Resources

Time against the clock

Mindfulness

The Slow Guide to Sydney
Published by Affirm Press 2007

Life in the city can seem like an endless treadmill of rushing from A to B. The pace seems to us to be frenetic and, for some, too much to keep up with. "As a result many people try to change the outside world to suit how they feel," says Sydneysider Stuart Mackay, who has been teaching meditation for 27 years through his company Peace at Work. "But the secret is to change the inside. Where there is focus there is peace."

He suggests Sydneysiders who want to find a slower pace concentrate first on slowing the rush of thoughts through their brain. "A quiet mind is the most powerful key you can possess," says Mackay.

In daily life, make a conscious effort to slow your pace - walk more slowly, take the slow train, ride a bike - and concentrate on one thing at a time. Bring mindfulness to everything you do and you will soon find that you not only appreciate experiences more but you also have a lot less stress.

The next step is to add a meditation practice to your day. You don't have to be a guru. You just need to devote 10 minutes to it, in the morning or at night. To make a start, go to www.peaceatwork.com, click on "sample" and try the free meditation exercise that you can use in your everyday life. Be quiet. Be slow. Be alive.