“I don’t remember because I forget. I forget because I can’t remember.”
Slow down. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about slowing down. Let’s be clear: nothing about my life suggests I need to slow down. I like to believe I’m good at taking things easy.
But when I listen closely, my mind tells a different story. It races like a highway in the middle of a police chase, with no speed limits in sight. It’s a rush of thoughts—things to do, chores to plan, dreams to pursue, demands to meet, and always, the longing to slow down.
I know meditation would help, and I do meditate. I take those essential five minutes, sometimes more, to calm my mind. Yet, it only takes a moment for the chase to start again. After all, we live in a fast-paced world, juggling countless obligations at once.
The random reminders and to-do lists will always pop up, so I rely on my bullet journal to keep my mind a bit more decluttered. Every stray thought, every unexpected reminder, finds a home there.
Although I’m trying to cut back on data consumption, I’m aware that consuming information is almost inevitable these days. So, I make a conscious effort to reduce mindless consumption—whether it’s educational or entertainment—and I keep a summary of things I read & watch in my bullet journal. This approach helps free my mind from holding onto all the details and struggling to find the relevant ones. I’ve noticed it makes a difference in how I retain and use information.
My mind still finds it irresistible to slow down. Well, it’s not wise to expect a behavior change in a few weeks or months when it took years of training for my mind to run this fast. I hope my efforts will slowly but surely bring the chases to a minimum. And hopefully, I will be able to spend a little more time on the half-written stories my mind was too busy to chase after.
What are your strategies for slowing down your thoughts? How do you handle the demands of life that require you to be on alert twenty-four/seven?
This piece is written in response to the two hundredth and fifteenth edition of Fiction Monday inspired by the below photo prompt and the word prompt – BREAK hosted by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell.
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Void Thoughts 
I totally understand. I simply cannot slow down. Years of conditioning I guess!! But I was forced to last week as I had massive headaches due to screen time. Feels like I am getting old. 😄
I find gardening therapeutic. I take breaks in between work and in the evening to simply stare at my succulents. It clears my mind.
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What a good idea to write down what you are consuming on SM, Vini. I need to incorporate this into my bullet journal too. I guess we’re all trying to get to the same place, no?
I came across a small exercise on Instagram – totally twisted – that seems to be a minor fix to reduce stress. I’ve been trying this out for a few days and feel better.
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My thoughts, besides the inevitable to do lists, revolve around all the mistakes and cringe worthy memories of the past, things I could have done differently and things and people I have lost. This causes an anxiety attack. My therapist suggested that when that happens, I say to myself, “I am in the present. I am safe. Nothing can hurt me at this moment.” It took some time making this a habit but it works wonders for me.
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I discovered a small video about meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm6DT5pMpW8
I listened how he said about how many years… But… so what!
Music, mantras, AUM sound, no TV news, craft, your challenge, our challenges….
I think the problem is not about thoughts, but their quality. Of course there are too many, but about what? Probably 70% are the same as yesterday. or mabe more. So I want to try to choose them, what is
new, useful and creative.
Now I read the books of dr. Bradley Nelson (The Emotion code and The body code –
you can find the their pdf ) There are beyond fabulous.
All the best, Vinitha! Be well and creative! Hugs!❤️😘
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I find music to be a great way to both calm myself and to get my mind off worries and concerns. Listening to music that I enjoy focuses my attention on the song, so I’m not preoccupied with restless thoughts. Thanks for sharing!
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