“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow – that is patience.”
In this age of high-speed internet, touch-screen cellphones, ATMs, and fast-food, it’s no surprise that our ever-evolving technology has harbored a society in which everything is expected to be done quickly.
If we order food at a restaurant and it’s a bit late, we become annoyed. Even though sit-in restaurants are mostly for enjoying the company of your friends or reading while you wait for your food, people still can’t seem to get over how long it takes to make a quality meal.
People have come to value their time over the quality of their lives. And that’s not a bad thing at all. People should value their time because it’s obviously limited. However, valuing time at the expense of quality can be detrimental to the life you live. This is what I call having the “fast food mindset”: time minus quality = extra time.
What’s the point the of life if you only try to save time for the sake of saving time? It defeats the purpose of lifehacking, productivity, and all the other methods we’ve learned on reclaiming time.
Take a look at these reasons why slowing down your lifestyle and ridding yourself of the “fast-food mindset” could be good for you:
You can perceive the little things
When you speed through life you miss the little things in life. The caress of a light summer breeze, watching a kid try and catch pollen in their hands, the intricate interior design on your car; these things may seem pretty pointless, it’s interesting to witness life as it happens. There’s more to life than just buying things and checking your email. You reside in a living, breathing world. Take a break from the internet for a while and witness life.
Quality becomes just as significant as time
Everyone sets goals like incorporate a habit into your life for 30 days or finish a long list of books before summer ends, but, in reality, the numbers don’t matter that much. Would you rather speed through a book and finish not having learned anything or would it be better to read at your own pace and add a title to your list of favorite books? Some of us are naturally fast readers, but for those of who just want to finish for the sake of completion, take it easy. It is only when you “stop to smell the roses” that you can really the quality of things around you.
You’re more relaxed in what you do with your time
Those who go with the flow of time and use what they have of it wisely instead of trying to just focus on increasing it, are the ones that are the least stressed and the most laid back. I find that the people who seek to save time the most are the ones who are trying to get back time they have already wasted. Unfortunately for them, the best way to reclaim time was to not waste any in the first place. Try to fill everything you do with activities that are valuable to you, not just to your time.
Fast Food Begone.
As the society continues to get more and more advanced over time, let us not take for granted the simplicities of life. Don’t forget that behind all the speed and efficiency of technology is the very purpose for creating all of it in the first place: to have more time for our lives. Don’t save time to save time to save time (insert even more time here!). Rid yourself of the “fast food mindset”: save your life for things that are truly important to you.
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6 comments to “Eliminate Your “Fast-Food Mindset” By Slowing Down”
You know what this post reminds me of? The Adam Sandler movie “CLICK”! I totally loved that movie. It deals with modern technology, time, life, and cherishing the moment.
I like the fact that you bring fast food into this article. I feel that our health is being threatened by all these new technologies, especially the ones that are in the food and medical industry. I’ve personally been a vegetarian for a little over a year. I haven’t touched fast foods in months. Quite honestly, I think I used to be the type that always tried to get the most for my time. I even ate fast! What’s the point in that if you can’t even sit and enjoy your food?
Great posts with great ideas! I enjoyed it! Keep up the good work! (=
Thanks Taney! I think everyone should slow down in general. Do we always have to shovel food in our mouths like the Simpsons?
I’ve never watched “CLICK”, but I’ve seen the commercials and it’s probably good. I’ll take your word for it.