Recap

“If you want to be happy, do not dwell in the past, do not worry about the future, focus on living fully in the present.” – Roy T. Bennett

When we rush through life we leave little time to take in the good that is happening around us. Living in the now, slowing down and choosing to savour can help us to relax, reduces stress and provides us with time out to bring us calm and enjoyment.

Living in the now means taking a few moments each day to truly focus on one thing, like having a warm shower, eating food slowly and taking time to enjoy it, taking a look at one picture and noticing everything in it, or sitting on a bench and looking at everything around you. Slowing down can give us time to put things into perspective as well as appreciate and enjoy what is happening around us. When we take time to enjoy the positive experiences right in front of us the experience can linger in our memory for longer and boost our mood.

Experiments

Research tells us that savouring, slowing down & relaxing can improve our well-being. As part of 10:10 we want to give you the opportunity to experiment and try out ideas to practise what we have learnt. This will help you to see if savouring and slowing down makes you happier.

Find a quiet place to sit or go for a walk and do the senses activity — what can you touch, taste, smell, see, and hear.
Look at the pictures on your social media feed or phone that you are either in, or took. Spend at least 15 seconds looking at each picture before you go to the next one. What do you notice in the picture? Recall where you were, who you were with and what you remember that was good about that moment.
The next time you have something to eat or drink, slow down and take time to enjoy the taste.
Lie down on the ground outside and stare up at the clouds, what shapes can you see?
Go star-gazing (on a clear night you can spot satellites).
Do some relaxation exercises.
Go for a walk and: Collect things you could put into a piece of art; Photograph interesting things you see; Sit somewhere and take time to look around you and relax.
Fly a kite.
Switch off your phone or get rid of distractions so you can be quiet for half an hour.