Why Are We Rushing?

On occasion which doesn’t happen enough, I notice my frantic pace. Whether I’m eating, working or any ordinary activity. I’m moving like a jittery man hopped up on caffeine. (I only drink a maximum of one coffee a day, so I know it’s not that.) Each mannerism is like I’ve put myself on x2 speed and it’s like an aggressive coach is screaming at me to ‘GO GO GO!’ But thankfully I recently noticed my manic movements. When this happens, I have to take a moment to slow down and go again in a more sustained healthier manner.

This is a habit formed from my time sensitive mind, always being aware of what needs to be done and when it has to get finished. Constantly looking at the clock to check how much time I have left in the day.

With the whole body-mind connection, I don’t know whether this awareness in my mind is forcing my body to act quicker, but I do know that the actions of doing everything fast triggers my mind to be more anxious. For instance, if you see others running around you, you’ll become alert and wonder what’s going on? is there an emergency? This is how my brain acts, like its an emergency because the body is acting is such a way. Thus, a vicious cycle appears and the brain reaffirms such emergencies and the frantic movements of myself perpetuate.

As much as it can help to get things done and meet deadlines. I don’t think the performance can be as good as it can be in this kind of state.

We do better when we can relax and act in a free manner. A calming and meditative situation will more likely put us in a flow state. A flow state is where we do our best work.

The key is to notice the rushed pacing and switch to a lower gear.

It’s difficult to always be aware of your body and mind. We acclimatise to our environments when exposed to it for a prolong period. There is nothing more we are exposed to than within ourselves. We are our blindspots. Even the most self aware people can get caught in this trap. It’s hard to be aware of your own flaws without someone point them out. It’s even harder to notice your own behaviour.

So how do we notice?

We have to establish a habit of checking in on ourselves and observing our actions. Not only our thoughts as well but the emotions that energise the two. Observing the thoughts that flood through you and discerning the underlying tones, themes and emotions behind them can help you pick up patterns. Then we search through these emotions trying to understand what it’s doing to our body. Our body can be good indicators of our emotional state. Whether its tense or relaxed can help provide you with more context.

With as much information now available, we can begin changing it to something more suitable for us.

Regulating through controlled breathing

The only way I know to do to change gears is to stop and do nothing but some deep breathing for a few minutes. Doing nothing is important, it stops all distractions and makes you confront yourself. It helps you reveal and release all the tension in your body, each passing minute you develop more relaxation. There are levels and you’d be surprised how tense you were as you pass through them. Also with more oxygen you take and give to your brain, the more it helps you process your thoughts in greater detail. You give the fuel it needs, like a healthy supply line for your forces.

It’s also important not to shame yourself for being this way. It’s understandable that we can behave like this. For we understand our limited time here and we create a sense of urgency because of it.

We want to do as much as we can. To see how far we can reach. It’s commendable.

Yet this makes us susceptible to the pressures of time.

Let us use it pragmatically, to stay aware of our situation but not let it have a hold over us emotionally. I think that’s where burnout can derive from, the emotional stress that comes from trying to get it all done, and pushing further than we are capably able to sustain.

I’m sure there are many other valuable skills that can help us switch gears and perspectives. If you have any I would love to hear them.

There is a lot of wisdom to learn when it comes to how you operate in life. I genuinely believe that how you do something also determines the quality of your life.

Rushing through your time isn’t time well spent.

The peace that comes from being earnest with right now. Where what you feel and what you do doesn’t come from a place of fear or anxiety. But satisfaction and curiosity. Where you don’t perceive tasks like problems or another list in your growing to do’s but rather challenges or even exploration.

I know they say time flies when you’re having fun. Does that mean we avoid having fun because we don’t wish for time to fly by? We’re worried to blink and have a huge chunk of time is taken away?

But time having fun is never time wasted.

Let it fly by now and then, and enjoy the memories when you reflect back.