Slow Down. It's Good for You!

Baldwin EMC Board of Trustees

Summer break was a memorable time for us growing up, wasn't it? We stayed outside until the street lights came on and the cicadas started singing. Our feet were either glued to the inside of our roller skates or the pedals of our bicycles. We survived off hose water and sunshine without a care in the world, except for the occasional mosquito bite or skinned knee.

Once we hit adulthood, the magic of summer fades a little bit, doesn't it? These school-free months that we once lived for feel like any other time. We no longer thrive off the joy of being outside and carefree. Instead, we bog ourselves down with the "busy-ness" of grown-up life.

Granted, being an adult means having responsibilities, like raising kids, having jobs and doing household chores (you know- the stuff our parents and grandparents used to do).

But how hard would it be for each of us to carve out time for a bit of outdoor leisure this summer? Whether that's perfecting a new recipe on the grill, working on your backstroke at the community pool, or simply taking a walk at sunset - there are lots of simple ways to enjoy a simpler, slower summer.

According to multiple studies conducted by mental health researchers, leisure time is anything but wasteful. Engaging in recreational activities has been found to lower stress levels and blood pressure, and boost self-esteem. And since we're the power company, we'd also like to point out another particularly appealing benefit to leisure time - a lower power bill.

When you opt for a family cookout in the backyard, you're reducing the amount of electricity you would have consumed using kitchen appliances, and the amount of heat your air conditioner has to overcome to keep your home cool. When you take your kids to the park for a fun afternoon, you're eliminating the electricity consumed by them playing video games. Those hours spent in the swimming pool watching your fingers turn to raisins? Those are hours the lights, TVs, computers and other devices in your home aren't being used.

And it all adds up to one thing - more money in your wallet and less on your power bill. By the way, lower bills can also lead to lower stress levels...are you seeing the same pattern we're seeing here?

These changes don't have to be limited to summer. Even after school resumes next month, you and your family members can still take steps to build leisure time into your daily routine. You just might find that unplugging also makes you more connected.

We really like the sound of that.

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