You are absolutely right. This is also a great reminder that we don't just fall down a rabbit hole and end up in a magical reality. Whimsy is just effort. Effort effort effort, it's genuinely so important and the only thing that makes life worth living!!! (By the way, thank you for the GENIUS idea of prepping ingredients and not meals)
This is the first piece of yours I'm reading and I subbed! I loved it. It made me think about my own life. I've been here before, dreading jumping from one task to the next. It's useful but my goodness, it's dreadful when you do it everyday. Thanks for reminding us to slow down and choose something to lighten our days
These tips are so lovely and so necessary honestly <3 I've never heard of ingredient prepping, but this seems like a good way to get some time back in your day :D (And I also don't like the idea of eating day 4 leftovers!)
And leaving time for dilly dallying is so important! Actually talking with someone and seeing who they are is so, so important <3 That time for spontaneous connection is wonderful <3
And talking to strangers? Seems scary, but it can be so fun sometimes! People want to make a connection, you just have to give them the opportunity to! I know I saw somewhere online that someone talked about a journal they had where they would have strangers (and I guess not quite strangers) write a page for them about anything they wanted! And that seems like such a cool idea! And it goes along with your point on talking with strangers <3
I love the ability to focus my attention! It's something I'm still cultivating; however, it can be so powerful! Especially in this day and age when scrolling on Instagram reels or tiktok is so common!
Yes to all of this. I’ve gone on almost the exact same journey recently.
I HATE mornings with the unbridled passion of a thousand fiery suns. But on the days I wake up early, I do feel less stressed… even if the only thing I do for the first two hours is stare out the window while eating cereal.
Taking my phone out of the equation gave me HOURS of time back. My phone says I used to spend an average of 4-5 hours per day on my phone, and I thought I was already being economical about my phone. But I drastically cut my phone use again, and now all my household tasks are done by 9pm instead of midnight, and I can enjoy my evening and go to bed before 2am. That’s better than any app.
love it! your best examples indicate presence through slight friction: unfamiliar enough that your brain can't sleepwalk through it.
A few that work the same way for me: cooking without a recipe and just improvising with whatever's in the fridge, sitting in a park or café with absolutely no purpose and just watching people (though a lot of people call me a perpetual loiterer) also something physical that keeps me slightly off balance like juggling, skating, handstands, anything where your body can't go on autopilot. that's also why i snowboard instead of ski: it's not symmetrical.
I think the reason these work is the same reason scrolling doesn't: your brain can't do them passively.
this really resonated with me. my new year’s resolution was to not think so much about doing more, but about experiencing more of the moments we already have.
I love love this ! As we grow older, the monotonic routine can easily make time vanish. And it's not that time passes differently, but all days of the week are so alike that they collapse into one memory. It's so important to add a little whimsy into our day to day life, to create magic in the little things. My favourite from your list is "indulge in silly hobbies", this one is so underrated yet so important. It has so many benefits mentally and physically. I actually talk about it in one of my articles https://wherethesparklives.substack.com/p/let-some-joy-stay-private?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1ty3te
One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is just what made childhood so nostalgic. The sound of the wind chimes in my moms garden, the smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. The warmth of the sun reading in the sun porch on Sunday mornings. The quiet hum of my grandmas car. I look back on Hess memories wishing I could experience them just one more time. But l remember days feeling long, feeling like the days leading up to Christmas were an eternity. Now, we move so fast we often don’t remember what song we last listened to or what the sky looked like that day. By slowing down, listing to the birds on your walk, taking time to taste your breakfast, sip your tea, I feel we can gain small moments and begin to gain our minutes and days back. Love this!
may want to lean into the .now extension… enjoythe.now is avail to register, could be a cool URL to promote this concept
Absolutely love. This is a subconscious thought i have daily as i run through my schedule and 'what did i do today?' crisis lol.
You are absolutely right. This is also a great reminder that we don't just fall down a rabbit hole and end up in a magical reality. Whimsy is just effort. Effort effort effort, it's genuinely so important and the only thing that makes life worth living!!! (By the way, thank you for the GENIUS idea of prepping ingredients and not meals)
This is the first piece of yours I'm reading and I subbed! I loved it. It made me think about my own life. I've been here before, dreading jumping from one task to the next. It's useful but my goodness, it's dreadful when you do it everyday. Thanks for reminding us to slow down and choose something to lighten our days
Aw so glad you enjoyed it!! And thank you for subscribing!
These tips are so lovely and so necessary honestly <3 I've never heard of ingredient prepping, but this seems like a good way to get some time back in your day :D (And I also don't like the idea of eating day 4 leftovers!)
And leaving time for dilly dallying is so important! Actually talking with someone and seeing who they are is so, so important <3 That time for spontaneous connection is wonderful <3
And talking to strangers? Seems scary, but it can be so fun sometimes! People want to make a connection, you just have to give them the opportunity to! I know I saw somewhere online that someone talked about a journal they had where they would have strangers (and I guess not quite strangers) write a page for them about anything they wanted! And that seems like such a cool idea! And it goes along with your point on talking with strangers <3
I love the ability to focus my attention! It's something I'm still cultivating; however, it can be so powerful! Especially in this day and age when scrolling on Instagram reels or tiktok is so common!
I saw that same thing I think!! Was it the guy who was traveling and had the journal? I would love to do that, it’d be the more special of souvenirs
Yes to all of this. I’ve gone on almost the exact same journey recently.
I HATE mornings with the unbridled passion of a thousand fiery suns. But on the days I wake up early, I do feel less stressed… even if the only thing I do for the first two hours is stare out the window while eating cereal.
Taking my phone out of the equation gave me HOURS of time back. My phone says I used to spend an average of 4-5 hours per day on my phone, and I thought I was already being economical about my phone. But I drastically cut my phone use again, and now all my household tasks are done by 9pm instead of midnight, and I can enjoy my evening and go to bed before 2am. That’s better than any app.
I went through the smae thing!! I didn't realize how much time my phone acually took up until I intentionally cut it to the bare minimum
literally trying to do all the same things
ahhh yay!!
Lovely ideas, I try to do several of them a day.
That's amazing!
love it! your best examples indicate presence through slight friction: unfamiliar enough that your brain can't sleepwalk through it.
A few that work the same way for me: cooking without a recipe and just improvising with whatever's in the fridge, sitting in a park or café with absolutely no purpose and just watching people (though a lot of people call me a perpetual loiterer) also something physical that keeps me slightly off balance like juggling, skating, handstands, anything where your body can't go on autopilot. that's also why i snowboard instead of ski: it's not symmetrical.
I think the reason these work is the same reason scrolling doesn't: your brain can't do them passively.
Ooh! Doing something more physical is definitely a good tip! It keeps you more engaged for sure <3
these are such great suggestions! I think I need to spend more time to reach perpetual loiterer status now
this really resonated with me. my new year’s resolution was to not think so much about doing more, but about experiencing more of the moments we already have.
It’s something I think we desperately are needing rn
I really loved this piece. Things I think about a lot and you put them so eloquently on the page. Thank you for sharing<3
aww I'm so glad you read this!
This was so affirming, thank you
thank you for reading!
I so needed to read this!!! There's beauty in every day we just have to find time to find it
exactly 🥰 it’s all perspective
so agree!
I love love this ! As we grow older, the monotonic routine can easily make time vanish. And it's not that time passes differently, but all days of the week are so alike that they collapse into one memory. It's so important to add a little whimsy into our day to day life, to create magic in the little things. My favourite from your list is "indulge in silly hobbies", this one is so underrated yet so important. It has so many benefits mentally and physically. I actually talk about it in one of my articles https://wherethesparklives.substack.com/p/let-some-joy-stay-private?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1ty3te
Silly hobbies are so important!! Can’t wait to read yours 😊
One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is just what made childhood so nostalgic. The sound of the wind chimes in my moms garden, the smell of coffee brewing in the kitchen. The warmth of the sun reading in the sun porch on Sunday mornings. The quiet hum of my grandmas car. I look back on Hess memories wishing I could experience them just one more time. But l remember days feeling long, feeling like the days leading up to Christmas were an eternity. Now, we move so fast we often don’t remember what song we last listened to or what the sky looked like that day. By slowing down, listing to the birds on your walk, taking time to taste your breakfast, sip your tea, I feel we can gain small moments and begin to gain our minutes and days back. Love this!
That description to me back to my childhood as well. The joy of experiencing things in slow motion.
It’s those little moments of truly living that add up to a very full life 🥰
This should be a book. It's amazing.
Haha that would be pretty cool
I think you can make it.