Ruthlessly Eliminating Hurry to Find More Joy and Presence in Family Life
Ruthlessly Eliminating Hurry to Find More Joy and Presence in Family Life
Every parent hopes to live their best life—full of meaning, joy, and connection with their family. Yet the reality often feels far from that. Instead of savoring moments, many of us find ourselves caught in a whirlwind of exhaustion and overwhelm, trying to keep up with all the demands life throws at us. If you’re feeling like life, marriage, and parenting should be simpler or more fulfilling by now, but something still feels missing, you are not alone. The good news is there’s a way forward through intentionally slowing down and ruthlessly eliminating hurry.
Inspired by a powerful book called The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry and my own recent experiences, I want to share how slowing down—not rushing—can transform your mental wellness and family relationships. This is about making room for presence, pausing to prioritize what deeply matters, and reclaiming your energy from busyness that doesn’t serve you.
The Hidden Toll of Living in a Hurry Culture
Being “busy” has become a badge of honor, but hurry is quietly stealing from our health, happiness, and relationships. It’s a culture that pushes us to rush through life rather than live it fully. In the podcast, I shared how disconnecting on a recent three-week trip opened my eyes:
"I loved the stillness, but I realized how necessary it is to turn down the noise in our life."
This stillness revealed how frequently we fill our days with distractions and good intentions that actually pull us away from being truly present with our families. Hurry keeps us shallow, fragmented, and often disconnected from those we love most.
Choosing Presence Over Productivity
One of the most eye-opening moments was noticing how rush and distractions impacted my youngest son, who has some behavioral challenges. At school, teachers saw him differently—brighter, calmer, more capable—which made me realize how my own hurriedness at home might be contributing to our struggles. I said in the episode,
"Since being home, I've really made a diligent effort to just simplify my life and be present with my son... He's like a different kid."
Slowing down isn’t about perfection or doing less for the sake of it—it’s about choosing presence over productivity, relationships over checklists. When we ruthlessly eliminate hurry, we create space for real connection, laughter, and healing in family life.
The author of the book reminds us
"Hurry is the great enemy of holiness, health, and happiness."
This resonates deeply for parents trying to balance so much at once. It’s a call to prioritize your family’s wellbeing and your own soul’s needs above the relentless pull to do more, faster, and better.
Setting Boundaries to Protect Your Family’s Mental Health
Slowing down requires boundaries—and that can feel difficult in a culture that values constant availability and achievement. Yet, creating clear limits protects your mental health and nurtures your family relationships. On the podcast, I mentioned a simple but effective habit my husband and I adopted:
"He started just plugging in his phone at the door when he comes home, an dit's been really great for our relationship."
Turning off the digital noise invites us back into presence with one another. This small boundary helps us be more patient, attentive, and emotionally available to our loved ones.
Creating rhythms of work, rest, reflection, and family time cultivates calm amid life’s inevitable chaos. As I reflected,
"You can't outrun your soul's need for connectedness, stillness, and rest."
Intentionally protecting this space is essential for your family’s flourishing mental health.
Practical Ways to Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry
You might wonder how to start slowing down in a world that feels increasingly fast-paced. From my experience and the book’s wisdom, here are practical steps:
Say No to Non-Essential Busyness: Examine your schedule and commitments. Decline what doesn’t align with your values or drains your energy.
Establish Phone-Free Zones and Times: Protect meals, bedtime, and family moments from screens and distractions.
Schedule Intentional Rest: Build regular time for quiet, unstructured rest without guilt or pressure to be productive.
Simplify Your Family’s Calendar: Focus on what enriches your relationships and wellbeing—not just what fills your time.
Practice Patient Presence: Gently return your attention when you notice distractions pulling you away from your children and partner.
The book encourages,
"Removing hurry from your life is not about doing fewer things but about doing the right things at the right pace."
Cultivating Fulfillment Through Stillness and Connection
As we ruthlessly eliminate hurry, we open ourselves to the joy found in everyday moments. Fulfillment comes not from achievement but from presence—the reality of showing up fully for your family with patience, humor, and love.
One quiet night in the kitchen baking cookies with my children reminded me how much these simple, unhurried moments nourish us all.
Slowing down changes how we parent, how we love, and how we experience life. It’s a journey of intentional choices leading to a richer, healthier family life.
Bringing It Full Circle
If you started this journey today thinking about how to better live your best life as a parent, your path forward isn’t about adding more or trying harder. It’s about ruthlessly eliminating the hurry that dims your light and steals your joy. By creating space for intentional rest and deep presence, you reclaim your energy and your relationships. This slow but powerful transformation moves you from exhaustion toward fulfillment.
I’m Kendra Nielson, walking this path alongside you at Fulfillment Therapy. Let’s embrace a life of less hurry and more meaningful connection, one small step at a time.
Thank you for reading. To continue nurturing your mental wellness and family fulfillment, visit fulfillmenttherapy.org or contact
Together, we’ll build a life worth living with presence, peace, and joy.
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