Dr. Maymunah Yusuf Kadiri 
…How to slow down without losing momentum
If life is a highway, our modern world has most of us driving at full speed, eyes darting between multiple lanes, trying to overtake everyone else. The trouble is, when you’re always speeding, you miss the scenery, burn more fuel, and risk crashing. Mindful living is not about slamming on the brakes, it’s about learning to drive at a steady pace that keeps you safe, focused, and able to enjoy the journey.
In cities like Lagos, London, or New York, the pressure to “keep up” is relentless. Work deadlines, traffic jams, family responsibilities, and the endless ping of messages create a constant feeling of urgency. We mistake busyness for progress, forgetting that movement is not the same as momentum.
What Is Mindful Living?
Mindful living is the practice of paying full attention to the present moment, your thoughts, feelings, surroundings—without rushing ahead or dwelling endlessly on the past. It’s not about doing less, but about doing with awareness.
Imagine eating jollof rice while scrolling through your phone. You finish the plate but hardly remember the taste. Now imagine eating the same plate slowly, smelling the spices, noticing the texture, and savoring every bite. The second experience is richer, more satisfying, and ultimately more nourishing. That’s mindful living in action.
Why We Need to Slow Down
When we’re constantly in a rush, our body interprets it as stress. The nervous system stays in “fight or flight” mode, pumping out stress hormones like cortisol. Over time, this leads to fatigue, poor immunity, anxiety, and even chronic illness.
Slowing down doesn’t mean losing productivity, it means reclaiming your mental clarity so you can work smarter, not just harder. In fact, research from the University of California found that people who take mindful breaks are more creative, make better decisions, and feel less burned out.
How to Slow Down Without Losing Momentum
1. Start Your Day Without a Sprint
Instead of reaching for your phone the moment you wake up, take 5 minutes to breathe deeply, stretch, or journal. This sets a calm tone for the day.
2. Do One Thing at a Time
Multitasking might feel efficient, but it scatters attention. Focus fully on one task, complete it, and then move on.
3. Schedule Pauses, Not Just Meetings
In Nigeria’s fast-moving work culture, calendars are filled with back-to-back obligations. Block short breaks to rest your mind between tasks, stand up, drink water, look outside.
4. Eat With Attention
Put down your devices while eating. Notice the colours, flavours, and aromas of your food.
5. Evening Digital Sunset
Reduce screen time an hour before bed to help your brain switch from alertness to rest mode.
Mindfulness in the Nigerian Context
Our society celebrates hustle, often to the point of glorifying exhaustion. We praise those who work day and night, forgetting that the body and mind have limits. Mindful living challenges this by saying: Rest is not laziness; it’s maintenance.
For the market trader in Aba, mindful living might mean taking a 5-minute break to breathe deeply between customers. For the executive in Abuja, it might mean turning off email notifications after 8 p.m. For parents, it could mean giving children undivided attention without the TV or phone competing for focus.
The Benefits of Slowing Down
• Better Health: Reduced stress levels, lower blood pressure, improved digestion.
• Sharper Focus: You make fewer mistakes when your mind is present.
• Stronger Relationships: You listen better, connect more deeply, and communicate with care.
• More Joy: Life feels richer when you actually experience it, not just rush through it.
Mindful Living Is Not About Doing Less
It’s about doing with intention. A farmer planting seeds mindfully still finishes the work, but with more awareness of the soil, the rain, and the growth to come. Likewise, you can meet your goals while moving at a pace that protects your health and happiness.
In a world that tells you to “hustle harder,” mindful living whispers, “be here now.” You don’t need to leave the fast-paced world—you just need to find your rhythm within it. Slowing down is not the enemy of success; it is the secret to sustainable success.
The truth is, life is not a race with a single finish line, it’s a journey with countless moments worth noticing. Don’t rush past them.
Dr. MAYMUNAH YUSUF KADIRI (aka DR. MAY) popularly referred to as “The Celebrity Shrink,” is a multiple award winning Mental Health Physician, Advocate & Coach. She is the convener of “The Mental Health Conference” and the Medical Director and Psychiatrist-In-Chief at Pinnacle Medical Services, Dr. Kadiri is a dynamic Consultant Neuro-Psychiatrist and a Fellow of the National Post Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMCPsych) with almost 20 years’ experience as a practicing Physician.