Time saved, energy lost: why slowing down is part of a long, healthy life

Our everyday lives have become faster. Digitalisation has brought us a great deal of good: information, food and almost any product now arrive at our door at the touch of a button. We take the escalator instead of the stairs, the car instead of the bike, and instead of browsing in a shop, we have things delivered.

All of this saves us something very valuable: time.

We save time and lose it again straight away

But what do we do with the time we gain? Usually we fill our calendars to the last minute and then wonder why the years seem to pass faster and faster. We scroll through social media and online shops. At dinner, the phone lies on the table, and when a message arrives, we interrupt the conversation instead of staying in the moment.

Just as we fill our environment with packaging, we fill our minds with a constant stream of information. In his book “Digital Dementia”, the neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer warns about what constant use of digital media does to our concentration and our thinking.

What constant acceleration does to us

If we never come to rest, we live under constant stress. And it doesn’t only show in our heads. It can disrupt sleep, slow down recovery and become visible in our skin, our weight and our energy levels. From our mid-forties onwards in particular, many people notice more clearly that the body no longer simply shrugs everything off.

Longevity is therefore not only about training and nutrition. It is also about giving our nervous system a break.

For me for example. slow mornings are non negotiable.

5 ways to bring more calm into your day

1. Take the stairs. Walking up the stairs consciously, instead of looking at your phone on the escalator, gets you moving and gives you a moment just for yourself.

2. Walk or cycle wherever you can. It takes longer, but you move, get fresh air and start noticing your surroundings again.

3. Put your phone away when you are with people. An uninterrupted conversation is more restorative than we think, and the people around you will notice the difference.

4. Start the day calmly. A few minutes of breathing exercises, silence or gratitude in the morning, before you look at your phone for the first time, shape the whole day. If you start positively, you are more likely to notice opportunities instead of going through the day on the defensive.

5. Cook for yourself. Freshly prepared, unprocessed food instead of ready meals between two meetings. It is good for your body, and cooking itself slows you down.

Conclusion: the best investment is the one in ourselves

True radiance comes from inner contentment and outer care. If you look after your mental and physical health, you don’t just see it in the mirror, you feel it in your energy, your focus and your quality of life. Whether it is further learning, mental training or exercise: everything we invest in ourselves helps to slow the ageing process.

Slowing down is not a luxury. It is part of it.

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