Precious Time

One of my Favorite activities with my daughters during our long summer weekends in northern Minnesota is paddleboarding. It started when they were about 3 and 5 years old: We’d all pile onto one board, with Lizzy settled safely in front of Maddy, and I’d paddle us into the bay, usually just far enough so they could jump into the cool, clear lake.

In and out of the water they’d go, jumps and dives getting bolder as they grew. I’d get in with them from time to time, but mostly I’d just watch them, amazed at their confidence, deeply grateful to be present with my girls.

It’s harder for the three of us to fit on one paddleboard these days. And they’re no longer content sitting passively in front; they much prefer being on their own boards. But we still make a point of heading onto the water together whenever we can — and I continue to be in awe of them.

These experiences, and others like them, serve as invaluable reminders that it’s important to slow down, to disconnect, and to simply enjoy being with my people. They’re a welcome and much-needed pause from the breakneck speed that I’m too often maintaining in the day-to-day.

I know I’m not alone in doing daily life like this. According to survey results published in 2018 by the Pew Research Center, 60 percent of U.S. adults felt too busy to enjoy life “at least sometimes,” and 12 percent felt that way “all or most of the time.”

These experiences, and others like them, serve as invaluable reminders that it’s important to slow down, to disconnect, and to simply enjoy being with my people.

Additionally, nearly 75 percent of parents with kids under the age of 18 said that they “at least sometimes” felt too busy to enjoy life; for adults whose kids were older or who had no kids, that number was 55 percent.

Based on what I’ve witnessed and experienced personally, I imagine those numbers have only increased in the years since the survey was conducted. While some of us might have experienced a break in busyness during the height of the pandemic, we’ve largely returned to our old ways — and then some.

The seasonal transition from the carefree days of summer to the routines of fall is an ideal time to reflect on whether we want to continue in this way. It’s an opportunity to reset the pace of our lives and prioritize our values, interests, and desires; to set boundaries so we can experience more joy.

It’s a chance to reclaim the rhythms that best serve us — physically, mentally, and emotionally. To be intentional with how we spend our time and where and to whom we give our energy. And to embrace behaviors — like good sleep habits — that support better use of that time and energy (see “11 Tips to Optimize Your Circadian Rhythm”).

This fall, our oldest daughter starts high school, and the reality of having only four more years with her at home is starting to set in. It’s all the more reason to take the time to thoughtfully plan how we spend our days.

Because no matter how much I might wish we could slow down or freeze time, it keeps ticking on. The best we can do is slow down ourselves, soak it all in, and enjoy the moments as they come along.