Slow January Reflections
Happy New Year! I hope you are all savoring some much-needed moments of stillness and calm as we move towards the end of the first month of 2025.
As I sit at my kitchen table with a beeswax candle burning and a steaming cup of ginger tea, I am reminded of how these intentional moments of stillness can be so healing in our modern society. The external world may try to convince us that we need to be busy all of the time, but it is the middle of winter. It is a time when animals are in hibernation, plants are resting, and the days are just barely beginning to lengthen.
Outside there is a glittering blanket of fresh, sparkly snow and clean, cold air. And I am finding myself dreaming of spring. I think that might be exactly what this season is for: taking some time for ourselves to set our intentions for the warmer months ahead. The quietness that comes with these chilly, short days allows us to focus inward and prepare for the burst of energy and growth that will come forth as Spring draws near. Perhaps that means planning our gardens, ordering new seeds, or becoming clearer on our personal goals and intentions.
One thing I would like to do more of this year is to practice the art of slowing down. It might seem counter-intuitive, but slowing down calms our nervous system and allows us to take action where it really counts. I think we might all agree that it is simply more difficult to be truly productive, in the ways that matter to us, when we are in a perpetually dysregulated state. So, what are some things we can do to slow down in life and actually feel more grounded and calm?
Below is a short list that I came up with. Some of these may resonate with you, and some may not. I invite you to come up with your own list, and if you feel inspired to share, please reply to this email!
How I plan to intentionally slow down in 2025
Focus on spending more time in community with real people, in real time. This will include hosting more live workshops (see below for details on this coming Sunday’s workshop!)
Practice being more intentional with my use of technology. For me this currently means keeping social media off of my phone. Remember the first cell phones, when there was nothing to do but make calls and texts? I got my first cell phone at 19 years of age, and it was so boring, which was such a blessing. When there is nothing on my phone to unconsciously pull me to it, I inevitably find that I use it mainly for listening to podcasts, audiobooks, or for texting people that I know. It simply becomes a tool, not an attention grabber, which helps me to remain more present in my life.
Note: When I do need to post something on social media, I post, and then re-delete the app from my phone. I can always check it when I’m at my desktop to ensure I don’t miss any messages, which feels like a good balance.
Provide more long form, thoughtful content, and less short-form content.
Tune into and become more aware of activities that feel energizing, as opposed to those that feel draining.
Slowing down while eating and creating more mindfulness around mealtimes and snacktimes.
Peace and blessings,
Valerie