How to Reconnect in a Busy World

There are days when our slow, simple life gets swept up in a fast, loud, messy whirl of activity. The kind of day where your coffee goes cold before you can drink it, someone forgets to feed the dog, and the to-do list looks like it was written by a caffeinated squirrel. If this is your life, maybe it’s time to learn to reconnect, to relax and enjoy the life you have. Listen in and learn how to get back to that simple life you love!

Transcript

Episode 172 – How to Reconnect in a Busy World

Welcome back to the porch! This month we’re talking about how we can unplug and reconnect in our simple lives. 

I want to start out by confessing something: there are days when my slow, simple life gets swept up in a fast, loud, messy whirl of activity. The kind of day where your coffee goes cold before you can drink it, someone forgets to feed the dog, and the to-do list looks like it was written by a caffeinated squirrel.

We talk a lot about slow living around here, and for a good reason. It’s what we’re aiming for—more intention, less hurry. More soul, less scroll. But let’s be honest: not every day allows for a gentle morning, a quiet devotional, and an hour to watch the sunrise while birds chirp around your rocking chair.

Some days you hit the ground running and the best you can do is not trip over your own feet. And that’s okay. Because the truth is, a simple life doesn’t mean a perfectly slow life. It means a life lived with purpose—even when it’s fast.

But how do we do that? How do we hold onto our slow, unplugged, deeply connected values when the day seems to have other plans? That’s what we’re diving into today.

Last week we talked about what it means to unplug. Now it’s time to talk about the other side of that coin: reconnecting.

Now, before we go any further, let’s clear something up. Reconnecting doesn’t mean you’ve been broken. It just means that maybe, somewhere between work deadlines, grocery lists, and wondering how on earth laundry multiplies like rabbits, you’ve lost track of some of the things that matter. You know—the people you love, the passions you used to have, that little voice inside you that used to sing in the shower even if it was off-key. 

Reconnecting is about tuning in again—not to the noise, but to the good stuff.

And let me tell you, the good stuff doesn’t come with a charger or a password.

Sometimes we get so focused on unplugging that we forget there’s a reason we’re doing it in the first place. It’s not just about taking things away. It’s about adding back in what we were never supposed to live without.

So where do we start? Why don’t we begin with a little myth-busting: Slow living isn’t about the speed. It’s about the focus. You can have a busy day and still live simply. The trick is how you move through it.

One of the first ways to adapt slow living on fast days is to unplug from what’s not necessary. If I’ve got errands, appointments, and an afternoon that feels like a marathon, the last thing I need is to check social media in line at the grocery store. That’s not rest. That’s not connection. That’s white noise.

Instead, I use those moments to breathe. To pray. To look around and maybe even smile at someone. I try to make space—even little bitty spaces—where I can pause. Because sometimes all it takes to reconnect to your day is a single breath that says, "I’m still here."

I also make friends with the margin. I know, it’s hard. We pack our schedules like we’re training for the Busy Olympics, but giving yourself just a 10-minute buffer between things can be a game changer. Those little pockets of time let you catch up with your soul before running to the next thing.

Next, let’s talk about tasks. Even on a fast day, you can only really do one thing at a time. Multitasking is overrated. I say this as someone who’s tried to stir a pot, answer a text, and remember what I walked into the room for—all at once. Spoiler alert: none of it gets done well.

So, if you’re folding laundry, just fold. If you’re making dinner, stir the soup and smell the herbs. Invite your senses back into the moment. That’s how we reconnect, even when things are flying.

Another trick I’ve learned is to anchor my day with little rituals. Now, I’m not talking about adding 14 new steps to your routine. I mean simple touchpoints that help you reset. A prayer before starting your car. A blessing whispered over your home before heading out the door. Lighting a candle when you come in at night and letting it burn as a reminder that peace still lives here.

These small practices help you carry your simple life into your fast-paced hours. They remind you of who you are and what matters. And that—even in a loud and hurried world—is priceless.

And then there’s the big one: grace. Give yourself some. Slow living doesn’t mean you fail every time the day gets fast. It just means you’re trying. You’re choosing, whenever you can, to live with heart instead of hustle. Some days you’ll hit the mark. Some days you’ll miss it entirely and fall asleep with your shoes on. But every day is a chance to try again.

There’s some good news in all of this: you don’t need to book a retreat or move to the mountains. Most of the time, reconnecting starts in the smallest of ways, right where you are, right in the middle of your beautifully ordinary life.

And do you know the best place to start? With You.

That’s right. Start by reconnecting to yourself. Because if you’ve been running around taking care of everybody and everything, chances are, you’ve pushed yourself to the back burner. And let me just say, you are not the leftover casserole. You deserve more than that.

Here’s a question for you: What used to light up your heart?

What did you love to do before life got so busy? Was it painting? Reading? Gardening? Baking a loaf of bread? Or maybe it was sitting on your front porch and waving to the neighbors.

Whatever it was, it’s still in there.

Take some time this week to do something just for you. Something that doesn’t require Wi-Fi or multitasking or being productive. Just something that makes you feel like you again. You might be surprised at how much you’ve missed your own company.

And while you’re at it, reconnect to your faith, too. Sometimes, in the busy hustle of life, our prayers turn into quick texts instead of long conversations. You know, “Hey God, just checking in—thanks for the coffee and please help me not lose my mind today. Amen.”

Don’t get me wrong, He hears those prayers too. But maybe it’s time to sit for a while. To listen. To open your Bible and actually read it without checking the time. To find a quiet corner, and say, “Okay Lord, I’m here. What do You have for me today?”

That kind of reconnection doesn’t just nourish the soul—it settles you down in the best way. It’s like breathing fresh air after being inside too long. You remember that you’re not alone. That there’s a purpose. That you don’t have to carry everything by yourself.

Now let’s talk about reconnecting with others. And no, I don’t mean commenting on someone’s photo with a heart emoji. I mean really connecting. Face to face. Or even voice to voice, if they live too far away to pop in for coffee.

Start simple. Send a handwritten note to a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Call your sister. Bake cookies for a neighbor just because. Invite someone over and actually sit with them. No phones. No rush. Just real conversation, real laughter.

You don’t have to fix all the world’s problems—just show up. Be present. Listen with both ears and maybe even your heart. Sometimes, the biggest gift we can give someone is our time, our full attention, and another cookie.

I also want to nudge you to reconnect with the everyday world around you. Not the digital one—the real one. You know, the one with trees and skies and rain puddles and bugs that try to fly in your sweet tea. That one.

Go outside. Put your bare feet in the grass. Watch the birds for a while. Sit on the porch swing and just be. That’s where you’ll notice the light changing in the evening. That’s where you’ll hear the night sounds begin their choir. That’s where you’ll remember that life isn’t something to race through—it’s something to savor.

Reconnecting to the world is like cleaning your glasses after they’ve been smudged for too long. Suddenly everything looks clearer, brighter. Even your own thoughts get a little more organized, like they finally had room to breathe.

Reconnection also has a funny way of bringing back gratitude. When we pause and actually look at what we already have, we realize just how much we’ve been blessed with. And that shift—from frenzy to thankfulness—is the sweetest kind of peace.

It’s easy to think of reconnecting as a big event, something you have to plan and schedule and prepare for like a family reunion. But really, it’s a series of small choices. A quiet moment here. An intentional pause there. A decision to show up fully instead of halfway. And that, my friend, is how simple living becomes a daily rhythm, not just a dream on a Pinterest board.

This week, as you continue unplugging from all the extra noise, I hope you’ll choose one or two ways to reconnect and make it real. Whether it’s setting the dinner table with care, calling an old friend, or just watching the sunrise while sipping your coffee—let that moment be a little act of reconnection.

And if you find yourself halfway through a conversation and suddenly realize you haven’t picked up your phone in an hour, I hope you smile. Because that’s it. That’s what we’re after. That quiet kind of joy. The peace of being fully there.

You don’t have to do it all at once. Just start somewhere small.

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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.