Morning!
Before I say anything else, I just want to say:
I appreciate you.
For taking the time this morning to be here for the inaugural Slow Morning Letter!
I've wanted to start a newsletter for awhile, but the timing never felt "quite right" with the other projects I've been working on. I told myself I'd get around to it eventually. But as we know: eventually turns into next week. Next month. Next year.
Here we are next year, so no more excuses from me!
So grab something to sip on, and let's chat about the importance of a slow morning.
The Perfect Morning
We all have our own idea of the perfect morning:
Waking up naturally without the honk of an alarm
Relishing those moments (or hours) of warmth under the covers
Throwing on the outfit you wore yesterday, eating some gum for breakfast, and sprinting out the door to make that coffee date you forgot about
Whatever your preferred degree of chaos — it just feels "right". Slow.
Slow is a Feeling
A “slow morning” isn’t about doing everything as slowly as possible, but rather, at a pace that is comfortable.
Not rushing or breathing hard. Instead, moving steadily and acting with intention.
Just as everyone's perfect morning differs, so too will their definition of "slow".
The important piece here is that you feel in control of your morning — not speedrunning to beat a personal best. To meet an expectation.
Setting the Pace
If you're frantically trying to leave your place by 8:50 so you can get into the office or classroom by the "expected" 9:30, what happens if your train is delayed? Or your roommate is taking longer in the bathroom?
Nerves. Anxiety. They swoop in. You start panicking and rushing.
You arrive at 9:35.
5 minutes. And all you did was set yourself up to start your day stressed and frazzled.
Amid all of that, did you ever stop to ask yourself:
Can I Slow Down?
Yes, you can.
Obviously don't be an a-hole and show up at noon and say you were "smelling the roses", but you get what I mean. Arriving a few minutes later than you planned won't be the end of the world.
Sip your coffee slowly, for enjoyment — as the Europeans do. Not just to be wired for a day of staring at a screen or listening to someone else talk.
Take your walking pace, and slow it down a step or two. Take in your surroundings. Make your commute an experience, not another checkbox on your daily itinerary.
When we rush through even the seemingly insignificant parts that start our day, all we're doing is rushing toward work, class, and —
Your Last Day
We all know life isn't guaranteed, but rarely live with that knowledge.
If you knew your life was going to end today (yes, the day you're reading this), and you can only live your "normal" day, wouldn't you savor your morning just a bit more?
Take it a little slower?
Just something to sip on, have a lovely week!
🔮Weekly Wonders
💡 Idea
Relax for the same result | Derek Sivers
💬 Quote
"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."
—Annie Dillard
🪞 Question
What does your perfect morning look and feel like? How can you make this your norm?