The Power of Slowing Down: How I Reclaimed My Life by Pressing Pause

Let’s be real, before I embraced slow living, my life looked like a chaotic episode of “Survivor: Freelance Edition.”

I was saying yes when I meant no, living for deadlines and everyone else's needs, and chasing every shiny trend for clients that promised six figures in six minutes. I was a business owner, wife, mom, daughter, friend and somewhere along the way, I forgot how to just be me.

Then came burnout. Not the cute “I-need-a-bubble-bath” kind. The I-can’t-get-out-of-bed-because-my-soul-has-left-the-chat kind.

For five years, I ran on autopilot and caffeine. A global pandemic. Personal loss. Hurricanes. Life kept happening, and I kept disappearing in the name of productivity. Until one day, I physically and emotionally couldn’t keep going. That was the moment I realized something had to change.

The Slow Down That Saved Me

Slowing down didn’t happen overnight. There was no fairy godmother with a “Simplify” wand (although, let’s be honest, we all deserve one).

It started with a piece of paper, a pen, and a whole lot of truth.

I wrote down what I was doing every day… and then what I actually wanted to be doing.

I had to retrain my brain and my heart. I had to learn to say no and mean it, softly. I had to pick and choose what was most important and go into everything with "I'm not going to lose myself in this". 

From there, I began making small, soul-honoring shifts:

• Simplifying routines
• Clearing out clutter (room by room - it was practically therapy)
• Carving out space for me again
• Reconnecting with the things I love reading, learning, barefoot walks, gardening

I started choosing peace over productivity, presence over pressure. And slowly, something wild happened...

I came back to life.

What I Gained by Slowing Down

Mental Clarity: Without a million tabs open in my brain, I could actually hear myself think (and dream again).

Spiritual Grounding: I reconnected with God, with stillness, with the inner knowing I had been too busy to hear.

Better Sleep: Apparently, rest is magical when you’re not emotionally sprinting every second.

Joy & Creativity: I wasn’t just getting by I was living. And creating. And rediscovering who I am outside of the roles I play.

Let’s Talk About What Slow Living Isn’t

Spoiler alert: Slow living is not   laziness. It is INTENTIONAL   LIVING. Your way.

 
It’s not a lack of ambition, either. In   fact, it takes guts to say, “I’m not   doing this anymore. I’m choosing   me.” and then actually doing   something. Remember, you can't   change what you don't accept.

Slow living is intentional living. It’s   still doing but without the chronic   rushing, the mental chaos, or the   need for constant outside validation.

You're still showing up just not at   the expense of your peace. 

A Simple Starting Point for Your Own Slow Living Journey

Here’s a baby step (and yes, it works):

1. Get out a piece of paper and a pen.
2. Write down everything you do in a typical day.
3. Now write down what you want to be doing.
4. Notice the gaps. They are mind blowing.
5. Prioritize what’s essential. Let go of the rest or at least let it wait until tomorrow.

And for the love of your nervous system, start decluttering. Physical clutter creates mental noise. Simplifying your space is like giving your brain a warm bath and a hug.

You Deserve a Life That Feels Like Yours

Slowing down gave me back my joy, my clarity, and myself.

And I want that for you too.

You don’t have to wait for a breakdown to begin your breakthrough. Start with one tiny shift. One decision to honor your peace. One breath where you choose to be here instead of sprinting toward there.

Life isn’t something to survive.
It’s something to savor.

And trust me you’re worth savoring every single bit of it.