Studying abroad has been the most fast-paced period of my life. I constantly ask myself how to mentally slow down and enjoy these once-in-a-lifetime experiences when I have no choice but to move fast.  

We are always told to love in the moment and to be present, without any guidance on how to do so. Being present is harder than people think. Needing to be certain places at certain times, having school and work, constantly scrolling on our phones and overall, the world around us moving at a pace of urgency. Being present is one of the hardest skills to learn. 

Slowing down can look different for everyone. For me it’s going on a run or a walk and finding new paths. Sitting by the water and people watching, reading or journaling. Or even just waking up a little earlier so I can take more time getting to class.

I have learned that walking around blindly without using maps to pinpoint an exact end location is what engages me most. Following my own curiosity is when I stumble upon the more local, real and genuine areas of town. Not just the place where all the tourists and study abroad students hangout. 

To me, the authentic places are what truly matter and intrigue me most. Seeing how locals live their day-to-day lives and immersing myself in those same habits and behaviors are how I learn, grow and “slow down.”

Learning to pry myself away from my phone during all of this has been the most challenging. You truly don’t realize how much you miss being on your phone until you take your first walk around the city without it. 

One of the biggest goals I made for myself during study abroad was to break my phone habit. No texting while walking or looking at it during conversations. I (try to) only allow myself to use my phone for background noise like a podcast or music. 

Cadence Stazer, a junior fashion merchandising student, is studying alongside me in Florence. 

“I notice my life moving very fast recently,” Stazer said. “It’s really scary but really interesting at the same time. 

Stazer just recently found out that she has to graduate early, challenging her to slow down and practice being present more than any of us. “Being abroad, graduating college soon and applying for internships is such a surreal feeling,” Stazer said. “It’s really crazy to think about how quickly everything is moving, but bittersweet to see what the future has in store for me.” 

Sejal Sutliff, a junior fashion merchandising student, is also abroad this spring and is graduating early next fall. Sutliff is in a similar boat to Stazer, but slow living looks different for both.

“Living slower to me means taking everything in as much as possible, being present in the moment, and really just trying to savor my time here as much as possible,” Sutliff said. Some practices I do are having a few days out of the weeks dedicated to exploring Florence without an agenda. I love to just wander around and find hidden gems that are off the beaten path.” 

Many of us abroad are in the same boat with the mental pressures to fit every experience possible into four months, while also enjoying every moment because it goes by so fast. Learning new practices, picking up new hobbies, and talking to strangers are frequent ways a lot of us have learned to live in the moment. 

Even just in our four years of college, we have noticed that it truly goes by in the blink of an eye. As most of us approach or continue navigating our early twenties, I believe we will see a pattern in slowing down while moving fast, and we will be able to master the skill of being present while keeping busy.