When life is flying on by (6 ways to counter this)

Recently, I’ve been thinking about how in all our busyness, life can seem to fly on by at breakneck speeds. I find myself thinking things like, “Wait, it’s the end of the month already? I thought the month just started!”

It’s then I realize that I’ve probably had my head buried in something for too long. I’m not fully present and it’s making the days fly on by. It could be that I have my head buried in my work, a house project, or just all the weekly activities I’ve committed to. Either way, life is flying on by and I look up wondering where it’s gone.

In trying to counter this, I noticed it makes a huge difference when I allow time for things like introspection, reflection, reading, and silence.

And the irony is that the less we feel we have the time for these things, the more we actually need them. It’s the days where everything seems to be going crazy and that we need to go go go that we’d benefit the most from slowing down.

So, next time the days seem to be flying on by, try one of the following:

1. reading a few pages in a good book (this is my current one)

2. sitting in silence for 5 minutes (here’s a fun challenge)

3. browsing in a bookstore

4. writing a list of 20 things that have happened so far this year that you’re grateful for

5. playing with your kids

6. going to a coffee shop to read or work

Remember, the less we feel we have the time for these things, the more we actually need them. Try it. I think you’ll be surprised.

For you, what works when life seems to be flying on by? What would you add to the list?