Living Day by Day
Finding Comfort in Slowing Down
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Not every day is filled with action and excitement. Some days, life feels calm and quiet. Do you feel comfortable on those days? I’m passionate about discussing the concept of living day by day, as I understand the struggle of constantly seeking stimulation and busyness.
Think of it as an addiction. When we are constantly busy, it can create a cycle where we feel the need to fill every moment with activity, making it difficult to slow down and find peace.
This “busy addiction” can lead to several negative consequences, including stress, burnout, and a diminished ability to connect with ourselves and with Allah.
Let us dig deeper into the signs of “busy addiction” and its consequences while gaining insights into tips for living day by day.
Losing the Sweetness of Living Day by Day:
Constantly chasing this world and everything it contains does not give us time to slow down and process.
The sad truth is that if we don’t take the time to appreciate the moment and instead rush to the next thing, we don’t realize that we may never have that precious experience again.
I often found myself caught up in a constant chase of distractions before my miscarriage. I was constantly in the company of others or attending events nonstop, even when I felt drained.
At one point, I had to ask myself whether I was doing all of this, including seeking knowledge, solely for the sake of Allah, or if there were some underlying motives for my own need to feel busy and distracted.
The miscarriage halted my life and forced me to slow down. This became a beautiful blessing in disguise, as it is with everything we are tested with.
It’s wonderful to have an action-packed day and feel a sense of accomplishment. However, a problem arises when we become uncomfortable with and lose appreciation for simpler, slower days.
12 Potential Signs of "Busy Addiction" :
Intentionally Overfilling Your Schedule: You deliberately pack your schedule with activities, leaving little to no room for downtime or relaxation.
Always Needing to Be in the Presence of Someone: You feel uncomfortable being alone and constantly seek the company of others.
Constant Need for Stimulation: You find it hard to be without stimulation, whether it’s going out, scrolling on your phone, talking on the phone, or engaging in other activities.
Inability to Be in Silence: You feel uneasy or anxious when there is silence and feel the need to fill it with noise or activity.
Discomfort with Slow Pace: You find it hard to slow down and feel uncomfortable with a slower pace of life.
Feeling of Disconnect with Your Emotions and Experiences: You feel detached from your emotions and experiences, as if you are just going through the motions without truly experiencing them.
Constant Need for Activity: You feel the need to be constantly busy and find it difficult to relax or do nothing.
Overcommitting: You frequently overcommit to tasks, projects, and social engagements, leaving little time for yourself.
Feeling Guilty When Not Busy: You feel guilty or anxious when you are not doing something productive.
Difficulty Saying No: You find it hard to say no to new tasks or responsibilities, even when you are already overwhelmed.
Chronic Fatigue: You experience constant tiredness and lack of energy due to overexertion.
Lack of Enjoyment: You find it hard to enjoy activities that you used to find pleasurable because you are focused on doing not being.
18 Strategies to Try Living Day by Day:
1. Set a Clear Intention: Start each day with the intention to be more present in your life, with others, in your worship, and with Allah. This intention will inshaAllah guide your actions throughout the day.
Write It Down: Write your intention in a journal or on a sticky note and place it somewhere visible to remind you of your goal.
2. Acknowledge Slip-Ups: Recognize that slipping back into old habits is part of the process. Don’t be hard on yourself when it happens.
Reflect on what triggered your slip and how you can avoid it in the future. Use it as a learning opportunity.
3. Mindful Awareness: Pay attention to moments when you’re moving fast through life. Use this awareness to slow down and be present.
4. Pause and Breathe: When you notice you are moving or making decisions too fast, take a few deep breaths to center yourself and bring your attention back to the present moment.
Ask Allah to guide you to make the best choices and commitments.
5. Quality Experiences: Prioritize the quality of your presence over the quantity of activities you engage in.
6. Avoid Overcommitting: Be mindful of not overcommitting. It’s better to engage in a few activities with full presence than to spread yourself thin and attend without focus.
7. Simplify Your Schedule: Eliminate unnecessary tasks and commitments that do not add value to your life.
8. Embrace Slower Days: Accept that slower days feel different and embrace them.
Take time to appreciate and enjoy moments of silence and stillness, recognizing them as opportunities for reflection, gratitude, and connection with Allah.
9. Supplicate for Presence: Regularly ask Allah to help you be present and mindful in every aspect of your life. Make this a part of your daily supplications.
10. Reflect on Impermanence: Realize that this life is a temporary amusement and even when we have those exciting days and moments, as quick as they come, as quick as they leave.
11.Transform Mundane Tasks: View mundane tasks as acts of worship. Whether you are cooking, cleaning, working, or studying, do it with the intention of pleasing Allah and fulfilling your responsibilities.
12. Acknowledge and appreciate the blessings in your life: Appreciate even the smallest blessings on slow days, such as having a comfy couch and a nice cup of coffee.
We can even remind ourselves of the blessing that we are free from terror and oppression.
13. Identify Priorities: Clearly identify what matters most to you in life and focus your attention on those priorities. Worshipping and obeying Allah should be #1 !
14. Present Moment Awareness: Regularly remind yourself to bring your attention back to the present moment, whether you are eating, walking, or interacting with others.
15. Set Boundaries: Learn to say no to unnecessary commitments and set clear boundaries around your time.
16. Limit Stimulation: Reduce the amount of time you spend on stimulating activities such as scrolling on your phone or watching TV.
Instead, engage more in activities that promote mindfulness and presence such as reading the Quran, taking a walk, connecting with nature, or engaging in dhikr.
17. Mindful Transitions: Use transitions between activities as opportunities to pause and reconnect.
For example, make a dua and thank Allah before moving on to whatever is next.
18. Mind-Body-Spirit Connection: Recognize the importance of the mind-body-soul connection.
So beautiful that when we pray, we engage all three. Think about this in social terms as well; consider how our Prophet (ﷺ) made everyone feel special with each interaction—he was truly present.
When all three are aligned, you experience a sense of wholeness and fulfillment in your days.
The Here and Now!
By incorporating these tips into your daily life, you can gradually shift your focus from constant busyness to a more balanced and mindful existence.
The goal is not to always be doing. Our deen is about balance. While action-packed days can be exhilarating, slower days are essential for building patience, reflection, and growth.
I pray that Allah blesses us with the sweetness of contentment in every day of our lives.I love you for the sake of Allah sis, XOXO.
What do you like most about slower, simpler days? Comment below!
Click here to learn more about my journey through miscarriage and my experience with grief and loss.