Slow Down – You're Doing Enough
We live in a world that glorifies hustle.
“Rise and grind.”
“Sleep when you’re dead.”
“Keep pushing.”
No wonder one survey found that 80% of full-time U.S. workers experience productivity anxiety ...the constant pressure that you’re never doing enough.
I used to live that way. I believed that if I wasn’t constantly moving, creating, achieving… I wasn’t enough. It took the sudden loss of my dad to wake me up to what truly matters and to free me from the guilt of slowing down (though I’ll admit, that guilt still creeps in sometimes).
This weekend, my 75-pound Goldendoodle, Phog, climbed into bed with me around 8 AM. The old me would’ve said, “You need to get up, it's lazy to lay in bed.” Instead, I just laid there. Fifteen minutes passed. Then thirty. Then forty-five. We snuggled for almost an hour.
And yes, a few times I caught myself feeling lazy. But that’s where emotional intelligence kicked in ...specifically, self-awareness. I noticed the guilt, named it, and shifted it. Instead of seeing rest as wasted time, I reframed it as recovery, presence, and peace. And I enjoyed EVERY MINUTE of this snugglefest.
For the record, our little dog, Olive, would snuggle all day. In fact, we joke that she likes it when someone in the house is sick as she can lay in bed all day lol...Phog usually doesn't slow down for too long. So the long snuggles are a serious treat. ugh....I love my dogs so much!!
Because here’s the truth: slowing down isn’t the absence of ambition. It’s the presence of balance. It’s recognizing when your mind and body need stillness and honoring it without shame.
Don't get me wrong - movement matters, but so does rest. Walk your dog. Watch the show with your kids. Take a nap. Do the thing that slows your heart rate and fills your soul.
When guilt whispers that you’re not doing enough, answer with awareness: “I am enough. Rest is productive. Presence is powerful.”
EQ Tip:
Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. It helps you notice the guilt, the pressure, the noise and choose a healthier response.
You don’t always have to be on the go. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is be still. And your dogs will love you for it. Life is WAY TOO SHORT not to snuggle your pets! Pics of your pets are always welcome - send me a pic and share a story!
Keep shining friends - be who you came to be.
