How to Slow Down Time
It's Monday & I'm Here for You.
Greetings, friend! It’s me, Jen Glantz. I’m writing from my parent’s house in Florida.
Who I am in Florida is the arch-nemesis to who I am in Brooklyn.
Here, I’m slow. I’m lazy. I finish half of my daily to-do list. I take naps. I sit in the sun without having my phone beside me. I read so many books. My brain buzzes with flashbacks. I don’t miss noise.
In Brooklyn, I wake up early. I rush everywhere, even when I have no place to go. I go to sleep stressed, not because I didn’t finish my to-do list, but because I’ve convinced myself that my to-do list should have a to-do list. I’m too busy for everything. I feel like I do nothing.
It’s nice to spend time in a place that makes you a different version of yourself. It’s nice to break your routine. It’s nice to hardly recognize yourself because you’ve pressed pause on so many things that make your nervous system a wreck,
It’s the final month of 2022. Give yourself a break. Let things remain undone. Surprise yourself. More than anything, don’t be fooled into thinking you can’t slow down during the busiest time of the year.
In this issue: How to slow down time, the different types of friends you have in your life, two books and two movies to pick-you-up, and what I bought for this seasons’ holiday party.
Ps. Can you help me with something? My goal is to get 30 more humans to subscribe to the Monday Pick-Me-Up by the end of the year. Know (3) people who would adore getting this free newsletter in their inbox every Monday? Mind sharing this with them? Thank you dearly, my friend.
Why you’re getting this: I'm Jen Glantz and this is The Pick-Me-Up newsletter. I've been sending it every Monday, for 8-years, to thousands of awesome humans, just like you. Thank you for letting this email live in in your inbox. It truly makes my heart explode with joy.
Today’s Pick-Me-Up is sponsored by: NoonBrew
When you’re feeling blahhhh at 2pm…here’s a pick-me-up that I truly adore.
Meet: NoonBrew
The only organic tea specifically designed for the afternoon slump. They combined 19 superfoods and adaptogens that naturally help you improve your energy levels, focus, deep sleep, digestion, mood, and more - all without the caffeine jitters or crash (phew).
Plus, it tastes great, like an unsweetened iced tea that you can make in under 30 seconds. I ditched my second cup of coffee for NoonBrew and honestly have been loving it so far!
How to Slow Down Time
First, believe you actually can.
Look at your watch, the time on the microwave, the numbers staring at you on your phone, and say:
You don’t control me.
Nobody does.
Set all the clocks that surround you ahead by 20-minutes. Arrive everywhere early. Take a walk around the block. Drive through the neighborhood. Pop into a store you’ve never stepped foot in before.
Wait.
Wait some more.
Learn that when you get some place early, you pay attention to the seconds more, and the seconds, unlike minutes, melt away in slo-mo.
Give someone a hug. Not just any old lame pat on the back. But a hug, hug. Count to 5. Feel their heart beat. Think about the best moment you ever had with them. Know there’s a bit of luck that goes into whether or not you’ll see them again. Squeeze how 5 seconds feel like 5 minutes.
Think about being five-years-old.
Remember opposite day? You wore your shirt backward. You said you didn’t like pizza when you loved it. You ate a cupcake from the bottom up.
Do that again. This time, as an adult.
Spend the morning doing that you would never do.
Wear something from the back row of your closet. Sing in the mirror like you forgot how well your toothbrush can improvise as a microphone. Say good morning to a stranger on the street. Buy yourself the pastry you only buy on your birthday.
When people ask you if everything is okay just say:
It’s opposite day!
Notice how every hour feels like two.
Use your eyes. Take them off your phone. Look into other people’s when they are talking to you. Pretend what is outside your window has never been there before. See things that are around you, that you’re too busy to care about. Make your world feel like you’re tip-toeing inside an expensive painting.
Wake up in the morning and say something nice to yourself like:
Today could be the best day of my life and I don’t even know it.
Believe it.
Let the words slide down your throat as you gulp down a glass of water.
Pay attention to each hour. Stop once stop twice before each one ends. Say hello to yourself. Do one single jumping jack. Look at 2pm as if it’s superpower hour. Make it the best hour of the day.
Count each pore on your face feel as it turns bright red during the awkward moments. Ever want to feel time stubbornly pass? Sit still when your heart is racing and your insides are twisting. Sure, you’re living through an embarrassing moment. But, look! You’ve done it! You’ve slowed down time like you’ve never been able to before.
Double the amount of bites it takes to finish that piece of cake.
Ask if you can sit beside that person you love for just a few more minutes.
Study every detail of a person’s face before you leave them.
Go to a different coffee shop and let the barista make you their favorite drink.
Ask someone to tell you something lingering on their mind.
Go to sleep at night and feel like you’re onto something. This time thing is all so silly. You’re always so close to figuring it out.
Let your dreams remind you of all that you’ve done now that you’re not in a rush.
Let your nightmares wake you up with the truth.
You can’t hold onto the time, and the time can’t hold onto you.
-Jen Glantz
Tiny Pick-Me-Ups
A podcast on why it’s OK to rip up your end-of-year to-do list.
My recent library haul included a bunch of random books. So far, I adored two. How to Win Friends and Influence People is the kind of book everyone should read. I thought it wasn’t going to live up to the hype - but it was better than I expected. Can’t Look Away is a good rainy day binge read that makes you think of your ex and what would have happened if you were still together…hmmmm.
The Newlywed Card Game is 30% off this week (code: HOLIDAY) grab one for all your friends getting engaged and married in 2023.
A fun article on the different types of friendships we have in our lives.
I’ve been watching A LOT of TV in Florida and two movies I adored this week were: The Swimmers and Surviving Christmas.
I found this article SO interesting. It’s about a woman who livestreams her entire life (24/7) and hasn’t missed a day in over a year. In a weird way, I love this and wish I could do the same.
So many people love this DJ so this morning, I’m giving his playlist a chance.
Ps. Need an end of year pick-me-up? Try this.
I have a few holiday parties this month and I’m starting to prep now for them - so I don’t get too stressed. Here are the (5) essential items to get you through holiday party season:
A good gift in case you need one last-minute
A purse that can transform any outfit into a bold one
A book on conversation starters
One dress you can wear again and again and again
I’ll be back next week with a new Monday Pick-Me-Up. Until then, I leave you with this:
My mantra of the week is: If something feels forced, there’s something not right.
Whether it’s with your job, friendship, or even with starting to do something you thought you wanted to do this month. Pay attention to these tingles in your gut. It means something is off, broken, stuck. Fixable? Perhaps. But perhaps not.
Until next Monday, I'll be cheering you on! Have an epic week.
Jen GlantzÂ