{"id":6355,"date":"2026-09-09T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/?p=6355"},"modified":"2026-09-08T17:17:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T21:17:05","slug":"the-lost-art-of-slowing-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imaginarygardens.org\/index.php\/2026\/09\/09\/the-lost-art-of-slowing-down\/","title":{"rendered":"The Lost Art of Slowing Down"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
By Jacqueline Ayala, Social Media Editor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

As autumn (slowly\u2026) approaches, it becomes prime time to stay in and take in the world around you. Except we don\u2019t exactly have the time to take a breath. I\u2019m writing partly as a hypocrite and partly hoping to incorporate a few things to make the days stop bleeding together. The majority of us have the same routines of school, work, home, repeat. Where do we get the time to pause? How do we figure out the perfect moments to have the perfect balance for our mental health? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, luckily for you, between cups of coffee, walks outside, and movie nights in, autumn is always the perfect time to focus on yourself. And to do that, I\u2019m going to need to call out almost every student ever. Life here feels as if it needs to move fast so we can get by. Let\u2019s try to make a change in our daily routines so we can do what we do best: be human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A sweet bowl of figs | bet\u00fcl nur aky\u00fcrek (Pexels)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Up and at\u2019em<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The day wastes away faster if we wake up later; we all hate to admit it. Now, waking up before the sun rises isn\u2019t totally the way to make the day feel longer, but starting your day before 10 a.m. certainly can bring you some morning peace. The routine gets easier over time, and you will find yourself no longer needing to rush to have breakfast, get ready, and make your bed. If you don\u2019t think you can be a morning person, it could be because you haven\u2019t figured out the correct routine that works for you! So, start slow by just figuring out your morning routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since we are on the morning note: eat your breakfast! Whether it\u2019s a granola bar, a bowl of fruit, or something more filling, it\u2019s vital for food to be in your stomach; your day immediately starts wrong if you don\u2019t have something to eat before officially starting your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put the Damn Phone Down<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Doomscrolling is making the time go by faster. Your brain focuses on that ten-second video just to scroll to the next and the next\u2026 then you look at the time and two hours have passed. What can you do to separate yourself from these addictive apps? The best way will always be to delete social media. Instagram, TikTok, anything that you click on to see a quick video, which suddenly turns into multiple<\/em> videos. Admittedly, I don\u2019t have these apps deleted. If I did, Imaginary Gardens<\/em> would not need me as a Social Media Editor. So what else can you do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If all else fails, put yourself on a time limit. While iPhones have an automatic app timer you can set up, there are apps you can download to help you. I personally recommend ScreenZen, which is free (excluding in-app purchases you don\u2019t need to buy) and allows you to properly think about why you are opening your doomscrolling apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A cozy day in fall | Yulia Ilina (Pexels)
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Anything but your Phone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How many times are we told journaling helps? Way too damn much for it not to be true. I get it, though; I\u2019m a writer, so it\u2019s a bit easier for me to get in the mood to journal. But it doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you have to be all \u201cdear diary\u201d every single day as much as people say it helps. It could be random thoughts or things you see, poems, whatever works for you! The act of writing can sometimes take up the space you can have in your day, proving you don\u2019t need overstimulating blue light to have a time-passing activity!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t want to journal? Go outside! Right now, it\u2019s unbearably hot, and hopefully that changes soon. When autumn finally appears, it\u2019s the perfect in-between of hot and cold weather as we transition into colder seasons. Take a stroll on campus or in your neighborhood with a cozy sweater and comfy shoes, and take in that chilly air to give your lungs a cleanse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or read a book! (Or the newest Imaginary Gardens<\/em> edition)! The most valuable hobby you can do, which will perfectly give you that cozy 2000s fall we are secretly yearning to relive. Getting books from local libraries is an even bigger plus, as you won\u2019t need to spend a dime on books, which are getting scarily expensive\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Really, our parents were right all along. It\u2019s always<\/em> the phone that becomes the root of our problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A tasty treat | Polverini Lian (Pexels)
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Coffee in an IV<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What did Lorelai Gilmore always say in Gilmore Girls?<\/em> Oh, \u201ccoffee, coffee, coffee!\u201d It\u2019s the<\/em> sweet treat season and my personal favorite. Pumpkin spice, apple crisp, even just a plain vanilla latte! As much as I am an iced latte person, a warm drink in my hand never fails to put me in a state of calm. You get a greater ability to taste and appreciate your drink, and you warm up while you’re out in cold weather (if it ever gets cold). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, don\u2019t go buying yourself a coffee every single day before school or work. Making one at home is more affordable; you can adjust it to your own tastes, and buying the supplies for the same price as one or two lattes will make you even more coffees in the long run! If you think you can\u2019t have cold foam or pumpkin spice at home, boy are you wrong! With the rise in popularity, it has become a staple for these to appear in the coffee syrup and creamer section in grocery stores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To Live is Not to be Rushed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Autumn screams comfort, and that can\u2019t be done if we aren\u2019t slowing down. It\u2019s not easy, I can admit. Right now, more than ever, we are experiencing a need to just have the days pass without any moment to breathe. But that breath can be just what you need to feel less stressed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When all else fails, change into your pajamas, put on fuzzy socks, and light a candle for a cozy movie night. To live is not to be rushed. To live is to be in the moment, something even I need to work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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