Why Slowing Down is Medicine

Jun 23

3 min read

July 2025

Slowing down doesn't mean anything extravagant-it could be just sitting outside in nature.

Why Slowing Down is Medicine

July invites something different. Mid summer, longer days, quieter mornings. A subtle nudge to pause, rest and reset. For many of us, the instinct is to keep going—doing more, filling space, vacations, pushing forward, planning, being sucked into the news.

What if slowing down is exactly what your body, your mind, and your spirit have been asking for?

As a Holistic Nurse Coach, I see this all the time: burnout masked as productivity. Exhaustion hiding under “I’m fine.” I know, because this used to be me. I’ve said “I’m fine” SO many times…when I really wasn’t. Here’s the truth-slowing down isn’t indulgent. It’s how we find our way back to ourselves.

On A Personal Note

I won’t lie to you—slowing down hasn’t been easy for me either.

After years in traditional healthcare and primary care leadership, the rhythm of “go, fix, solve, repeat” lived in my bones. Rest felt foreign. Play felt irresponsible and only fit into the PTO or weekend plan. Even when I launched this business from a place of purpose, I still find myself tangled in old patterns of over-functioning and over-processing.

But grief has been one of my teachers, the kind that doesn’t ask permission, it just shows up-unannounced. I have to face it now-I no longer have other responsibilities to cover it up. It’s just me and my grief, sitting here together.

Slowing down meant facing parts of my story I hadn’t given space to. It meant letting go of who I thought I had to be and grieving the parts of me that only knew how to keep pushing.

Even now, the practice continues. I’m learning to spend time with friends just to enjoy them. To say yes to beach walks and bike rides without needing to earn them through the hours I’ve put into work. To let my grandson pull me into his world of joy, play and presence, instead of watching from the sidelines.

It’s still hard sometimes. But every time I choose to stay a little longer in the sun, laugh a little louder, or simply be with someone I love, something in me heals.

You Need Safety to Heal
Your body isn’t built to thrive in survival mode (learned this after I left the ER!). When you slow down, whether through a quiet morning ritual, a phone/tv-free meal, or five deep breaths…you’re telling your system: You are safe now. You can rest. Healing begins here.

Busyness Can Be a Trauma Response
Over-scheduling can look like control, but it often masks pain. We stay busy to avoid stillness and the truth that might rise up if we stopped moving. But slowing down isn't a weakness. It’s courage.

Stillness Isn’t bad, It’s Full of Answers
When was the last time you paused long enough to listen to your body? Your energy. Your emotions. Your stomach pain. Your headache. Stillness creates space for insight. Without it, we stay stuck in reaction mode, repeating patterns that no longer serve us.

You Reconnect with What Actually Matters
When we stop rushing, our real values become clear. We begin to notice:
- What brings us energy vs. drains our energy
- Where we’re saying “yes” when we mean “no”
- What alignment actually feels like in the body

You Remember the You Before the Burnout
Before the roles of mother, your job/career/sister/caregiver/(insert what you do here). Before the stress. Before the coping. Slowing down helps you hear the version of yourself that’s been buried under obligation and over-functioning.

I often share with clients that I’d love to know what they loved as a kid. Carefree, stress free and full of energy-that can help ground the conversation of who you were before.

Ready to Rest & Reconnect this Summer?

If you’re craving a softer way forward this summer, I’ve created something for you. No pressure. Just a spacious, supportive conversation to explore what’s next for you.