February 14, 2025 • 24 mins
Today we are talking about Slowmaxxing: a way of maximizing your life—not by cramming more into your day, not by hustling until you’re exhausted, but by slowing down, being intentional, and focusing on what truly matters. The host, Paul, will unpack why slowing down is essential for your mental and emotional well-being.
Practical tips and strategies are brought to the forefront to help you adopt a slower, more mindful lifestyle. Learn how mindful eating, regular unplugging from technology, and the "one thing rule" can significantly enhance focus and reduce anxiety. By embracing a sustainable pace, counting your blessings, and reflecting on God's goodness, you'll unlock more pleasure and balance in everyday living.
Scripture
- Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”
- Psalm 46:10 – “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Related Episodes
- "The Rhythm of Rest" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1113380/episodes/12907646
- "Busy or Productive" https://www.buzzsprout.com/1113380/episodes/11828978
- "REST is Essential." https://www.buzzsprout.com/1113380/episodes/6871640
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome and thanks for tuning in to Real People,
real Talk Relevant conversationsthat take you from surviving to
thriving.
This is the podcast that goesthere.
My name is Paul Calcoat and I'myour host.
Now let's talk.
Hello, thriver, and welcome toReal People, real Talk, the
(00:33):
podcast ministry that equips youto thrive spiritually, mentally
and relationally.
I am so glad that you aretuning in today because we're
diving into a topic that feelsboth refreshing and so necessary
in a fast paced, always onworld.
I'm calling this one the art ofslow maxing thriving without the
(00:56):
rush and slow max and it fallsinto the category of mental
health and self-care.
Now you may be thinking hold on, paul.
What is what in the world isslow maxing?
What is that?
Well, it's exactly what itsounds like.
It's about maximizing your life, not by cramming more into your
day and not by hustling untilyou're exhausted, but by slowing
(01:17):
down, being intentional andfocusing on what truly matters.
To take it a step further, slowmaxing is this self-care trend
that encourages a slower pace oflife.
It's a shift away from thehustle culture and is more of a
shift towards living moreintentionally and in the moment.
(01:38):
And I'm gonna be honest herethis is nothing new or
groundbreaking as these thoughtsabout slow and intentional
living has been around forcenturies.
But today we want to take a newlook at our old philosophy.
Our culture today is so obsessedwith speed, with rushing.
You hear things like we can doa 10 minute oil change, we can
(02:01):
do a five minute car wash,instant rice, instant grits,
speed dating and so much more.
We burn with frustration Atleast I know I do If the website
doesn't load instantly, likeI'm, I'm a little upset.
Uh, oftentimes we eat instantoatmeal for breakfast or frozen
(02:21):
meal for lunch and we ordertakeout for dinner Fast living
101.
But slow maxing is a breath offresh air.
It's not about laziness no, I'mnot talking about the here.
I'm not talking about a lack ofambition.
In fact, it's quite theopposite.
It's about thriving, butwithout the burnout.
It's about living a life that'srich and meaningful at a
(02:43):
sustainable pace.
So here's what I'm coveringtoday.
I want you to stick with me.
You'll be glad you did whatslow maxing really is, why it's
important, the core principlesthat define this lifestyle.
I'm also going to providescriptural wisdom that aligns
with slow maxing and plenty ofpractical tips to help you get
(03:05):
started.
So I want you to grab yourfavorite drink, settle in and
let's talk about how slowingdown might be the most powerful
thing that you can do so you cantruly thrive.
So, first things first, what isslow maxing?
Slow maxing is the practice ofliving intentionally.
Slow maxing is the practice ofliving intentionally, embracing
(03:26):
slowness and focusing onsustainable growth.
It involves doing things better, not necessarily faster.
It's a conscious choice to livedifferently.
It's a way to to learn that youneed to take time for yourself,
take time for your mentalhealth.
It's the idea that noteverything valuable happens
(03:47):
quickly.
Some of the most beautifulthings in my life relationships,
personal growth and even myfaith took time to develop.
Slow maxing is the clarion callto get out of the fast lane and
stop rushing through this thingthat we call life.
Out of the fast lane and stoprushing through this thing that
we call life.
Slow maxing, also known as slowliving, is about embracing the
(04:10):
calm moments and making the mostof what you have in front of
you, taking the time, as theadage goes, to smell the roses,
to live in the now, to enjoy thegift of today, which is why we
call it the present.
Secondly, why do we need slowmaxing?
Let's face it, life now can bevery exhausting.
(04:34):
Yes, there has been a lot ofprogress in medicine and
industry and technology, butlife can be fast and it can be
overwhelming if we're notcareful and intentional.
We are constantly bombardedwith messages.
Like you know grind now, restlater, or you can sleep when
you're dead, or sleep is for theweak.
No, the devil is alive.
(04:54):
But here is the truth.
Chronic stress, burnout andoverwhelm are all symptoms of a
life that's too fast and toobusy.
God did not create you to livea life that's so busy, so fast,
that you don't have time for thethings that matters most.
Slow maxing is the antidote tothe grind culture.
(05:15):
It helps us to protect ourmental health, to protect our
emotional health, to fosterdeeper, more meaningful
relationships because we'reslowing down.
It will help us to cultivatecreativity and pursue joy.
It will help us to live withintention and with clarity and,
most importantly, it reminds usthat life is not a race that we
(05:36):
rush to the finish line, butit's a journey that we should be
enjoying.
So I want you to hear this, myfriend You're not falling behind
.
You are living your story andit's going to unfold at its own
pace.
So trust God's will for yourlife and trust his timing for
your life.
So you may be asking, like howdo we actually practice this
thing called slow maxing?
(05:57):
Here's some key principles toguide this lifestyle.
Number one presence overproductivity.
Let me say that again Presenceover productivity.
Instead of asking how much canI get done today, what if you
ask yourself from time to timehow fully present can I be in
(06:17):
what I'm doing, whether it'sworking or having a conversation
or enjoying a cup of tea?
Be all there, maximize themoment, live in the now.
Distractions steal so much fromus, but presence, being
intentionally there, being allin, brings us back.
One way that I want toincorporate this principle more
(06:39):
and more in my life is when my,when my wife and I, when we have
meals, whether it's at home orwhether we're in the restaurant,
we're going to do more of thesemeals without screens, without
the phone, without the TV.
No iPad, no computer, no laptop, no, nothing, just us fully
present with one another, so wecan continue to cherish one
another and foster and deepenour relationship.
(07:02):
All right, so presence overproductivity.
Secondly, I want to encourageyou to savor the simple things.
Life isn't just about the bigmilestones.
They're great.
Enjoy it, celebrate it, ofcourse, but it's also about the
small, ordinary moments.
Maybe it's the warmth ofsunlight on your skin, the
(07:25):
feeling of clean sheets after along day, or that moment when
you step into a hot shower.
It could be the first sip ofcoffee, the first sip of your
morning tea.
Don't rush through these things.
Carpe diem, seize the day,drink life to the least,
maximize the moment, enjoy thejourney of life.
(07:48):
I want to encourage you toenjoy, to cherish and to savor
each moment of life.
Now let's go to god's word.
The bible says in ecclesiastes,chapter 3 and verse 1 there is
a time for everything and aseason for every activity under
the heavens.
This tells us that life hasrhythms and seasons.
(08:12):
We are not meant to sprintthrough every single season and
every single day of our lives.
Psalms 46 and 10 says be stilland know that I am God.
Stillness isn't passive, butit's powerful.
It's in the stillness that wereconnect with God.
(08:33):
Now, moving on to the NewTestament, matthew, chapter 11,
verses 28 through 30, says cometo me all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give yourest.
Take my yoke upon you and learnfrom me, for I am gentle, I am
humble in heart, and you willfind rest for your souls, for my
(08:56):
yoke is easy and my burden islight.
Jesus didn't say come to me andI'll give you more to do.
He said I will give you rest,and that lets us know that rest
is not a weakness, but the restis sacred, and all of us should
incorporate healthy rhythms ofrest in every season of our
lives.
Now I want to give you somepractical tips for slow maxing
(09:19):
in your everyday life so you canthrive without the rush.
So we want to get practical,because if you're thinking like,
all right, paul, you talkedabout this term slow maximum,
but how do we live it out Mondaythrough Sunday?
All right, but I got you.
Here's some ways to start slowmaxing today.
And let me be clear there's nopressure to incorporate all of
these all the time, but takewhat works for you, depending on
(09:42):
the season, and just sprinkleit throughout your week.
So number one is this Take timeto be with Jesus and soak in
his presence.
If you only incorporate onething from today's episode, let
it be this Slow down and takethe time to be with Jesus.
If you are too busy to spendtime with Jesus.
(10:06):
You are too busy.
Indeed, I did an entiresermonic episode where I talked
about Mary and Martha, howMartha was too busy for Jesus.
But Mary slowed down to sit athis feet and so I want you to
check the show notes so you canlisten to the episode as well.
But the point was we need toslow down and not like this
drive-thru, hurry and rush timeand need to be out in five
minutes.
(10:26):
But there are some times wherewe need to slow down, worship
him, honor him, praise him, havea time of silence so he can, so
we can hear what God is sayingto us, and just soak in his
presence and slow down readingthe bible, and don't speed read
(10:47):
and don't read just to getthrough it, but dig in.
Read your bible to betransformed, read your bible to
be to have an encounter with thelord.
Because when I read in my BibleI like to slow down.
Of course I like, I love theconcept of speed, but when I
read about, I'm a slow down.
So what that looks like for meis if there's a word that I
don't understand in this contextfrom a biblical point of view,
(11:09):
I make sure that I have my phoneso I can Google what the word
means and, really you know, diginto what God is trying to say.
And then there's some timeswhere, depending on what version
of the Bible you have, where itwould have another scripture
reference that you know is veryconnected to that scripture.
So I would go and see what thatscripture has to say and see
the full picture of it in prayerand in worship.
(11:35):
Soak in his presence, spendquality time with him, unhurried
, unrushed time with God,because it's in his presence
where you can be restored, it'sin his presence where you can be
revived, it's in his presencewhere you can be renewed.
So, number one, take time to bewith Jesus and soak in his
(11:59):
presence.
Secondly, I want you toschedule white space in your
calendar.
My wife and I, we try toincorporate this at least once a
month and we used to call itlazy Saturdays but we now call
it recharge Saturday, and here'swhat it looked like for us in
the current season that we're inwe sleep in, we enjoy our
(12:20):
coffee, we enjoy ourconversation with one another.
We make sure to take time to doour devotional that we're
walking through, you know,spending time in the Word,
spending time in prayer with oneanother, then we lounge around
and we just have a slower pacedday catching up on our risks.
Just like margins in a book,make it readable, margins in
(12:41):
your life make it livable.
Block out time where nothing isscheduled, no meetings, no
chores, just space to breathe,reflect and do nothing.
And for you, depending on yourseason of life, right now, it
may not can be an entire day,but it can at least be the first
part of your morning from timeto time.
And because, I get it, we areall in different seasons of life
(13:01):
, different levels ofresponsibility, different levels
of business.
But I still would encourage youto take at least one action
step towards slow maxing, evenif it's just five minutes here
and five minutes there, and so,even more personally, here's
what slow max looks like in mylife.
Friday is my day off, but it's awork day for my wife, so it's
(13:24):
my day off, work where I'm athome, and so on those days I try
to have a shorter to do listand I start my morning off real
slow no alarm clock, I make mycoffee, I grab my Bible and I
enjoy, as I like to call it,coffee in Christ in my backyard,
outside under the gazebo, justspending time with the Lord at a
slower pace.
And speaking of coffee, what ifyou got up a little bit earlier
(13:49):
and instead of enjoying yourcoffee in the car and drinking
it on the go, what if youenjoyed your coffee at home?
That's a small step of slowingthings down and enjoying the
moment, because I like to sip mycoffee and just enjoy it.
And there are some days youknow where I'm, I'm in a rush or
I have a heavier load and Idrink my coffee to go.
There's nothing wrong withspeed, but I just want to
(14:11):
encourage you to slow down fromtime to time and just maximize
the moment, live in the now, bepresent.
But that's just.
That's just some food forthought.
On Fridays I also try to take abath.
I take my time with it, light acandle, get some bubble baths
and bath buns and enjoy a nicehot, slow bath and just more
(14:33):
intentional than the shower.
I love showers, but justsomething about a nice warm bath
All right.
On Sundays I slow max by takingthat good old after church,
after lunch nap that me and mywife enjoy.
And I also try to go for a walkoutside on Sundays as well, and
not necessarily, you know, runand get a personal record or
(14:53):
whatever, but you know,sometimes when I walk, I just
want to enjoy it.
And I remember one time Iwalked and I I was like, let me
just see what's going on, notjust speed past everything.
I noticed god's beauty innature, whether it was the green
grass or the beautiful trees,or I make sure to hear what I
was listening to, whether it wasdogs barking or, um, insects
(15:14):
buzzing, or even the birdschirping, and just taking time
to live in that moment and begrateful for the things I was
able to experience in thatmoment.
So, listen, you don't have todo this every single day, but I
just want you to be intentionaland find those moments for
yourself.
Ok, so, number one, you musttake time to be with Jesus.
Number two, schedule some whitespace in your calendar.
(15:37):
And number three and this issomething I really need to work
on is practice mindful eating.
How often do we eat on the go,distracted by a screen?
Instead, I want you to considertrying this Sit down with your
food, notice the colors, noticethe textures, notice the flavors
(16:00):
.
You don't have to just you know, speed eat and just wolf it
down.
That's how you get heartburn.
That's how you overeat, eatmore slowly, savoring each bite.
You don't have to inhale itSlow down and chew more down.
That's how you get heartburn.
That's how you overeat, eatmore slowly, savoring each bite.
You don't have to inhale itSlow down and chew more.
Like I said, it combatsovereating.
Ok, you don't have to have thistype of slow meal every time
you eat, but just try it hereand there.
It's a simple way to anchoryourself in the present moment.
(16:27):
Fourthly, I want you to unplugregularly.
Ok, designate times where youdisconnect from your phone, from
emails, from social media.
Maybe it's the first hour ofyour morning or it's the last
hour before you go to bed, butgive your mind a break from the
constant stimulation.
And once again, I know there'sdifferent levels of
responsibilities and you may beexpecting notifications from a
family member just in case ofemergency, and you may be
(16:49):
expecting notifications from afamily member just in case of
emergency.
All that is good, but this isone thing that we should try to
incorporate as often as we can.
It's kind of unplugging fromour devices.
Ok, because you don't need toalways be on.
Only God is always on.
Ok, that's not healthy for us.
And then, fifthly I call this aone thing rule healthy for us.
(17:11):
And then, fifthly, I call thisa one thing rule.
When you feel overwhelmed, askyourself what's the one thing
that I can focus on right now?
Not five things, just one thing.
This reduces anxiety and helpsto give your full attention to
what matters.
I heard it also called the winmethod what's important now?
So this is just a nugget, somefood for thought, like if you're
ever having an overwhelming day, you just want to slow it down.
(17:33):
Once again, just ask yourselfwhat's the most important thing
that I can focus on right nowand then go from there.
Number six I want you toincorporate nature into your day
or your week, depending on yourschedule.
Even if it's just a few minutesoutside, it can reset your
nervous system, and here's somethings to think about.
You can feel the breeze on yourface, notice the sounds of the
(17:57):
birds, watch the clouds move,watch the sunrise or watch the
sunset.
Nature has a way of remindingus that growth happens slowly
but surely.
Number seven invest in yourrelationships Once again.
I mentioned this earlier, butincorporate more meals without
(18:19):
screens.
Have more conversations withone another, schedule date
nights with your spouse.
Schedule family nights andvacations with your family
nights with your spouse.
Schedule family nights andvacations with your family.
Then, for your extended family,I would encourage you to pick
up the phone and call them moreor to FaceTime them more, and
don't always just settle for atext.
And once again, nothing iswrong with texting, but
(18:40):
sometimes you need to slow itdown.
Go to the extra mile, call orFaceTime a loved one.
Number eight invest time intoyour hobbies.
Hobbies are not just for kids.
As adults, we can have fun andwe can play as well.
Invest time into your hobbies.
Carve out time for some fun,whether it is reading, painting,
sewing, coloring or gardening.
(19:02):
One of my hobbies is basketball.
Carve out about two and a halfhours, which includes a commute
and time to take to get dressedand actual playing, but I carve
out about two and a half hours aweek to have a good hoop
session and this, this workswonders for me.
I love the community, I lovethe exercise.
Um, playing basketball as youmay have heard me say this
(19:23):
before, it's my favorite form ofcardio.
I said that to say this Don'tget too busy that you don't have
time to have fun and enjoy life.
As a matter of fact, plan yourjoy.
What are those activities thatbring you joy?
Discover those and then put iton the calendar and have some
(19:47):
fun.
Number nine I touched on thisjust a little bit, but I want
you to get your rest and to getyour sleep.
Let me say that again Get yourrest and get your sleep.
It was an author, anne LaMathasaid almost everything will work
again if you unplug it for afew minutes, including you.
(20:08):
Rest and sleep is foundationalto how we function.
Rest restores your body, restsharpens your mind and rest
regulates your emotion.
The Bible says in Psalms 23,verses 2 and 3, he makes me lie
down in green pastures.
He makes me lie down in greenpastures.
(20:33):
He leaves me beside quietwaters.
He restores my soul.
Notice the words make me liedown.
Sometimes, when we resist, riskso much that life, or even god,
has to remind us to slow down.
Rest isn't just good for us,it's sacred, because nobody wins
when you are always on the go,always going 100 miles per hour,
(20:55):
always overwhelmed and burnout,just rushing through life with
depleted energy levels.
This isn't good for you or yourfamily.
So, yes, I want you to enjoylife and you have to grind from
time to time and pick up speed.
Yes, I want you to enjoy lifeand you have to grind from time
to time and pick up speed, andyou know I want you to be
productive, but I want you to doso at a healthy and sustainable
pace.
Slow down, embracing slow maxcan help you to prevent burnout
(21:22):
and to reduce stress.
So stop rushing all the time,because haste can make a waste.
And, speaking of rushing, startspeeding all the time to save
you money, so you don't get aticket, and it can help you to
prevent accidents.
So slow down, all right, andmore ways than one, do what you
can right now to find a moresustainable pace for your life.
I think about Jesus.
Jesus was very productive, buthe was never in a rush.
(21:51):
I think about a lot of hismiracles happen as he was on the
way to somewhere else.
He always would slow down andbe interruptible.
He was going to heal somebody'sdaughter, but this woman that
had an issue of blood stops himand he slows down.
And there was a healing and amiracle that took place.
He was never running, never hada sustainable pace and he
accomplished so much.
Think about that.
Jesus was very productive, butnever in a rush.
(22:15):
Slow maxing is not about doingless for the sake of doing less.
It's about doing what mattersmost, with presence, with peace
and purpose.
It's about focusing on beingintentional, present and mindful
.
What if?
Think about this what if thebest version of you and the best
(22:36):
version of your life wasn't thebusiest one, but the one where
you feel most alive, whereyou're connected to your purpose
, connected to God, connected topeople and connected to
yourself in a healthy way?
Remember this, talking aboutslow maxing, thriving without
the rush.
You're not behind, you're notlate.
You're exactly where you needto be, because God has a way of
(22:59):
redeeming the time.
But that's another sermon foranother day.
You deserve guilt-free time foryourself.
I'll say this once more Slowdown, my friend.
Start that long movie.
Read that thick book.
Take time to meal prep and cookmeals.
Go for a long walk, listen to along podcast or listen to a
full album.
Take time to count yourblessings, list them out and be
(23:22):
reminded of God's goodness andGod's faithfulness in your life.
Embrace slow maxing, which canlead to more gratitude and less
anxiety.
So I'll leave you with this.
I know I have given you a lotof information, definitions,
scriptures and practical tips,and more.
This may be the episode thatyou listen to multiple times and
take time to incorporate thisphilosophy.
(23:42):
There's no need for an instantoverhaul, but take a few steps
today toward a more sustainablepace, because we can get more
pleasure out of life when weslow down.
Embrace the art of slow maxingso you can thrive without the
rush.
And that would do it for today.
(24:04):
Until next time, my friend, go,be all that god has called you
to be and slow down, smell theroses, slow down and enjoy the
light that god has graciouslygiven you and share this episode
with a friend right now.
Welcome and thanks for tuning in to Real People,
real Talk Relevant conversationsthat take you from surviving to
thriving.
This is the podcast that goesthere.
My name is Paul Calcoat and I'myour host.
Now let's talk.
Hello, thriver, and welcome toReal People, real Talk, the
(00:33):
podcast ministry that equips youto thrive spiritually, mentally
and relationally.
I am so glad that you aretuning in today because we're
diving into a topic that feelsboth refreshing and so necessary
in a fast paced, always onworld.
I'm calling this one the art ofslow maxing thriving without the
(00:56):
rush and slow max and it fallsinto the category of mental
health and self-care.
Now you may be thinking hold on, paul.
What is what in the world isslow maxing?
What is that?
Well, it's exactly what itsounds like.
It's about maximizing your life, not by cramming more into your
day and not by hustling untilyou're exhausted, but by slowing
(01:17):
down, being intentional andfocusing on what truly matters.
To take it a step further, slowmaxing is this self-care trend
that encourages a slower pace oflife.
It's a shift away from thehustle culture and is more of a
shift towards living moreintentionally and in the moment.
(01:38):
And I'm gonna be honest herethis is nothing new or
groundbreaking as these thoughtsabout slow and intentional
living has been around forcenturies.
But today we want to take a newlook at our old philosophy.
Our culture today is so obsessedwith speed, with rushing.
You hear things like we can doa 10 minute oil change, we can
(02:01):
do a five minute car wash,instant rice, instant grits,
speed dating and so much more.
We burn with frustration Atleast I know I do If the website
doesn't load instantly, likeI'm, I'm a little upset.
Uh, oftentimes we eat instantoatmeal for breakfast or frozen
(02:21):
meal for lunch and we ordertakeout for dinner Fast living
101.
But slow maxing is a breath offresh air.
It's not about laziness no, I'mnot talking about the here.
I'm not talking about a lack ofambition.
In fact, it's quite theopposite.
It's about thriving, butwithout the burnout.
It's about living a life that'srich and meaningful at a
(02:43):
sustainable pace.
So here's what I'm coveringtoday.
I want you to stick with me.
You'll be glad you did whatslow maxing really is, why it's
important, the core principlesthat define this lifestyle.
I'm also going to providescriptural wisdom that aligns
with slow maxing and plenty ofpractical tips to help you get
(03:05):
started.
So I want you to grab yourfavorite drink, settle in and
let's talk about how slowingdown might be the most powerful
thing that you can do so you cantruly thrive.
So, first things first, what isslow maxing?
Slow maxing is the practice ofliving intentionally.
Slow maxing is the practice ofliving intentionally, embracing
(03:26):
slowness and focusing onsustainable growth.
It involves doing things better, not necessarily faster.
It's a conscious choice to livedifferently.
It's a way to to learn that youneed to take time for yourself,
take time for your mentalhealth.
It's the idea that noteverything valuable happens
(03:47):
quickly.
Some of the most beautifulthings in my life relationships,
personal growth and even myfaith took time to develop.
Slow maxing is the clarion callto get out of the fast lane and
stop rushing through this thingthat we call life.
Out of the fast lane and stoprushing through this thing that
we call life.
Slow maxing, also known as slowliving, is about embracing the
(04:10):
calm moments and making the mostof what you have in front of
you, taking the time, as theadage goes, to smell the roses,
to live in the now, to enjoy thegift of today, which is why we
call it the present.
Secondly, why do we need slowmaxing?
Let's face it, life now can bevery exhausting.
(04:34):
Yes, there has been a lot ofprogress in medicine and
industry and technology, butlife can be fast and it can be
overwhelming if we're notcareful and intentional.
We are constantly bombardedwith messages.
Like you know grind now, restlater, or you can sleep when
you're dead, or sleep is for theweak.
No, the devil is alive.
(04:54):
But here is the truth.
Chronic stress, burnout andoverwhelm are all symptoms of a
life that's too fast and toobusy.
God did not create you to livea life that's so busy, so fast,
that you don't have time for thethings that matters most.
Slow maxing is the antidote tothe grind culture.
(05:15):
It helps us to protect ourmental health, to protect our
emotional health, to fosterdeeper, more meaningful
relationships because we'reslowing down.
It will help us to cultivatecreativity and pursue joy.
It will help us to live withintention and with clarity and,
most importantly, it reminds usthat life is not a race that we
(05:36):
rush to the finish line, butit's a journey that we should be
enjoying.
So I want you to hear this, myfriend You're not falling behind
.
You are living your story andit's going to unfold at its own
pace.
So trust God's will for yourlife and trust his timing for
your life.
So you may be asking, like howdo we actually practice this
thing called slow maxing?
(05:57):
Here's some key principles toguide this lifestyle.
Number one presence overproductivity.
Let me say that again Presenceover productivity.
Instead of asking how much canI get done today, what if you
ask yourself from time to timehow fully present can I be in
(06:17):
what I'm doing, whether it'sworking or having a conversation
or enjoying a cup of tea?
Be all there, maximize themoment, live in the now.
Distractions steal so much fromus, but presence, being
intentionally there, being allin, brings us back.
One way that I want toincorporate this principle more
(06:39):
and more in my life is when my,when my wife and I, when we have
meals, whether it's at home orwhether we're in the restaurant,
we're going to do more of thesemeals without screens, without
the phone, without the TV.
No iPad, no computer, no laptop, no, nothing, just us fully
present with one another, so wecan continue to cherish one
another and foster and deepenour relationship.
(07:02):
All right, so presence overproductivity.
Secondly, I want to encourageyou to savor the simple things.
Life isn't just about the bigmilestones.
They're great.
Enjoy it, celebrate it, ofcourse, but it's also about the
small, ordinary moments.
Maybe it's the warmth ofsunlight on your skin, the
(07:25):
feeling of clean sheets after along day, or that moment when
you step into a hot shower.
It could be the first sip ofcoffee, the first sip of your
morning tea.
Don't rush through these things.
Carpe diem, seize the day,drink life to the least,
maximize the moment, enjoy thejourney of life.
(07:48):
I want to encourage you toenjoy, to cherish and to savor
each moment of life.
Now let's go to god's word.
The bible says in ecclesiastes,chapter 3 and verse 1 there is
a time for everything and aseason for every activity under
the heavens.
This tells us that life hasrhythms and seasons.
(08:12):
We are not meant to sprintthrough every single season and
every single day of our lives.
Psalms 46 and 10 says be stilland know that I am God.
Stillness isn't passive, butit's powerful.
It's in the stillness that wereconnect with God.
(08:33):
Now, moving on to the NewTestament, matthew, chapter 11,
verses 28 through 30, says cometo me all you who are weary and
burdened, and I will give yourest.
Take my yoke upon you and learnfrom me, for I am gentle, I am
humble in heart, and you willfind rest for your souls, for my
(08:56):
yoke is easy and my burden islight.
Jesus didn't say come to me andI'll give you more to do.
He said I will give you rest,and that lets us know that rest
is not a weakness, but the restis sacred, and all of us should
incorporate healthy rhythms ofrest in every season of our
lives.
Now I want to give you somepractical tips for slow maxing
(09:19):
in your everyday life so you canthrive without the rush.
So we want to get practical,because if you're thinking like,
all right, paul, you talkedabout this term slow maximum,
but how do we live it out Mondaythrough Sunday?
All right, but I got you.
Here's some ways to start slowmaxing today.
And let me be clear there's nopressure to incorporate all of
these all the time, but takewhat works for you, depending on
(09:42):
the season, and just sprinkleit throughout your week.
So number one is this Take timeto be with Jesus and soak in
his presence.
If you only incorporate onething from today's episode, let
it be this Slow down and takethe time to be with Jesus.
If you are too busy to spendtime with Jesus.
(10:06):
You are too busy.
Indeed, I did an entiresermonic episode where I talked
about Mary and Martha, howMartha was too busy for Jesus.
But Mary slowed down to sit athis feet and so I want you to
check the show notes so you canlisten to the episode as well.
But the point was we need toslow down and not like this
drive-thru, hurry and rush timeand need to be out in five
minutes.
(10:26):
But there are some times wherewe need to slow down, worship
him, honor him, praise him, havea time of silence so he can, so
we can hear what God is sayingto us, and just soak in his
presence and slow down readingthe bible, and don't speed read
(10:47):
and don't read just to getthrough it, but dig in.
Read your bible to betransformed, read your bible to
be to have an encounter with thelord.
Because when I read in my BibleI like to slow down.
Of course I like, I love theconcept of speed, but when I
read about, I'm a slow down.
So what that looks like for meis if there's a word that I
don't understand in this contextfrom a biblical point of view,
(11:09):
I make sure that I have my phoneso I can Google what the word
means and, really you know, diginto what God is trying to say.
And then there's some timeswhere, depending on what version
of the Bible you have, where itwould have another scripture
reference that you know is veryconnected to that scripture.
So I would go and see what thatscripture has to say and see
the full picture of it in prayerand in worship.
(11:35):
Soak in his presence, spendquality time with him, unhurried
, unrushed time with God,because it's in his presence
where you can be restored, it'sin his presence where you can be
revived, it's in his presencewhere you can be renewed.
So, number one, take time to bewith Jesus and soak in his
(11:59):
presence.
Secondly, I want you toschedule white space in your
calendar.
My wife and I, we try toincorporate this at least once a
month and we used to call itlazy Saturdays but we now call
it recharge Saturday, and here'swhat it looked like for us in
the current season that we're inwe sleep in, we enjoy our
(12:20):
coffee, we enjoy ourconversation with one another.
We make sure to take time to doour devotional that we're
walking through, you know,spending time in the Word,
spending time in prayer with oneanother, then we lounge around
and we just have a slower pacedday catching up on our risks.
Just like margins in a book,make it readable, margins in
(12:41):
your life make it livable.
Block out time where nothing isscheduled, no meetings, no
chores, just space to breathe,reflect and do nothing.
And for you, depending on yourseason of life, right now, it
may not can be an entire day,but it can at least be the first
part of your morning from timeto time.
And because, I get it, we areall in different seasons of life
(13:01):
, different levels ofresponsibility, different levels
of business.
But I still would encourage youto take at least one action
step towards slow maxing, evenif it's just five minutes here
and five minutes there, and so,even more personally, here's
what slow max looks like in mylife.
Friday is my day off, but it's awork day for my wife, so it's
(13:24):
my day off, work where I'm athome, and so on those days I try
to have a shorter to do listand I start my morning off real
slow no alarm clock, I make mycoffee, I grab my Bible and I
enjoy, as I like to call it,coffee in Christ in my backyard,
outside under the gazebo, justspending time with the Lord at a
slower pace.
And speaking of coffee, what ifyou got up a little bit earlier
(13:49):
and instead of enjoying yourcoffee in the car and drinking
it on the go, what if youenjoyed your coffee at home?
That's a small step of slowingthings down and enjoying the
moment, because I like to sip mycoffee and just enjoy it.
And there are some days youknow where I'm, I'm in a rush or
I have a heavier load and Idrink my coffee to go.
There's nothing wrong withspeed, but I just want to
(14:11):
encourage you to slow down fromtime to time and just maximize
the moment, live in the now, bepresent.
But that's just.
That's just some food forthought.
On Fridays I also try to take abath.
I take my time with it, light acandle, get some bubble baths
and bath buns and enjoy a nicehot, slow bath and just more
(14:33):
intentional than the shower.
I love showers, but justsomething about a nice warm bath
All right.
On Sundays I slow max by takingthat good old after church,
after lunch nap that me and mywife enjoy.
And I also try to go for a walkoutside on Sundays as well, and
not necessarily, you know, runand get a personal record or
(14:53):
whatever, but you know,sometimes when I walk, I just
want to enjoy it.
And I remember one time Iwalked and I I was like, let me
just see what's going on, notjust speed past everything.
I noticed god's beauty innature, whether it was the green
grass or the beautiful trees,or I make sure to hear what I
was listening to, whether it wasdogs barking or, um, insects
(15:14):
buzzing, or even the birdschirping, and just taking time
to live in that moment and begrateful for the things I was
able to experience in thatmoment.
So, listen, you don't have todo this every single day, but I
just want you to be intentionaland find those moments for
yourself.
Ok, so, number one, you musttake time to be with Jesus.
Number two, schedule some whitespace in your calendar.
(15:37):
And number three and this issomething I really need to work
on is practice mindful eating.
How often do we eat on the go,distracted by a screen?
Instead, I want you to considertrying this Sit down with your
food, notice the colors, noticethe textures, notice the flavors
(16:00):
.
You don't have to just you know, speed eat and just wolf it
down.
That's how you get heartburn.
That's how you overeat, eatmore slowly, savoring each bite.
You don't have to inhale itSlow down and chew more down.
That's how you get heartburn.
That's how you overeat, eatmore slowly, savoring each bite.
You don't have to inhale itSlow down and chew more.
Like I said, it combatsovereating.
Ok, you don't have to have thistype of slow meal every time
you eat, but just try it hereand there.
It's a simple way to anchoryourself in the present moment.
(16:27):
Fourthly, I want you to unplugregularly.
Ok, designate times where youdisconnect from your phone, from
emails, from social media.
Maybe it's the first hour ofyour morning or it's the last
hour before you go to bed, butgive your mind a break from the
constant stimulation.
And once again, I know there'sdifferent levels of
responsibilities and you may beexpecting notifications from a
family member just in case ofemergency, and you may be
(16:49):
expecting notifications from afamily member just in case of
emergency.
All that is good, but this isone thing that we should try to
incorporate as often as we can.
It's kind of unplugging fromour devices.
Ok, because you don't need toalways be on.
Only God is always on.
Ok, that's not healthy for us.
And then, fifthly I call this aone thing rule healthy for us.
(17:11):
And then, fifthly, I call thisa one thing rule.
When you feel overwhelmed, askyourself what's the one thing
that I can focus on right now?
Not five things, just one thing.
This reduces anxiety and helpsto give your full attention to
what matters.
I heard it also called the winmethod what's important now?
So this is just a nugget, somefood for thought, like if you're
ever having an overwhelming day, you just want to slow it down.
(17:33):
Once again, just ask yourselfwhat's the most important thing
that I can focus on right nowand then go from there.
Number six I want you toincorporate nature into your day
or your week, depending on yourschedule.
Even if it's just a few minutesoutside, it can reset your
nervous system, and here's somethings to think about.
You can feel the breeze on yourface, notice the sounds of the
(17:57):
birds, watch the clouds move,watch the sunrise or watch the
sunset.
Nature has a way of remindingus that growth happens slowly
but surely.
Number seven invest in yourrelationships Once again.
I mentioned this earlier, butincorporate more meals without
(18:19):
screens.
Have more conversations withone another, schedule date
nights with your spouse.
Schedule family nights andvacations with your family
nights with your spouse.
Schedule family nights andvacations with your family.
Then, for your extended family,I would encourage you to pick
up the phone and call them moreor to FaceTime them more, and
don't always just settle for atext.
And once again, nothing iswrong with texting, but
(18:40):
sometimes you need to slow itdown.
Go to the extra mile, call orFaceTime a loved one.
Number eight invest time intoyour hobbies.
Hobbies are not just for kids.
As adults, we can have fun andwe can play as well.
Invest time into your hobbies.
Carve out time for some fun,whether it is reading, painting,
sewing, coloring or gardening.
(19:02):
One of my hobbies is basketball.
Carve out about two and a halfhours, which includes a commute
and time to take to get dressedand actual playing, but I carve
out about two and a half hours aweek to have a good hoop
session and this, this workswonders for me.
I love the community, I lovethe exercise.
Um, playing basketball as youmay have heard me say this
(19:23):
before, it's my favorite form ofcardio.
I said that to say this Don'tget too busy that you don't have
time to have fun and enjoy life.
As a matter of fact, plan yourjoy.
What are those activities thatbring you joy?
Discover those and then put iton the calendar and have some
(19:47):
fun.
Number nine I touched on thisjust a little bit, but I want
you to get your rest and to getyour sleep.
Let me say that again Get yourrest and get your sleep.
It was an author, anne LaMathasaid almost everything will work
again if you unplug it for afew minutes, including you.
(20:08):
Rest and sleep is foundationalto how we function.
Rest restores your body, restsharpens your mind and rest
regulates your emotion.
The Bible says in Psalms 23,verses 2 and 3, he makes me lie
down in green pastures.
He makes me lie down in greenpastures.
(20:33):
He leaves me beside quietwaters.
He restores my soul.
Notice the words make me liedown.
Sometimes, when we resist, riskso much that life, or even god,
has to remind us to slow down.
Rest isn't just good for us,it's sacred, because nobody wins
when you are always on the go,always going 100 miles per hour,
(20:55):
always overwhelmed and burnout,just rushing through life with
depleted energy levels.
This isn't good for you or yourfamily.
So, yes, I want you to enjoylife and you have to grind from
time to time and pick up speed.
Yes, I want you to enjoy lifeand you have to grind from time
to time and pick up speed, andyou know I want you to be
productive, but I want you to doso at a healthy and sustainable
pace.
Slow down, embracing slow maxcan help you to prevent burnout
(21:22):
and to reduce stress.
So stop rushing all the time,because haste can make a waste.
And, speaking of rushing, startspeeding all the time to save
you money, so you don't get aticket, and it can help you to
prevent accidents.
So slow down, all right, andmore ways than one, do what you
can right now to find a moresustainable pace for your life.
I think about Jesus.
Jesus was very productive, buthe was never in a rush.
(21:51):
I think about a lot of hismiracles happen as he was on the
way to somewhere else.
He always would slow down andbe interruptible.
He was going to heal somebody'sdaughter, but this woman that
had an issue of blood stops himand he slows down.
And there was a healing and amiracle that took place.
He was never running, never hada sustainable pace and he
accomplished so much.
Think about that.
Jesus was very productive, butnever in a rush.
(22:15):
Slow maxing is not about doingless for the sake of doing less.
It's about doing what mattersmost, with presence, with peace
and purpose.
It's about focusing on beingintentional, present and mindful
.
What if?
Think about this what if thebest version of you and the best
(22:36):
version of your life wasn't thebusiest one, but the one where
you feel most alive, whereyou're connected to your purpose
, connected to God, connected topeople and connected to
yourself in a healthy way?
Remember this, talking aboutslow maxing, thriving without
the rush.
You're not behind, you're notlate.
You're exactly where you needto be, because God has a way of
(22:59):
redeeming the time.
But that's another sermon foranother day.
You deserve guilt-free time foryourself.
I'll say this once more Slowdown, my friend.
Start that long movie.
Read that thick book.
Take time to meal prep and cookmeals.
Go for a long walk, listen to along podcast or listen to a
full album.
Take time to count yourblessings, list them out and be
(23:22):
reminded of God's goodness andGod's faithfulness in your life.
Embrace slow maxing, which canlead to more gratitude and less
anxiety.
So I'll leave you with this.
I know I have given you a lotof information, definitions,
scriptures and practical tips,and more.
This may be the episode thatyou listen to multiple times and
take time to incorporate thisphilosophy.
(23:42):
There's no need for an instantoverhaul, but take a few steps
today toward a more sustainablepace, because we can get more
pleasure out of life when weslow down.
Embrace the art of slow maxingso you can thrive without the
rush.
And that would do it for today.
(24:04):
Until next time, my friend, go,be all that god has called you
to be and slow down, smell theroses, slow down and enjoy the
light that god has graciouslygiven you and share this episode
with a friend right now.
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