How can I use this week’s “On Detours and Delays” theme to stop rushing and journal in a way that actually slows me down?

Try a two-minute “downshift entry” before you start your day: 1) Name the detour: What’s slowing you? 2) Name the pull: What’s pushing you to rush? 3) Name the choice: One gentle action aligned with your real pace. Link it to the prompt, “How do you act when life forces you to slow down?” and notice your default style—push through or pause. Close with Marcus Aurelius’s cue: “without frenzy, laziness, or pretending”—write one sentence on what that looks like today. In Stoic, keep entries short and honest; consistency is the win, not word count.

I keep postponing things—how can I journal to tell if my delay is a helpful detour or just procrastination?

Use a quick litmus entry with the prompt, “What’s the most common thing you like to postpone?” Then ask yourself: 1) Alignment: Does delaying move me toward what matters? 2) Energy: Will I have more clarity or strength later? 3) Cost: What worsens if I wait? If alignment and energy are yes and cost is low, call it a detour; otherwise, it’s a delay to confront. Pair it with Epictetus: “Be strict with yourself”—write one concrete next step or a timed pause. Stoic works well for capturing this in-the-moment so you can spot your patterns over the week.

What should I write when plans get delayed (like a flight) so I don’t spiral into frustration?

Try the ABC entry: A—Accept: “The delay is real.” (Epictetus: “Wish things to happen as they do.”) B—Benefit: Name one gain (rest, reading, letting your nervous system settle). C—Choice: One small, virtuous use of this time (call someone who uplifts you, stretch, breathe). Connect it to the prompt, “How do you feel and react when your flight gets delayed?” and capture your first reaction without judgment. Seneca reminds us the part we really live is small—use the delay to enlarge it with presence. In Stoic, jot these three lines; short, clear entries can reset your nervous system in minutes.

On Detours and Delays

This week, we’ll reflect on whether slowing down might be what we really need.

Jan 26, 2026 ― Feb 01, 2026

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