It's an irony of our modern lives that while technology is continually invented that saves us time, we use that time to do more and more things, and so our lives are more fast-paced and hectic than ever.

    Life moves at such a fast pace that it seems to pass us by before we can really enjoy it.

    However, it doesn't have to be this way. Let's rebel against a hectic lifestyle and slow down to enjoy life.

    A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you're doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you're talking to or spending time with - instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them.

    Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness.

    Here's how to do it.

    1. Do less. It's hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. Instead, make the conscious choice to do less. Focus on what's really important, what really needs to be done, and let go of the rest. Put space between tasks and appointments, so you can move through your days at a more leisurely pace. Read more.

    2. Be present. It's not enough to just slow down - you need to actually be mindful of whatever you're doing at the moment. That means, when you find yourself thinking about something you need to do, or something that's already happened, or something that might happen … gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Focus on what's going on right now. On your actions, on your environment, on others around you. This takes practice but is essential.

    3. Disconnect. Don't always be connected. If you carry around an iPhone or Blackberry or other mobile device, shut it off. Better yet, learn to leave it behind when possible. If you work on a computer most of the day, have times when you disconnect so you can focus on other things. Being connected all the time means we're subject to interruptions, we're constantly stressed about information coming in, we are at the mercy of the demands of others. It's hard to slow down when you're always checking new messages coming in.

    4. Focus on people. Too often we spend time with friends and family, or meet with colleagues, and we're not really there with them. We talk to them but are distracted by devices. We are there, but our minds are on things we need to do. We listen, but we're really thinking about ourselves and what we want to say. None of us are immune to this, but with conscious effort you can shut off the outside world and just be present with the person you're with. This means that just a little time spent with your family and friends can go a long way - a much more effective use of your time, by the way. It means we really connect with people rather than just meeting with them.

    5. Appreciate nature. Many of us are shut in our homes and offices and cars and trains most of the time, and rarely do we get the chance to go outside. And often even when people are outside, they're talking on their cell phones. Instead, take the time to go outside and really observe nature, take a deep breath of fresh air, enjoy the serenity of water and greenery. Exercise outdoors when you can, or find other outdoor activities to enjoy such as nature walks, hiking, swimming, etc. Feel the sensations of water and wind and earth against your skin. Try to do this daily - by yourself or with loved ones.

    6. Eat slower. Instead of cramming food down our throats as quickly as possible - leading to overeating and a lack of enjoyment of our food - learn to eat slowly. Be mindful of each bite. Appreciate the flavors and textures. Eating slowly has the double benefit of making you fuller on less food and making the food taste better. I suggest learning to eat more real food as well, with some great spices （instead of fat and salt and sugar and frying for flavor）.

    7. Drive slower. Speedy driving is a pretty prevalent habit in our fast-paced world, but it's also responsible for a lot of traffic accidents, stress, and wasted fuel. Instead, make it a habit to slow down when you drive. Appreciate your surroundings. Make it a peaceful time to contemplate your life, and the things you're passing. Driving will be more enjoyable, and much safer. You'll use less fuel too.

    8. Find pleasure in anything. This is related to being present, but taking it a step farther. Whatever you're doing, be fully present … and also appreciate every aspect of it, and find the enjoyable aspects. For example, when washing dishes, instead of rushing through it as a boring chore to be finished quickly, really feel the sensations of the water, the suds, the dishes. It can really be an enjoyable task if you learn to see it that way. The same applies to other chores - washing the car, sweeping, dusting, laundry - and anything you do, actually. Life can be so much more enjoyable if you learn this simple habit.

    9. Single-task. The opposite of multi-tasking. Focus on one thing at a time. When you feel the urge to switch to other tasks, pause, breathe, and pull yourself back. Read more.

    10. Breathe. When you find yourself speeding up and stressing out, pause, and take a deep breath. Take a couple more. Really feel the air coming into your body, and feel the stress going out. By fully focusing on each breath, you bring yourself back to the present, and slow yourself down. It's also nice to take a deep breath or two - do it now and see what I mean. :）

    具有諷刺意味的一件事情是，現代科技不斷地為我們節省時間，我們卻用這些時間來干越來越多的事情，使得我們的生活的節奏比以前更快和更加繁忙。

    生活的節奏如此之快以至于當我們還沒有真正的享受生活的時候它卻已經離我們遠去了。

    盡管如此，這也并不是不可以改變的。讓我們拋棄這樣的生活方式，慢下來去享受生活。

    慢的生活節奏意味著享受早晨的時光，而不是瘋狂的急匆匆的去上班。它意味著去享受你正在做的一切事情，享受戶外，真正的投入你正在進行的談話或者和某個人一起消磨的某段時間，而不是總被你的黑莓手機、iphone或者筆記本電腦打斷，也不是總想著你的工作任務和電子郵件。它意味著一次只進行一項任務，而不是在多個任務之間來回變換，沒有真正關注其中的任何一個。

    慢下來是一種有意識的選擇，而且并不那么容易，但是它卻指向對生活更加深刻的認識和更高層次的幸福。

    這里有一些方法。

    1.做得少一些。當你想要干成百上千件事情的時候是很難慢下來的。有意識的少做一些。關注那些真正重要的，真正需要做的，把剩下的放棄掉。給每一個任務和約會之間留一些空間，這樣你可以以悠閑地節奏度過每一天。

    2.關注當前。光慢下來是不夠的--你需要留意當前你所做的任何事情。也就是說，當你發現自己正在思考你該干什么，或者已經發生地事情，或者可能會發生的事情……緩慢的將你自己拉回到當前。關注現在正在發生地事情。對于你的行動，對于你周圍的環境，對于你周圍的其他人你都應該這樣。這需要一定的練習，但是也是最根本的東西。

    3.脫離網絡。不要總是在線。如果你隨身攜帶著iphone或者黑莓手機或者其它移動設備，關閉它。更重要的是，在可能的情況下，別帶著它。如果你一天的大部分時間都在使用電腦，騰出一些不在線的時間來干干其它事情。總是在線意味著我們要被打斷，我們不斷處于到來的信息的壓力之下，我們處于滿足其他人需求的緊急狀況之中。當你總是查看到來的新的信息的時候是很難慢下來的。

    4.把注意力放在人的身上。我們常常花時間與朋友、家人或者和同事在一起，但是我們并非真的和他們在一起。我們和他們談話，但是卻被身邊的設備分心。我們是在那里，但是我們的思想卻是在我們需要做的事情上。我們是在傾聽，但是我們卻是在想著我們自己和我們想說些什么。我們沒人對此有免疫力，但是在有意識的努力下，你可以關閉外部的世界，僅僅只和當前和你在一起的人在一起。這意味著只需要很少一點時間和家人和朋友在一起，但卻可以走的更長遠--也就是說，更有效的利用你的時間。這意味著我們真正的和別人連接在一起，而不是僅僅只是和他們碰個面。

    5.贊賞大自然。我們之中的大部分人的大多時間都被關在家里、辦公室、汽車還有火車里，很少有機會外出。而且就算是外出，他們都在打手機。改變一下，花些時間外出，真正的觀察大自然，在新鮮的空氣里做一個深呼吸，享受水流和綠色的寧靜。可能的話做一些戶外運動，找一些喜歡的戶外活動，比如散步、遠足、游泳等等。感受水流、風和泥土觸摸你皮膚的感覺。嘗試著每天都這么做--一個人或者和你所愛的人。

    6.吃得慢一些。不要盡可能快的把食物填滿我們的喉嚨--這樣會導致我們吃的太多，并且享受不到食物帶給我們的快樂，學著吃得慢一些。每一口都仔細品味。欣賞食物的味道和質地。吃得慢一些有兩個好處，不僅可以讓你吃得少一些就能吃飽，還可以讓食物更美味。我建議嘗試吃更多有著非常好的香料的真正的食物（少吃一些脂肪、鹽、糖含量高和油炸的東西）.

    7.開車慢一些。開快車在我們這個快節奏的世界里是一個相當普遍的習慣，它也要為大量的交通事故、壓力和汽油的浪費負責，在你開車的時候要養成慢下來的習慣。贊賞你周圍的景色。讓開車的時間成為你考慮你的生活和你錯過的事情的一段悠閑的時間。這樣駕駛也就更讓人享受，也更安全。也會更省油。

    8.在所有事情中尋找樂趣。這和關注當前是有關系的，但是要更深入一些。無論你在干什么，完全要關注當前……而且要贊賞它的每一方面，尋找讓人享受的一面。比如，當洗碟子的時候，不要把它當成一個單調的瑣事，想要盡快完成它，真正的去感受水、清潔劑和盤子。如果你能以這種方式來看的話，它就會真的成為一項讓人享受的任務。對于其它的瑣事也一樣--洗車，打掃、除灰塵、洗衣服等等。如果你能學會這項簡單的習慣的話，生活真的可以讓人如此享受。

    9.單一任務。和多項任務相反。一次只關注一件事。當你想要更換到另外一項任務時，暫停下來、呼吸、將你自己拉回來。

    10.呼吸。當你發現自己節奏變快、壓力變大的時候，暫停，做一個深呼吸。多做幾個。真實的感覺到空氣進入你的身體，壓力跑出來。全身心的關注每一次呼吸，你可以將自己拉回到當前，讓自己慢下來。現在就做一兩個深呼吸也是不錯的，看看我說的是什么。