Slow your roll

I was thrilled a few weeks ago to spend an entire Sunday afternoon typing away for my next book. Long blocks of uninterrupted writing time are precious – and rare – for most writers.

By Monday morning, however, my wrists were killing me. Thankfully they felt better by Wednesday. I realized – once again – I had been going too fast.

Longtime readers are probably sensing a theme to my column this year, as this is the third time I’ve addressed the topic about how we need to slow down in life. But the typing incident made me think.

Society tends to reward us for going fast. I remember the days of typing classes back in high school. The faster we typed (with accuracy, of course) the better our grade. I remember receiving an A+ in my summer typing class with an average of 120 words per minute.

Fast forward – pun intended – to my early 40s. I noticed increasing pain and tingling in my left wrist and arm, which worsened after spending a day at work typing. I tried to follow all the ergonomic guidelines, but eventually I had to have carpal tunnel surgery. Thankfully it erased my pain entirely.

Did I slow down my typing? Nope. But as my recent story indicates, I probably should start, especially since I make my living as a writer. My goal is cutting my speed in half, which is still a good 60 words per minute. My new motto is “slow your roll.”

I thought about where this phrase came from. Casual online research revealed “slow your roll” is a metaphor for “apply the brakes.” The saying may have originated from truck drivers who know their vehicles carry a lot of momentum. The drivers often realize when they are going too fast in situations and when they need to apply the brakes.

My friend Denise and I were discussing our fast-paced society last week, and she commented the trend probably began during the Industrial Revolution. While I didn’t spend hours researching this theory, I saw articles and websites on the topic with words like “rapid, speed, rush” jumping out at me. It makes sense.

I’m not the only one fighting to change this “go, go, go” pace of life. Recent social media videos have shown women making the conscious decision to stop rushing through their daily tasks. I applaud them and want to be just like them when I grow up.

As I’ve mentioned before, we’re more productive when we focus on one thing at a time and we allow ourselves to take breaks. Science even backs this up.

I’m starting with the baby step of slowing down my typing. I also deliberately changed to a different Sunday afternoon activity recently by baking a peach pie – and giving myself all the time in the world to complete it. The pie turned out to be one of my best, and I enjoyed each mindful step of the process.

Readers, I challenge you to start to “slow your roll” this weekend, even if it’s in only one area of your life. I guarantee you’ll be happier.

Amy Shankland is an empty-nester, writer, and fundraising professional living in Noblesville with her husband John and two dogs. You can reach her via email at amys@greenavenue.info.