Slowing Down to Accomplish More

Whether or not you choose to make New Year's Resolutions - whether or not you believe that they are worthwhile - the odds are good that the ending of one year and the start of another has caused you, at least for a moment, to consider your life.  The concept of a new year is a big deal.  I've found myself wondering:

What did I accomplish in the last year?  Can I look back on the year with satisfaction?  Do I like the person I've been?  Do I want this year to be similar?  Do I want this year to be different?  And how do I go about changing things about my life that I don't think are ideal without making a resolution that's sure to fall by the wayside?

For me, thinking about these questions reminded me of a conversation I had with my sister-in-law as we drove to join the rest of the family for the Christmas weekend. I don't recall exactly what the topic of conversation originally had been, but she told me about this zen concept of using your time and being fully present in the moment - fully immersed in whatever it is you happen to be doing.  The phrase that she quoted was "do the dishes to do the dishes."

Maybe it was this conversation that planted the seed in my mind.  Maybe it was watching the way my husband accomplishes important tasks, while appearing to spend the majority of his time calmly playing computer games.  Maybe it was the latter combined with how I frantically rush around and exhaust myself to do the chores that I feel have suddenly become long overdue. Maybe it was remembering how much I was able to do, and how happy the memories of doing it, as a child.  I've decided that one of the major ways I can get more satisfaction out of life is by slowing down to accomplish more.

Now, there are hundreds of blog posts and articles floating around the web devoted to teaching people to live more calmly and with more purpose.  In a quick google search, I found a website dedicated to slowing down (http://slowdownnow.org/), a blog on how to live with "Island Perspective" (http://islandperspective.com/), and a rather beautiful page called ZenHabits (http://zenhabits.net/).

While the articles from these websites (and half dozen more that I perused) all have excellent points, I feel as though none quite helped put into words exactly the change in life approach that I've decided I need.  I wish I could condense it into some simple, catchy slogan to hang on my wall.  But I've yet to figure out how.  What I do know is this:

1.) I agree with what many of these articles and blogs have to say.  We are a culture infested with the mindset of "busy."  People who are successful are consistently portrayed in frenetic situations.  Even their relaxation is slotted into a busy schedule like an appointment.  6:00 PM, Yoga with instructor at gym.  30 minutes.  20 minute commute time, be home by 7:00 to get ready to meet friends for drinks.  Or some such nonsense. I don't need the word "busy" to define me.  I'd rather be relaxed, flexible, laid back.  Which leads me to point 2.

2.) Relaxed and laid back doesn't necessarily translate to lazy and apathetic.  I tend to veer from "I don't care" to "Panicking!  Panicking!  Nothing's ever going to be done right or on time!" back to "Meh, easier not to give a ****.  I'm going to sit here and watch t.v. instead."  All in an attempt to avoid being the frazzled, overwhelmed, busy woman with the almost-perfect hair and the pasted-on smile who's hosting the perfect party while hating everyone and wishing they'd all go away.

3.) I think that by slowing down and just doing things - really doing them right - it's possible to accomplish everything that's important and needs doing.  And I think that (unless you're really over-reaching yourself) it's likely that by relaxing and doing things in a calm manner, rather than focusing on looking and being busy, I'll find that I'm capable of accomplishing a great deal more than I thought I had time for, while feeling better about my abilities, my surroundings, others, and myself.  It sounds counter-intuitive to some degree - but that's part of why I think it should work.

I plan to learn how to slow down, enjoy life, do more, and feel more accomplished.  How about you?

http://zenhabits.net/the-10-essential-rules-for-slowing-down-and-enjoying-life-more/