Everything in our culture seems to be speeding up. 

Fast food delivery services can be at your door in under 15 minutes. Social media algorithms have gotten quicker at getting your attention. If packages aren’t delivered within three days, it’s considered a lifetime of waiting. 

When our lives are on the fast track, how can we have time to stop and realize how we’re living them?

With attention spans getting shorter, it’s no surprise that apps, food services, and other aspects of how we live our lives have gotten quicker to accommodate.

I argue in defense of taking things slow. 

I have pushed away many hobbies that I enjoy for years now, deeming them “too time-consuming”.  Painting, drawing, and writing for my own enjoyment seemed to  take too long and felt less important than “getting things done”. What I have failed to realize, however, is that those things are all time-consuming for a reason; they may take longer, but I spend that time at my own pace, instead of constantly on a timer. 

When we take the time to do the things we love at our own pace, we have the chance to reflect, stop the clock, and realize that our main goal is not to get tasks done at a rapid pace but to make the day ours.

When we feel the phrase “I’m bored” rattling around our heads, it is a great opportunity to take advantage of that emotion and channel it into something beneficial for us, according to an article about boredom and free time by The New York Times. 

“Boredom can offer a valuable learning opportunity, spurring creativity and problem solving,” The New York Times states. 

Instead of just quelling your boredom with mindless scrolling, I suggest trying something new or perfecting a skill, like The New York Times recommends. 

Each day is a gift to us. When we spend it living on a checklist, our days turn into an endless cycle of repetitiveness.  

I recommend taking things slower. One day at a time. 

Think about it. When was the last time you sat down and were bored? Instead of reaching for the phone, which is a prime provider of rapid attention-getters, do something that takes time. Bake a treat. Have a meaningful conversation. Look back through photo albums or journals. 

Taking it slow ultimately leads to reflection. Use that time to pause, see where you are in life, and see how you got there. 

Not every moment has to be fast; be present in that slow moment.