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Every year I sit down and write out a few simple goals for the coming year. Nothing dramatic, nothing that requires a color-coded spreadsheet to maintain, just a handful of intentions that I hope will shape the way I move through my days.

One of those goals, the one that keeps rising to the top of my list, is the desire to be more present. (I’m entering year 2 of it being at the top of my list!)

I don’t mean present in some lofty, philosophical way. I mean very practical things like:

• Stop multitasking every minute of the day.
• Learn how to say no without guilt.
• Let a task wait until tomorrow even if I know I could power through it today.
• Stop living life in “get ahead” mode.
• Focus on the NOW.
• See the people around me, really see them. And hear them.

If I’m honest, I didn’t do a very good job of that this past year. I made small attempts, but the truth is, I let busyness take the lead more often than I’d like to admit. And as a working wife and mom, with a creative business, a home, and a whole lot of plates spinning, it’s always easy to use my overflowing schedule as a reason to stay on autopilot instead of slowing down.

So as I looked back over my goals, I realized that “being more present” needs to stay right where it is… but this time, it needs a little more intention behind it.

And maybe you’re in that same place. Wanting to slow the pace of your mind, your home, your conversations, and even your creativity.

So I made this list of 30 small, quiet things I can practice. Nothing big. Nothing overwhelming. Just gentle reminders that presence isn’t something you stumble into, it’s something you choose in tiny, meaningful ways throughout your day.

And I’m sharing it with you in case you need it too.

30 Small, Quiet Things You Can Do to Slow Down Your Life

1. Sit down to drink your morning coffee instead of carrying it around while tasks pile up.
2. Step outside for two minutes and listen to whatever sound is naturally happening.
3. Lighten your schedule by saying no to one non-essential thing this week.
4. Put your phone in another room while you do a single task.
5. Spend an evening by candlelight.
6. Read one page of a book instead of scrolling.
7. Let the dishes sit in the sink until tomorrow and give yourself an evening off.
8. Fold a towel or blanket with intention, praying for the person who uses it.
9. Ask more questions.
10. Spend an evening with no phone or TV.
11. Look out the window until your eyes settle on something beautiful.
12. Take five minutes to stretch, even if you don’t feel like you “have time.”
13. Declutter a tiny space, a drawer, a corner, a single shelf.
14. Practice doing one thing at a time and noticing when your mind wanders.
15. Write down one sentence of gratitude each day.
16. Let yourself finish something imperfectly instead of endlessly tweaking it.
17. Listen to the hum of your home, the fridge, the heater, the quiet.
18. Wash your hands slowly and pay attention to warmth, scent, and sound.
19. Sit on your porch or step for a few minutes without an agenda.
20. Revisit an old journal and notice how far you’ve come.
21. Touch something living, a plant, a tree, a pet, and breathe.
22. Create a small, simple art page without planning an outcome.
23. Speak more gently to yourself today than you did yesterday.
24. Look at someone’s face a second longer before rushing off.
25. Listen fully when someone is speaking without thinking about your reply.
26. Do a small chore slowly instead of racing through the whole list.
27. Write a handwritten note or message to someone who crossed your mind.
28. Notice light, where it falls, how it shifts, what it changes.
29. Let yourself rest for five minutes without earning it.
30. End your day by asking, “Where did I feel present today?”

Not every idea will fit every day, but even one or two of these woven into your routine can soften the pace of your life in ways you may not expect.

Presence doesn’t demand perfection. It doesn’t ask you to overhaul your world. It builds quietly, almost invisibly, through small pauses and gentle decisions, the kind that make room for a deeper, steadier life.

And if this is on your goal list too, maybe this is the year we actually learn how to do it together. Bookmark or save this page for when you need a nudge to settle down. I’d love to hear any ideas you have on how to slow down your life, day and moments…tell me in the comments!