For a long time, I thought multitasking was the way to get everything done. I’d be catching up with family or friends while cooking dinner and cleaning the kitchen at the same time. But this usually meant I’d miss something, like an ingredient in the recipe or not remebering what we spoke about in a conversation.
One afternoon trying to make it to three different friend & family get-togethers. I was worried of letting anyone down, so I said yes to everything, moving from one place to another like a whirlwind. But by the time I got home, I felt completely drained and disconnected from the people I’d seen, and even from myself. I hadn’t given my full attention to any moment, and it left me feeling like I’d been everywhere but nowhere.
It took a while before I realised this constant rushing wasn’t something i could keep up and be happy at the same time. I was physically doing three times more than most of my friends and family, but mentally, I was checked out. My energy was sapped, my focus shattered, and my joy buried under the pressure to do it all.
Slowing down became less of a choice and more of a lifeline. When I gave myself permission to focus on one thing at a time, the noise quieted. Whether that was sitting fully present in a conversation, moving mindfully through a yoga stretch, or just breathing deeply in a quiet moment, it made a difference. I started noticing little things I’d missed for years, the warmth in someone’s voice, the smell of fresh bread, the calm in my own mind.
Slowing down doesn’t mean giving up or doing less. It means being intentional with your time and energy, so you can be fully present when it counts.I know I’m not alone in this. We’re all figuring it out as we go, learning how to slow down and be more present. And that’s enough.
