Slow Down and Enjoy Life with 8 Surprisingly Easy Tips

It’s that time of year again where schedules are starting to fill up now that spring is on its way… don’t get me wrong, I love spring, but that new busyness can definitely take a toll on me at times.

If you feel like you’re getting run down from everything going on in your life and need some tips on how to slow down and enjoy life, this is for you!

Until recently, I was someone who was constantly stressed, on the edge of burn-out, and was in a constant cycle of grinding for weeks on end until I finally reached my breaking point.

I didn’t think it was even a possibility for me to reach a healthy work-life balance, especially while in college.  I thought, if anything, I wouldn’t get to experience that until after graduation.

But luckily, I’ve learned that it IS possible, and I want to share how I discovered that with you! ((:

This post detailing how to slow down and enjoy life with 8 surprisingly easy tips is perfect for you if you are…

a college student or young adult who is struggling to find that work-life balance, who feels stressed more often than you feel relaxed, who is in a constant cycle of working themselves to the edge of burn out before breaking down and doing it all over again.

I’ve been there, I’ve done all of that, and I’m here to show you life doesn’t have to be like this forever.

slow down and enjoy life with 8 surprisingly easy tips

be present

I will admit, this is a lot easier said than done, but it makes the biggest difference… which is why I put it at the #1 spot in this list of 8 surprisingly easy ways to slow down and enjoy life!

If you are totally present – mind, body, and soul – in whatever you are doing, you’ll feel much more at peace than if your mind was constantly being pulled in a million different directions.

For a simple way to practice being present, try to limit multi-tasking and searching for distractions.  For example, if you’re doing homework, focus on only one assignment at a time.  

You can always practice being present through meditation, journaling, and breathwork. 

Headspace is my favorite for meditation and breathwork (and they have a great deal for students)!  And if you need some fun journaling prompts, check out this post!

Whatever situation you find yourself in, make an effort to fully notice and take in your surroundings, listen to the sounds around you, and be all in wherever you are.

learn to say no

One of my biggest issues when I was living a constant cycle of working until I reached my breaking point was overbooking myself.

I was always adding way too much to my plate because I wanted to be everything for everyone.

I didn’t want to let people down, I didn’t want to say no when people asked me to do things, I wanted to do everything.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), that’s not possible.  You can’t be everything for everyone.  

You have to learn to say no to things that don’t serve you.  Say no to things that don’t align with your values, don’t excite you, or things you’re just simply not interested in.  

Once I learned to do this, it became infinitely easier to slow down and enjoy life… because I was only doing things that I actually liked!!

Life is much too short to spend it doing things that you don’t love.

make time for things that fill your cup

Too often, we fill out our calendar, planner, or the memorized schedule in our brain with only the things that we “need” to do.

Work, classes, meetings… the things that take a bit more of our energy and effort to do.

But for some reason, we rarely make time for the things that add to our energy stores, the things that fill our cup.

These things will vary from person to person, but it could be working out, listening to your favorite podcast, playing games with friends, getting your nails done… anything that makes you feel refreshed and in a clear headspace!

If you need some ideas, check out this post with 17 self-care ideas!

If we are constantly overpouring in order to serve others without refilling our own cups, that’s where we run into the issues of burn-out, brain fatigue, and much more.

So be sure to slow down and make time for the activities that serve you so you can enjoy life more!

be flexible with your routine

If you’re like me, you thrive with a regular schedule; routine is key to maintaining your best self.

While keeping a routine is great for many people, there is a bit of a balancing act that goes along with having one.

You don’t want to be too rigid in your schedule, but you don’t want to be too loosey-goosey.  

If your schedule has no flexibility, that creates a breeding ground for stress and burn-out.  But if it’s too flexible, you might never get anything done.

Reaching that middle ground can do wonders for your productivity, mental health, as well as increase your life satisfaction.

Allowing yourself some flexibility in your every day routine enables you to pencil in some time for self-care, feel a little more relaxed, and learn to slow down and enjoy more so much more.

add a little spice to your life

Life can sometimes become a little mundane, right? 

Sometimes we get into such a grind that it feels like we’re simply going through the motions, putting one foot in front of the other.

But it doesn’t have to feel like that!  Your life doesn’t have to feel boring, mundane, or like the movie Groundhog Day.

Adding a little spice to your life by doing something different and switching up your daily routine forces you to slow down and enjoy life a little more.

To add a little spice to your life, you could get a haircut, paint your nails, go on a weekend getaway, take a new route to work or class, have a karaoke party in the car, treat yourself to a new outfit, buy a new plant, or whatever sounds good to you!

get outside

I don’t know about you, but getting outside ALWAYS helps me feel so much better.

Whether I’m stressed, tired, happy, irritated… going outside and breathing in that fresh air gives me a boost and puts an extra pep in my step.

Step outside for a walk, a morning meditation, or just take a few seconds to breathe in the fresh air whenever you get the chance.

Taking in the outside world at least once a day will allow you to take a breather and decrease stress, making it easier to slow down and enjoy life.

decrease screen time

Ahh, the infamous screen time.

There’s a reason many of us want to decrease it: it doesn’t make us feel good to be looking at our phones all day.

I totally get it; in fact, I would get rid of my phone in a heartbeat if I could do everything I needed to on my laptop.

But alas, many of us need cell phones for work purposes, to keep in touch with loved ones, or maybe we just like having one (nothing wrong with that!).

However, I think we can all agree that some screen time is better than others.  

For example, maybe you love listening to podcasts, or you love reading on your phone… if that makes you feel good, great!

But if you – like most of us – are constantly getting distracted by social media apps on your phone, and it makes you feel icky, that’s a screen time use that might not be the best.

It doesn’t mean we have to delete all of our socials (unless you want to), but you it is a sign that maybe you should decrease the time spent on those apps.  If you want to improve your relationship with social media, check out this post!

Whatever you’re doing with your screen time is 100% up to you, but if you want to slow down and enjoy life, make sure you’re intentional about enjoying screen time.

For some screen time alternative ideas, check out this post!

schedule in rest time

Just like you should be making time for the things that fill your cup, you should be scheduling time to rest.

I used to HATE resting; even as a kid, I would loathe nap time.

But now, I welcome a little bit of rest and relaxation time!  I usually use this time to take an afternoon nap, watch Netflix, or read a book.  You can do whatever you want, though!  As long as it feels relaxing and rejuvenating, go for it. ((:

If you need some Netflix recommendations, check out this post!  For book recommendations, read this!

Thank you so much for being here! ((:

If you enjoyed learning how to slow down and enjoy life with 8 surprisingly easy tips, I would LOVE for you to share this with friends, family, and anyone else you can think of… let’s make sure everyone gets the chance to live their best life!