FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hey everyone! We’re diving into a much needed topic today: The Process of Slowing Down! 🥰

Hitting the brakes—whether you’re navigating a hectic moment, feeling unwell, or simply in need of a mental reset—isn’t a luxury; it’s essential. In this post, I’ll discuss how to deliberately take a breather, sharing some personal experiences, and the helpful, practical tools that can help you find true respite. Let’s get started!❤️

Trigger warning: This article focuses primarily on helpful advice and techniques for slowing down. However, if you are currently in a particularly difficult place or highly sensitive to discussions of anxiety and depression, some parts of this post might be challenging to read. Take care. ❤️

The Meaning of Slowing Down Emotionally

We all need moments to hit the brakes—some of us more often than others—and I believe it’s absolutely crucial to understand the true meaning of ‘slowing down’ before we dive deeper into the practical tools.

Slowing down emotionally is an intentional act of hitting the pause button, consciously choosing presence over haste. It means creating a conscious boundary where you can hear your own needs and engage with your emotions without judgement. By making space for this inner work, you naturally cultivate increased self-awareness, reduce your stress, and make better choices. Ultimately, slowing down emotionally empowers you to live a life that is intentional, balanced and deeply fulfilling.

Why Pausing is Not Quitting

When you hit the pause button, you’re not quitting, or giving up on your goals. On the contrary, you’re giving the necessary, strategic respite to sustain your efforts. It’s a strategic move, not a sign of failure.

Pausing—an Act of Kindness

Pausing is a fundamental act of kindness, not a sign of weakness. In a world that never stops, slowing down is often mistakenly viewed as a form of failure, which is not true at all. In fact, giving yourself permission to both rest and work is the ultimate win win.

When you begin noticing your energy getting low, practice self-compassion. Listen to your whole being and honour that need. This might mean simply placing a hand on your heart and doing five to fifteen minutes of deep breathing, or it could be taking a mindful walk to soak in the beauty around you. The action doesn’t matter as much as the intention behind it.

Struggling with Mental Health and Slowing Down

If slowing down is important in your daily life, it becomes even more fundamental when you struggle with mental health issues.

When you are facing the daily reality of anxiety and depression, pressing the pause button often feels incredibly hard, if not impossible. That overwhelming, intense worry can make taking things calmly or simply drawing a deep breath a genuine challenge. Even when you know the tools—and have just left a productive therapy session—it can be nearly impossible to stop the mental loop, keep from dwelling on difficult emotions, and truly relax.

It’s essential to remember that slowing down is a journey, not a destination. Be gentle with yourself if it takes time to find your footing and calm your system during moments of distress.

An important reminder:

You don’t have to manage your many inner strorms alone; asking a loved one for support in finding your center is a sign of strength.❤️

Rest assured, you’re not alone in this fight. Even now, I still have to deliberately practice my own methods to wind down.❤️

Sharing a bit of my story…❤️

Battling daily depression and anxiety is truly not simple at all, and sometimes the internal pressure becomes to much. I can be sitting in a calming environment, like my own home, and still feel panic well up. My mind can start racing, going into mental loops, often leading to lots of tears.

In these specific moments of panic, the common advice to simply “slow down” or “be present” can frankly feel like an insult to me. Whe your system is in survival mood, those gentle suggestions can seem impossible to reach.

This is precicely why I am so profoundly grateful to have my loved ones, professionals close to me. Their presence often becomes the external force that helps guide me through the most difficult internal storms. ❤️

Helpful Tools Along the Way

While the help of loved ones and professionals, like your therapist, is truly important, building up your own toolkit of simple yet meaningful practices is what also makes you stay on track.

Your initial toolkit doesn’t need to be filled with complicated techniques. In fact, it’s best to start simple. As you practice and discover what truly works for your mind, soul and body, you’ll find that your toolkit will naturally and gradually “fill up” with personalized, meaningful strategies.

Here are some examples:

• First and most fundamental: be self-compassionate. Don’t judge yourself, or be harsh simply because you are exhausted, anxious, or struggling to slow down.❤️

• A note on external help: If, even with the help of others, you are completely unable to slow down and find calm, there are other supports available. I am not a doctor, and this is not a medical advice, but if you are considering calming drops or similar pharmacological aids, please consult a psychiatrist or a doctor to see if this is a safe and good option for your specific situation.

• Anchor to the breath: I, for instance, like to sit or lie down on the sofa and practice a deep breathing technique. The 4-7-8 method is a great place to start, as it gently signals to your nervous system that it’s safe to slow down.❤️

• Mindful sun and sips: find a sunny spot, sit down, and let yourself be soothed by the sun rays kissing your face. While you enjoy the warmth, calmly sip on a tea. You can pair this moment with reading a feel good book or listening to an uplifting playlist on You Tube, Spotify.

Much love and light❤️✨

Sofia Lena😊

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