How to “Slow Down Time”
- Rayka Service
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
As I reflect on my childhood years, I feel as though I am rich in an abundance of memories and moments. Christmases felt like ages away, and high school seemed like a brother to aspiration and a stranger to reality. But if you asked me about last month, I couldn’t tell you much. Maybe… The one time I went grocery shopping, but that isn’t all that interesting. As each year slides by, I find myself loosening my grip on time. A year feels like a month, and a week feels like a day. Recently, the terms like “child-like wonder” and “whimsy” have been at the forefront of social media. Posts of decades-old digital camera photos are accompanied by recordings of morning doves and captioned with aching phrases like, “Take me back to simpler times.” It's clear I’m not alone in this desire to be more present, but is this wish truly unattainable?
Well, it depends on who you ask. Teens and adults would say no, but many therapists adamantly disagree.
According to licensed therapist, Greg Bogner, being present is “a practice” and “ just like an exercise for your body, there are lots of ways that you can build this mental ‘muscle’”. There are tons of grounding techniques you can use to keep yourself bound to the moment. From counting down to breathing exercises, here are some unique and simple ways to reintroduce yourself to the novelty of life’s happenings:
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method
As the name leaves very little to the imagination, the method works through a countdown of each of your senses. First, acknowledge 5 things you can see in your surroundings. Followed by you noticing 4 things that you can feel or touch. Name those sensations at your fingertips, your legs, or even your face. Then, tap into the 3 things you can hear. Perhaps you can hear chatter in the neighboring room or the hum of fluorescent lighting. Finally, you can end off with 2 things you smell and 1 thing you crave or can taste.
Narrating Your Actions
Awkward as it may feel, describing your every move forces you to notice, preventing actions from becoming mindless. In the shower, note every step and like the fact that you’re currently “shampooing your hair” and then “conditioning it”. Bring value to the littlest of things as if it's the first time you’re doing it.
Switch Up Your Routine
Throw a curveball at your subconsciousness– surprise your mind and its constant assumptions. Instead of waking up late and commuting to work, try waking up slightly earlier and carpooling with co-workers. Treat routine as a base meant to be amended and flexible.
Accept Boredom
With open arms, embrace its presence and its slow pace. You don’t always have to be in action; it's okay to be stationary. In a society so infatuated with constant accomplishment and movement, it feels difficult just to sit still, but it can make all the difference.
Practice Mindful Breathing
The practice of letting things in and out is an act of acceptance and letting things go. Your awareness of such mundane acts cultivates the stillness you search for.
While you can’t simply rewind a clock and control time, grounding yourself is truly your best bet when it comes to trying to revert to a childish sense of awe. It requires no product; it is available at all times. When you feel like you have lost control of your reality, latch onto the littlest of things and be grateful for change and uncertainty. Nothing is innately mundane; it all relies on your mindset and the way you perceive it.
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