Please consider hitting "display photos" for a cozier reading experience.
Hello Reader,
You know what I wanted most for Mother's Day?
A full day of saturating myself with nature.
I knew this months before so I reserved a campsite at a local state park for two nights -- never intending to sleep there.
Yes, day camping is a thing. Google it. :)
Why did I want this?
Because I wanted privacy, woods and conveniences. I wanted time to just be.
I wanted time to do nothing. Not the dishes. Not the cooking.
You know what I mostly did?
Tried to ID birds from my Merlin Bird app.
The amazing byproduct of my time in the woods?
I slowed down and truly relaxed. While I did some slow reading of a lovely memoir I'm reading --- Good Soil by Jeff Chu -- I mostly did absolutely nothing.
This strategic slowdown was aimed to rejuvenate me, spend uninterrupted time with my family and soak in time with nature.
Everything else ... slipped away.
And I got to return home and sleep in my bed at night.
What would a strategic slowdown look like for you?
Breathing deeply with you in the storm,
XO
Shawn
SLOW BUSINESS TIP:
but what about all those
emails that flood my inbox??
A client said to me recently that when my emails show up in her inbox, she knows she needs to grab a cuppa and read it.
Most other emails she gets are click open, scan, delete or take action.
Strategically, I want to slow your roll.
Strategically, I know that slowing you down and engaging your senses and hopefully moving you into slow, intentional behavior is going to help you thrive.
But, how do you do that?
Can email really become pleasure.
Yes, it can be.
Just like how I approach all business practices for the business leaders I coach and consult with ... rituals and routines can bring more meaning to your inbox experience.
Here's some tips ...
The Power of Place
Resist checking email on your phone in passing. Those fast glances between activities fragment your attention and reinforce hurried habits. Instead, designate a specific device (ideally a desktop or laptop) and location for email. This physical boundary helps your brain associate email with intentional engagement rather than reactive checking.
Ritual of Reading
Create a dedicated email ritual. Set aside specific times when you'll read emails with full presence. Perhaps it's with that "cuppa" my client mentioned - make it special with a favorite mug and tea that engages your senses. My daughter recently gifted me a big cat mug I can't wait to use for my reading ritual.
Sensory Uplevel
Transform your email reading and responding environment into a soft life experience. Consider soft background music that calms your nervous system, a scented candle nearby, and a comfortable chair that supports your nervous system. These sensory anchors signal to your brain: "We're slowing down now."
Appreciation Practice
Begin by reading emails as if they were handwritten letters like the old days. Notice the person behind each message. What might their day be like? This perspective shift transforms transactional exchanges into human connections. Yes, there are real people sending you those emails. Treat your emails to others the same way.
Digital Sabbaticals
Designate email-free periods — perhaps weekends or evenings. Creating healthy boundaries that allow for deeper presence in other areas of your life -- even if just for a few hours brings a feeling of balance and intention.
The Joy of Curation
Regularly curate your inbox subscriptions. Keep only what truly nourishes you intellectually or emotionally. Unsubscribe from what creates noise rather than value.
This week, notice when you are rushing through email vs. showing up with radical presence and intention. What shift do you need to make this life and business practice more deliberate?
🦥 Ready for a Strategic Slowdown in your role as a business leader or founder? During my"Strategic Slowdown Chats" I help you design a strategic slowdown practice that still drives growth and revenue but enhances your well-being. Book a Strategic Slowdown Chat with me today!
“"Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished."
— – Lao Tzu