The Art of Living Slow (Even in a Chaotic Life)

Five micro habits that help you stay present inside a full, beautiful life. 

I don’t want a smaller life. 

This is the unbridled truth. I have a great, full life with a lot of moving pieces and more than a little chaos. My desire isn’t to shrink it down or simplify it to the point where nothing happens. And while yes — this is my final year in education and I’m stepping away — that choice isn’t about making my life smaller. 

If anything, stepping away is part of healing my nervous system so I can finally turn my attention toward the parts of my life that never get the light of day when I’m constantly standing in the shadow of workplace stress. 

I want to thrive in my life — not just manage it. 
I want to show up as the best version of myself for every part of it. 

Some seasons (both within a single year and across life itself) are naturally loud and boisterous. I hit the ground running the moment my alarm goes off and, on the busiest days, I don’t stop until I fall into bed at night. Some parts of this pace are non-negotiable — my family, my job — and some parts are purely joyful — my friendships, my hobbies. But they’re all intertwined into the fabric of who I am. 

What I don’t want is to be so drained by my “have to’s” that I can’t enjoy my “get to’s.” 

Slow living isn’t about doing less. 
It’s about being fully present inside a full, beautiful, chaotic life. 

So the work becomes this: finding simple ways to nurture my nervous system daily, so I can stay grounded through the noise. These five behaviors have become micro-habits — tiny steps that help me stay present no matter how busy the day becomes. They don’t require perfection or discipline. Simply doing them creates pockets of breathing room I didn’t realize I had. 

Soft Morning Starts

Each day begins gently: a slow sip of something warm in a cozy mug, a few minutes of intentional meditation, soft mobility work to ease my body and my consciousness from sleep into day. 

This is my invitation to enter my morning instead of being thrown into it. 

Nervous System Breaks

Education is hectic, demanding, and often nonstop. I can’t stop the merry-go-round of meetings, parent phone calls, and behavior interventions. But I can give myself sixty seconds to breathe. 

Inhale for four. 
Exhale for eight. 

Sometimes I choose the long way to the front office just to feel sunlight on my face, breathe fresh air, or roll out my shoulders. These tiny resets keep me present instead of running on adrenaline for eight straight hours. 

Gentle Digital Boundary

Not a detox. Not a rigid rule. 

Just one boundary that protects my sleep — and therefore protects my peace. 

My phone gets put away after dinner. I let myself unwind with a book before bed. I’ve learned that blue light keeps my cortisol elevated, which directly impacts the quality of sleep I get. But when I read instead of scroll, I sleep better. And when I sleep better, I can handle much more the next day. 

Quality rest isn’t a luxury. It’s a form of resilience. 

Slow Transition Ritual

The moments between moments matter. 

The shift between work and home. 
Between dinner and bedtime. 
Between workouts and rest. 

When I slow down my transitions, I create small openings for breath, presence, and perspective. It helps my life feel less rushed, even if the schedule itself hasn’t changed at all. 

Beautiful Boredom

This one is new — and I’m still practicing it. 

Allowing myself five quiet minutes to be bored. 
Not thinking about what comes next. 
Not reaching for my phone. 
Just letting my mind wander. 

Some days, the willpower isn’t there. But when it is, that small pocket of boredom becomes a doorway: to inspiration, to creativity, to noticing the world around me. It’s amazing what appears when I stop filling every empty moment. 

Not one of these habits removes anything from my to-do list. They don’t magically add hours to my day or energize me like a potion. But they do something more important: 

They give me brief, sacred respites to refill my bucket and let me live inside my life — not just trot along beside it. 

This is the Unhustled Life. 
This is what I’m learning to choose. 

Not slower in meaning — just slower in spirit. 
Not less full — just less frantic. 

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who might need a little breathing room today. And if you are exploring your own Unhustled Life, I'd love to hear which micro-habit speaks most to you today.