Slow Down to Catch Up: Finding Joy in a Busy World
Another year begins, and as many Americans make resolutions—losing weight, exercising more, saving money, taking more time off, reading more—the list goes on, yet we remain dumbfounded as to why these goals just don’t stick. Statistics show that between 80% and 88% of all resolutions fail, and still, most of us long for some sort of change. Is it an overly ambitious goal, a lack of planning, a lack of motivation, or simply a lack of time?
For many, it’s the lack of time that keeps us from even planning moments of joy. How many times have we said, or heard someone say, “Where does the time go?”, “I don’t have time for that,” “I’ll have time this weekend,” or even, “I’ll have time when I retire”? There are many issues dividing our world today, but one thing we all agree on is that time is precious—and how we choose to use it is up to us.
Yes, there are only 24 hours in a day and 168 hours in a week, yet somehow we still struggle to find time to simply relax. One survey found that nearly one-third of Americans haven’t had a chance to relax in more than three months. That thought is staggering.
This year, instead of making resolutions that are nearly impossible to maintain, challenge yourself to reclaim more time for intentional rest. Let go of the busyness of the world around you. Give yourself time to just be—time to live in the moment with no agenda. It sounds easy, but the truth is that most of us simply don’t know how to relax.
In the book Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy, author Matthew Kelly reflects on the wonder of time and how to become the best version of yourself by learning to truly relax for a full 24 hours each week. Doesn’t that sound nice? Imagine having time to visit the friend or relative you haven’t seen, pick up the book sitting on your nightstand, or take an early morning hike to catch the sunrise.
Taking a full 24 hours, one day a week, may seem impossible, but studies show that when a person fully disengages from the busyness around them, they become significantly more productive during the other six days.
By allowing ourselves to be present and to care for ourselves, we rediscover the magic of precious time. At first, it’s difficult to put the phone down, turn off the TV, stop thinking about housework or chores, and simply unwind. But by intentionally creating time for family, friends, faith, or simply stillness, we may be surprised at the joy we gain—and how much anxiety and distraction we lose—when we begin to spend our time in the ways that truly matter.
