This week, I gave myself permission to have a slow day.
No agenda. No timetable. Just space.
As I sat with my journal and a cup of coffee, a simple question surfaced:
What if I stopped watching the clock? (video is found below)
Not forever.
Just for today.
It’s amazing how much of life is dictated by time. We eat because it’s noon. We write because it’s on the calendar. We rush because the next thing is waiting.
Some days I wonder if I’m following the clock more faithfully than I’m following the gentle rhythms God built into me.
So I made a little list.
Eat when I’m hungry.
Write when creativity arrives.
Knit just because.
Sit outside for a while.
Watch one of my favourite YouTube creators.
Record something simply because I have something to share.
Nothing extraordinary.
Nothing that would earn a gold star for productivity.
Yet somehow, everything on that list felt like life.
When Control Stops Serving Us
I’ve realized I spend a lot of energy trying to manage every detail of my day.
If everything goes according to plan, I feel successful.
If it doesn’t, I quietly convince myself I’ve somehow fallen behind.
That’s exhausting.
More importantly, it isn’t who I want to become.
There is wisdom in planning. I don’t believe slow living means living carelessly.
But I’ve also learned that a tightly controlled life can leave very little room for surprise, delight, or the quiet nudges of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes the most meaningful moments aren’t scheduled.
They’re noticed.
Right the Ship
This summer I’ve been living with a simple phrase:
Right the Ship.
It began as a reminder to care for my health.
But it’s becoming much more than that.
It’s about aligning my life with what truly matters.
It’s choosing presence over pressure.
Rhythm over hurry.
Grace over guilt.
Little by little, I can feel the ship beginning to steady.
Not because I’ve created the perfect routine.
But because I’m learning to loosen my grip on the clock.
A Question for You
So I’ll leave you with the same question that found me that quiet morning.
What if you stopped watching the clock… just for today?
What would you notice?
What joy have you been rushing past?
Perhaps the most important thing waiting for us isn’t another task.
Perhaps it’s simply the next moment.
I’d love to hear from you.
If you gave yourself one day without constantly checking the time, what would you do? I’d enjoy reading your thoughts in the comments. 🌿
