There are days when I feel like I’m living in fast-forward. I bounce between tabs, conversations, chores, thoughts, always slightly ahead of myself, never quite here.
That constant mental multitasking leaves me anxious, wired, and oddly empty. It took me a while to realize that what I was missing wasn’t more time. It was more presence.
One of the smallest, most surprising ways I’ve found to feel grounded again is this: I choose one thing a day to do slowly. That’s it.
Just one thing.
Why It Works (For Me)
1. It interrupts autopilot.
Doing something slowly, even brushing my teeth, forces me to feel the moment. I notice the sound of water, the pressure of my feet on the floor, the way my breath slows. It’s like pressing pause on background noise I didn’t realize was playing.
2. It gives my brain a break.
For a few minutes, I’m not solving, fixing, planning, or scrolling. I’m just doing. That quiet is rare and oddly restorative.
3. It reconnects me with my body.
Most of my anxiety lives in my head. Slowness brings me back into my senses, whether it’s the warmth of tea in my hands or the rhythm of walking without my phone.
4. It reminds me I have a choice.
Even on the busiest days, I can choose to slow down somewhere. That choice feels like power.
How I Practice This Daily
- I pick one thing: folding laundry, drinking tea, brushing my teeth, watering plants.
- I do it slower than usual on purpose.
- I keep my phone away.
- I don’t multitask.
- I treat it like a tiny ritual, not a productivity hack.
It’s not a performance. It’s a pause.
How This Fits Into My Self-Care
This isn’t my entire routine, it’s just one of several habits I return to. Like one-line journaling, drinking water with intention, and a five-minute morning reset, this practice doesn’t take much time.
But it helps. Every time.
> For more simple, grounding practices like this, check out The Everyday Self-Care Routine: 7 Habits That Actually Stick.
