How to preserve the lockdown's slower pace

An exclusive preview from the latest issue of The Week magazine If you have trouble viewing this email, [read the online version](. NEWS In this issue of The Week --------------------------------------------------------------- Dear newsletter reader, We thought you'd appreciate this special preview from the latest issue of The Week magazine, where you'll find everything you need to know about the most important stories in news, business, technology, and culture. Today's preview comes from the "Coping" section. If you like what you read you can [try 6 Risk-Free issues of The Week](. Starting over: How to preserve the lockdown's slower pace The pandemic challenged parents everywhere, but there was a silver lining, said Anne Marie Chaker at The Wall Street Journal. The last 15 months forced a slowdown in families' often-crazed pace as "carpools, sports, after-school activities, birthday parties, and playdates all but disappeared in 2020." Now, as communities reopen and calendars fill with summer plans, "some parents are determined to hold on to the more-relaxed tempo." In a recent CivicScience poll, 31 percent of families said that they plan to take part in fewer extracurriculars going forward. Megan van Riet, a mother of two teenagers, learned how stressful a crowded schedule can be. "Before, it felt like home was a pit stop on the way to something else," she says. Now, with less running around to soccer games and chorus practices, both van Riet and her children are enjoying the simple things in life, like spending time together outdoors and even at the dining table. "I make better dinners," van Riet says. "I saw how happy it made them. They stay and hang out." The chance to change mindsets isn't just for parents, said Christine Koh at The Washington Post. All of us "now have a unique opportunity to tune in to what we care about and to be intentional about our time." To do so, "make a list of the pros and cons of your life right now," and refer to that list as your calendar fills up. It's crucial to "identify and establish boundaries to help preserve the pros," so set up reminders to pare down your schedule periodically. Add speed bumps by scheduling "do-nothing time," and "hold tight to those boundaries." Erin Loechner, the author of Chasing Slow, recommends being intentional about everyday tasks, taking time, for example, to use a hand grinder when you prepare your coffee each morning. "Do one thing a day that makes your home feel like less of an assembly line," Loechner says. "There are so many studies that suggest working with your hands offers a slower, more meditative start to your day." When drafting your list of pros and cons, "commit to complete honesty," especially regarding any people in your life who drag you down, said Arthur Brooks at The Atlantic. "Be specific about any of your daily interactions that were toxic, relationships that were unproductive, and the life patterns that made you unhappy." Yes, phasing a toxic person out of your life can be trickier than setting aside a hobby. "But in truth, we all have relationships that are simply not mutually beneficial. If the pandemic has been a welcome furlough from these relationships, you should ask yourself whether you can make that break permanent. This moment is the best chance you might ever have to do so." [Try 6 Issues Risk-Free]( [The week Logo] Copyright © 2021 The Week Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.. You’re receiving this because you subscribe to or signed up to receive emails from The Week. To unsubscribe from these emails, click [here](. The Week Publications, Inc. Registered address: 155 E 44th St Fl 22, New York, NY, 10017-4100. Further information about how we use your data can be found in our [Privacy Policy](.