For the longest time, I thought being productive meant being successful. If I wasn’t filling every minute of my day with something — work, plans, errands, goals — I felt guilty. I used to think slowing down meant I wasn’t trying hard enough or that I’d somehow fall behind.

But lately, I’ve been learning that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping. It just means giving myself space to breathe, to be present, and to actually enjoy where I am — not just rush toward where I think I should be.

Realisation: When I knew I Needed to Slow Down

It really hit me a few months into my job. I’d left university with so many expectations — mostly my own — and somehow ended up in a corporate 9–5 that paid the bills but left me drained. It wasn’t that the job was awful, it just didn’t light me up. I knew deep down I didn’t want to build a career in that field, but I felt stuck in the routine of it.

I was tired all the time, not just physically but mentally. I’d get home, eat dinner, scroll on my phone, and do it all again the next day. Even on weekends, I’d try to cram in plans so I didn’t “waste time.” And then one day, I realised that I hadn’t really rested in months. I was burning out over something I didn’t even love.

That was my wake-up call.

What Slowing Down Looks Like for Me

Slowing down has become my way of reclaiming balance — and honestly, myself. For me, it looks like simple, everyday moments that bring me calm and joy:

• Spending time in my garden, even just watering my plants or checking what’s growing 🌱
• Cooking something from scratch, especially with ingredients I’ve grown myself
• Sitting with a book and a cup of coffee, no screens, no noise
• Having slow mornings — lighting a candle, taking time to get ready without rushing
• Saying no to things that I don’t actually want to do, without feeling guilty about it

It’s not about being unproductive. It’s about choosing intentional productivity — doing things that fill me up, not just empty my energy.

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🌸 My Tips for Slowing Down

If you’re like me and struggle to switch off, here are a few little things that have helped me feel more present and peaceful:

• Stop overloading your to-do list. Three meaningful tasks a day are plenty.
• Have no-phone mornings — even half an hour of quiet makes a huge difference.
• Make time for hobbies that use your hands and focus your mind — gardening, cooking, painting, anything.
• Be okay with rest. You don’t have to earn it.
• Don’t compare your pace. Someone else’s fast track doesn’t make your slower pace less worthy.

A Gentle Reminder

You’re not behind if you slow down. You’re just choosing to be present for your own life — and that’s something to be proud of.

Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves in our twenties isn’t to push harder, but to pause. To look around, breathe, and remember that life isn’t meant to be lived at full speed all the time.

So here’s to slower mornings, softer days, and being okay with doing a little less — because sometimes, that’s exactly what we need.