I’ve been trying to spend more time on creative pursuits lately and discovered that the one thing that always gets in the way is “doing stuff”. I discovered you need to slow down to be creative. You need noodling time. And “just thinking” time. And that doesn’t exist when I’m racing against the clock totally stressed. So I’ve been trying to slow down in my life. I’ve figured out that it isn’t about doing a lot less, but having a different perspective about it. Here are some strategies I’ve found that work:

1. Get it out of your head. When your head is a-swirl with all the things that you’d like to get done, write it down. And leave it in a place where you might do something about it. I leave myself voicemail at work for things I can do at lunch and send email home for stuff that needs to be done there. And yes, I write stuff on my hand for things that need to be done in between. I can forget about it, because I know I won’t *completely* forget about it.

2. Get your yah-yahs out. Whether it’s hiking up a hill, doing Sun Salutations until you can’t, talking through your issues with a life coach, ranting to your girlfriend or writing in a journal - it really helps to get your yah-yahs out. We all know what little pressure cookers can we turn into when everything is locked in tight inside. Get it out and feel less intense afterwards.

3. Let some to-do’s go. Sometimes the to-do list is huge, but really the items belong in roughly three buckets. Stuff that needs to get done for survival. Stuff that will feel really good to get done. And third bucket is things that *should* get done. Can I let things in the third group go? Or at least put them off another week or two? You bet. I give myself permission to procrastinate that stuff until they get to bucket 1 or 2.

4. Give yourself putter time. I often get just as much done puttering aimlessly doing things as they occur to me as I do when I work through a list with militant precision. Puttering is a lot more fun (and creative).

5. Watch the self-talk. Ever notice what you say to yourself when you’re stressed? Being aware of my own self-talk reminds me of that saying “with friends like that who needs enemies?” Sometimes things get pretty nasty in our heads and we’re the worst for laying the guilt and stress on ourselves. Try replacing it with reminders to slow down. My faves are: “That can wait”. “I need to do it this in my time” ie. not rush to the perceived beat of someone else’s drum. “It’ll all get done”. And “First things first” when it feels like there are a million things that need to be done first.

6. Exchange Perfect for Good-Enough. We all have high standards about certain things that make our lives miserable. Which ones can you let go of? What *needs* to be Perfect for you? If I invite friends for dinner I inevitably start making mountains out of molehills. What am I trying to prove? They love me already. I could probably feed them stuff from a can and they’d just be happy we’re together sharing some wine.

7. Get outta town. The Brits have a term I like - “mini-breaks”. Sometimes getting away for a weekend or afternoon can make a huge improvement in resetting our pace and renewing our perspective. This is a good time of year to skip town and enjoy nature. Find some colored leaves. Find the perfect pumpkin in the field where it grew. The snow will fly and we’ll be into the holiday crazies before we know it. Practiced slowing down now.

8. Take mini-breaks during the day. Have a non-work conversation during the work day, take a lunchbreak, get outside, find a corner to do a yoga pose. I find it’s a practice thing. If I *practice* taking breaks I feel less stressed out and can see the difficult things with a little detachment. With some detachment I’m better able to be calm when things get nutty.

9. Get out of your head. Rather than obsessing about *your* stupid boss, or *your* cold-congested head, or the traffic jam *you’re* stuck in - get out of your head. Can you do something for someone else? Say thanks for 5 things you’re most grateful for? Do something charitable, no matter how small? Take 5 of your favourite yoga breaths?

Those are a few strategies I’ve found so far. I’m no expert on slowing down yet, but until then, I’ll be practicing puttering in a pumpkin patch.