I’ve heard it said that if you don’t have 5 minutes to meditate you need 10!
It can be tempting in these last weeks of summer to rush to “fit it all in” yet by doing so we might be leaving something out – our actual lived experience of the things we’re fitting in.
What’s the point in rushing – even on vacation – if we don’t take time to savor our experiences?
Savoring is a powerful psychological practice that involves deliberately attending to and appreciating positive experiences, both as they happen and through memory or anticipation.
So what does the science tell us about the value of savoring?
Enhanced well-being and life satisfaction: Studies show that people who regularly engage in savoring report higher levels of happiness and life satisfaction. The act of deliberately focusing on positive experiences amplifies their emotional impact and duration. I challenged myself to leave my cell phone in the house so I wasn’t tempted to scroll mindlessly on the beach.
Improved emotional regulation: Savoring helps counteract our natural tendency toward “hedonic adaptation” – the way we quickly get used to good things. By consciously appreciating positive moments, we can maintain their benefits longer.
Increased resilience: Research indicates that people who savor positive experiences build psychological resources that help them cope better with stress and adversity. This is especially valuable to know now as most of us are dealing with increased stress.
Strengthened relationships: Savoring shared experiences with others deepens social bonds and creates more meaningful connections. I felt this most strongly on a recent weekend away with friends.
It doesn’t take much. Just a deliberate decision to put down the phone, pay attention to your senses and be where you and who you’re with now.
Some ideas:
- Taste each bite of the peach.
- Feel the sand between your toes before you rush to wash it off.
- Hold the hug of the kid you’re dropping off at college a moment or two longer.
- Cancel or postpone an unnecessary meeting just to give your brain a break.
- Nap without apology.
- Don’t just fill the birdfeeder – watch the birds.
- Linger over a meal with family or friends.
This week I invite you to consciously choose one moment each day to savor. I’d love to hear how it goes.
As Marcel Proust says:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Resource of the Month
For any of you dropping kids at college for the first time, you might appreciate this published essay I wrote a few years ago when sending my youngest off to school.
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