Slow Down You're Doing Fine

Last week, I was driving back to Mobile from Pensacola following a workshop. Part of this drive includes the journey across the Mobile Bay bridge. If you live in Mobile or surrounding area, you know that the drive across the bridge sometimes (most times) includes some sort of traffic jam. Needless to say, the time of day I crossed the bridge aligned perfectly with one such traffic jam. As I was sitting in the standstill, a song came on the radio that I have been fond of for some time. You see, when I was growing up my father played a lot of the "classics." One artist that was played more than others was Billy Joel. So, as I sit in my car worrying about the meeting I had to get to and the tasks of the day, the song "Vienna" started playing. I'm sure we've all had moments when it seems like the artist is speaking directly to us. This was one of those moments. The song opens with the following verses,

"Slow down you crazy child. You're so ambitious for a juvenile. But then if you're so smart tell me. Why are you still so afraid?

Where's the fire, what's the hurry about? You better cool it off before you burn it out. You got so much to do and only So many hours in a day.

But you know that when the truth is told. That you can get what you want Or you can just get old. You're gonna kick off before you even get halfway through. When will you realize, Vienna waits for you?"

I would venture to guess that many of us are living our lives at full speed. Always trying to get to the next thing. Worrying about cramming as much as we can into a day and striving to accomplish the most. While this in itself is not "bad," I have found that it is often detrimental to my ability to truly enjoy life. It's ironic that when we think we are making the most of the days we are given by filling our schedules, we are actually doing the opposite. I've found that when (As the band "Alabama" once said) I am in a hurry to get things done, I find myself failing to live in the moment. More stressed, more irritable, and all around less enjoyable to be around.

Our culture teaches us to go full speed all the time. No doubt this has contributed to the "success" we see around us. But what would happen if we took the advice of Billy Joel in his song "Vienna?" What if we decided to "cool it off before we burn it out?" Maybe we would be able to appreciate more so the things in life that matter. Maybe in doing this, we would find ourselves to be more productive when we get back to work.

I'm not suggesting we stop everything for a week, fly to an island, and run from responsibility. What I am suggesting is that we take short moments or breaks throughout the day to slow down and refocus our perspective.

Dale Carnegie helps guide us in this through a few of his principles for handling stress and worry. Mr. Carnegie encourages us to "rest before we get tired" and "learn to relax at work." Obviously, this looks different for everyone. One way I do this is by blocking off two time throughout the day, typically 5-10mins a piece, to put down the phone, close the computer, and sit in silence to meditate. At first, all I could think about was what else I could be doing in those 10-minute time slots, however, after a few days of doing this, I found that those 10-minute sessions provided me with the mental clarity and energy I needed to be the most I could for the rest of the day.

Life is busy, work is demanding, and sometimes this isn't our choice. However, it is crucial that each of us find some way to slow down. Whatever that looks like for you, find it and have the discipline to implement it. Be intentional about slowing down, and you may just find the fulfillment and relief you have been seeking.

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About the Author: 

Ian Mohorn strives to help businesses and people achieve their highest potential all while assisting them to succeed in selling, leadership, engagement, presentations, managing stress and worry, self-confidence, communication and human relations skills. He is President and CEO of SCIE & Associates, LLC which offers Dale Carnegie Programs in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. His mission is to develop and serve all those he works with to the best of our ability. He understands that business clients are more than clients, they are partners. Partners that have trusted him and Dale Carnegie Training of the Emerald Coast with the most of important part of their business: their people.

People. Partnership. Performance.