Life Is Speeding Back Up, Don’t Be Afraid to Slow It Down

I’ve noticed a recurring trend as of late, now that we are moving out of the dark age that was 2020 and into a brand-new world.

Since we missed out on a social life last year, it seems that everyone is trying to squeeze two years of events and activities into one, and I’m certainly guilty of this. I’ve been so busy lately that the pandemic almost feels like a bad dream, but it was only a few months ago that we were locked up inside. I want to take a moment and let it be known that it’s still okay to slow down and do nothing.

Let me explain.

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The sentence that I have heard over and over from the people in my life is, “It’s going to be a busy year.” When I look at my calendar, there is no denying it. Attending weddings will be my habit for the latter half of the year, but before that, it will be birthdays, celebrations, get-togethers, and gatherings. I find myself feeling guilty when I say no to any of them after being home for over a year. I say yes to it all, for fear of missing out like I did a year ago, but it’s only June, and I’m already exhausted.

For me, 2020 was a year of self-reflection and learning how to enjoy my alone time. Truthfully, I got really good at being alone. I was more relaxed, my mind wasn’t racing one million miles a minute, and I felt more at peace. Granted, life was slower last year, but I think it’s important to bring the lessons we learned in 2020 into this year.

I learned that mental health and personal time is incredibly important for overall health and self-esteem. So before we run ourselves ragged trying to make up for lost time, let’s remember that it is still completely acceptable to stay in on a Friday night and binge Netflix in your comfiest pajamas.

Life is speeding up again, but don’t be afraid to slow down every once in a while.