Wellness
How to Stop Rushing and Feel More in Control
Rushing has become a default setting for many of us. You rush through mornings, rush through emails, rush from task to task — and by the end of the day, you’re exhausted without knowing exactly why. Living in constant hurry mode drains your mental energy and creates a feeling of being behind, even when you’re not. The good news is that rushing is a habit, not a personality trait — and it can be changed with a few practical shifts. Here’s how to slow your pace and regain a sense of control.
1. Build Extra Time Into Everything
Most of us underestimate how long things take. Getting ready, commuting, finishing a task — everything feels tighter because you expect it to fit perfectly. The solution is simple: add buffer time. Leave five minutes earlier. Give tasks 10% more time. Add small pauses between commitments. These tiny adjustments create space so you don’t feel breathless before the day even begins.
2. Start Your Morning Earlier — Gently
You don’t need a 5 AM routine to feel calm; you just need 10 extra minutes. Waking up slightly earlier gives you room to move slowly instead of sprinting from the moment you open your eyes. Drink water, stretch, breathe, or simply sit for a moment — anything that prevents you from rushing into the day. This small shift sets the tone for everything that follows.
3. Simplify Your To-Do List
Rushing often comes from trying to do too much at once. Instead of a long list, choose your top three priorities for the day — the tasks that genuinely move things forward. Everything else becomes optional. When your workload feels achievable, your pace naturally slows. You feel more in control because you’re not chasing an impossible list.
4. Reduce Transitions Between Tasks
Constant switching — emails to meetings to errands — creates frantic energy. To counter this, group similar tasks together. Answer emails at set times, batch chores, and plan focus blocks for deep work. Fewer transitions = less chaos. You gain more time and mental clarity simply by creating smoother flow in your day.
5. Use Micro Pauses to Reset Your Pace
When you feel yourself speeding up, pause for 10 seconds. Take a slow breath. Roll your shoulders. Put your phone down. These micro resets interrupt the rushing cycle and bring you back into your body. The more you practice them, the faster your mind learns to shift out of urgency mode.
6. Remove Hidden Time Thieves
Notifications, cluttered spaces, and disorganised routines all create unnecessary rushing. Declutter your entryway, keep essentials in the same place, and silence non-urgent notifications. Your environment should support calm, not sabotage it. When your surroundings are simple, your pace becomes calmer too.
7. Let Go of the Pressure to Be “Fast”
Many people rush because they equate speed with competence. But efficiency comes from clarity and focus — not frantic movement. You’re allowed to move slowly. You’re allowed to take your time. You’re allowed to breathe between tasks. Productivity doesn’t require panic.
