before going to bed is replying to emails, browsing social media or watching TV series. Stealing an hour from sleep to watch the next episode of a zombie series is like deliberately putting a stone in your shoe. It is true that those final hours of the day are often used to tackle some pending task, such as ironing, putting on a washing machine or writing in a journal. But it is better to wear a wrinkled shirt, use the towel one more day or leave the journal blank than to bargain away time from the essential task of sleeping. There comes an hour when it is essential to stop, relax and surrender to sleep. It is a matter of health, and the best remedy against inflammation and premature ageing. A good habit is to have a small care ritual before night-time rest: a short hot shower and a light massage with a good scented oil, depending on the desire of the moment. It is a way to pause, relax and shake off the rush of the day.
TIME TO THINK
What matters most about a lighthouse is not so much the light as the intervals of darkness. It is not possible to be ON all the time and expect to reason clearly, make the right decisions, or know what to do or say at every moment. Immediacy dominates everything, but it is a trap. Replying to messages instantly, accepting or rejecting something on the spot… It seems as though people who need a little time to decide something have a problem with mental agility or lack judgement. We are as pressured by immediacy as commuters on the Tokyo metro at rush hour. It is essential to train ourselves once again in the habit of taking time to think, which is nothing more than allowing the emotions of the moment to pass so that the mind can recover its serenity. Taking a minute before reacting to something that irritates us, giving ourselves an hour before replying to a message that angers us, and taking the weekend to accept or reject a project that could change our life. This practice of pausing in order to think better is an art anyone can begin to learn. All it takes is a voluntary pause of 30 or 60 seconds, whatever we are doing, and simply doing absolutely nothing, looking at a light, a plant or a picture on the wall. If we do this several times a day, it only takes a few minutes, but the brain becomes used to responding instead of reacting.
TIME TO BREATHE
Fortunately, we do not have to think about breathing in the same way we think about going for a run every day or brushing our teeth. It is only when we have a respiratory problem that we become aware of our breathing and realise that living means breathing. There are countless disciplines for exercising any muscle in the body, but the healthiest practices for the body are those that train breathing and movement as a whole. And the most suitable practices for the mind and spirit are those that place all attention on the breath; this is the basis of meditation. But there is no need to sit in the lotus position or try to achieve the stillness of a Zen monk. It is enough to spend a moment listening to your own breathing, observing how inhalation and exhalation happen. This can be done when going to bed, and it helps you sleep. It can also be done upon waking, breathing deeply to feel that we are still alive and to be grateful for it. One of the most powerful wellbeing practices is controlled breathing exercise, a practice that is like true gymnastics for the entire respiratory system, including all the muscles involved in the process. It is probably one of the best possible forms of training to gain energy, mental clarity and serenity.