“So we live a life like a video
When the sun is always out and you never get old”
– Jay-Z on “Forever Young“
Have you ever caught yourself saying “I can’t believe it’s already December” or “this month really flew by”? If so, we’re probably feeling something similar…that life is moving way too fast. It seems as the older we become, the faster the days go by. And with the blink of an eye, we’re wondering where the time went. Welcome to hyperspeed.
Before we fast forward though (see what I did there?), let me take a moment to welcome you. Welcome to the Ajaxxx.com November 2018 Opinions Column. I’m catching up! For those that’re new to the site, this is where I talk about anything and everything going on. For those that’re returning, welcome back! And with that, let’s talk about why life feels like it’s moving so fast.I’d say in the last few years, I’ve felt my life has been moving faster than ever before. Between life milestones, moving more than once, and increasing responsibilities, there’s been a lot. When there’s that much going on, it’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day and lose sight of what’s going on in life. Instead of focusing on goals, social activities, or whatever else is important to you, you’re focusing on your responsibilities…and before you know it, you wake up and realize that all this time has passed. And the cycle continues, and continues, and continues.
With all that’s going on, I find myself struggling to be “in the moment.” Instead of completely thinking about where I am and what’s going on, I’m thinking about what’s ahead. I know I need to do a better job with that, yet I still do it. Is it a side effect of social media? Is it because of all the internet noise that our brains are being forced to consume and process? Or does that just happen to everyone with age? I’m not sure. What I do know is, there are steps I can take to 1) be in the moment and 2) slow down time.
So what can be done? Here are a few ideas.
Write
There’s something very liberating about writing stuff down. The feeling of writing a list on a piece of paper, for example, helps to get things out of your mind so it can manifest into something physical. It’s also a healthy alternative to texting on my phone. So what can we write down? Well, if you write down your goals, and then you track them, that’s one way to slow down time and also give yourself the feeling that life isn’t moving AS fast as you think it is. You can also write a journal. By tracking your daily (or weekly, or monthly) activities, you’re also “slowing things down” in a way.
Meditate
Another thing that I started doing this year (but definitely didn’t do enough of) was meditate. I would spend a few minutes clearing my head, do breathing exercises, and disconnect from everything. It felt really good to shut out all the outside and just be one with myself. It was really helpful to do it in the mornings before your day starts, so I could mentally prepare yourself for what’s to come. I also found this to be effective for anxiety, especially when there’s 100 things on my mind.
Get social in-person
There’s something about being around friends and family that’s special. Especially in a time when everyone is on their phones more, we’re bombarded with so much from different directions. When that’s happening, your time can easily pass you by. Like hold up, was I really on InstaGram for three hours? Damn lol. That’s why I feel that surrounding yourself with people is important. It won’t slow down time, but it may make it more meaningful.
It’s hard, I must admit. To reduce that feeling of hyperspeed, I feel like you have to make more conscious decisions to be on the offensive while also reminding yourself constantly to be in the moment. If you can do that, you may be onto something. Good luck to all of us lol.
And with that, let me get back to work. It’s been real.
Stay up, stay safe, and hold ya head. Ajaxxx signing out, PEACEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Photo credit www.grizzlybear.se
