Out for a walk the other night, I was stunned to see how groups of people were all looking at their phones instead of talking with each other, let alone noticing the brilliant sunset.  Even the bikers were glued to their devices while riding their bikes.  I was surprised that people weren’t crashing into one another. More folks were glued to their screens at the restaurant too.  We all know that too many people text while driving – another recipe for disaster.

Living in a fast-paced 24/7 world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.  We’re pushed to work harder, take care of our family, and keep up with current events along with a constant social media stream. Expectations are high all the way around.

Pico Iyer, a lifelong travel writer says ““In an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still.”

His Ted Talk video is well worth watching.  It will inspire you with ways to take back your time in ways that will replenish your body, mind and soul.  Here are a few quotes and tips to whet your imagination.

“One of the first things you learn when you travel is that nowhere is magical unless you can bring the right eyes to it.”  He says that best way to develop more appreciative eyes is by sitting still.  A trip is limited in duration, but the memories will last a lifetime by sitting still long enough to remember.

By going nowhere, he recommends taking a few minutes out of every day – or a few days  out of every season – to sit still long enough to find out what moves you most, to recall where your truest happiness lies, and to remember that sometimes making a living and making a life point in opposite directions.

“It’s not our experience that makes our lives, it’s what we do with it.”

“We can easily make contact with people on the further corners of the planet, but sometimes in that process we lose contact with ourselves.”

Why not take a few moments out right now?  Here’s how …

1.  Turn your phone, TV, radio and other electronic devices off for a while.
2.  Focus your attention on the moment by breathing fully and mindfully.  It is calming and refreshing for your nerves and it will light up your energy.  Try out yoga’s ocean-sounding breath (ujjaya breath).
3. Blink your eyes a bunch of times till they water.  The moisture will help your vision.
4. Yawn.  It cools the brain, gives you a burst of oxygen, and refreshes your eyesight and hearing.  If you’re lucky, you’ll catch some flies.
5. Take a “2-hour nap in less than 1o minutes.“
6. Give “The Inner Eye of Awareness Meditation” a shot.
7. Add your own ___________________________.
8. Bone up on mindfulness.  It’s easy with this “Stop ~~ Look ~~ Listen”  meditation.