Tuesday Tip: Slow Down

One thing you can do today to be happier.

Stop rushing around. For one day, try not to hurry yourself OR your children.

Slowing down in our fast-paced world—even just for a day—can bring deep feelings of relaxation and joy. Take each moment just as it is today, being mindful of your thoughts and your emotions. Feel the urge to rush? Worry that you’re going to be late? Simply notice the anxiety that has washed over you, and bring your attention to your breath, focusing on a deep exhalation.

Often, greater attention to the present moment can help us stay focused on the task at hand, decreasing our need to rush from one thing to the next.

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Welcome to our first edition of Tuesday Tips! I hope you enjoy this new feature of the Raising Happiness Blog. (Seen this tip before? It is being cross-posted on Red Tricycle, an online newsletter for parents that you might like.)

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About the Author

Christine Carter

Christine Carter, Ph.D. is a Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Center. She is the author of The New Adolescence: Raising Happy and Successful Teens in an Age of Anxiety and Distraction (BenBella, 2020), The Sweet Spot: How to Accomplish More by Doing Less (Ballantine Books, 2015), and Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents (Random House, 2010). A former director of the GGSC, she served for many years as author of its parenting blog, Raising Happiness. Find out more about Christine here.

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