How to savor and enjoy life's most delectable moments.
Deep-fried ice cream.
Kobe beef fillet.
Mushroom truffle gnocchi.
Mango key lime pie.
Most people can associate these things with savoring, but we can savor much more.
And finding time to savor anything can be challenging in a world seemingly built for speed.
I used to rush through life, but that lifestyle never gave me meaning or fulfillment.
That feeling changed when I started to slow down and appreciate (savor) things in my life.
I also focused only on what genuinely mattered to me most and stopped worrying about the rest.
That left me with far fewer things to concentrate on and, therefore, more time to savor them in more fulfilling and meaningful ways.
When we savor, we extend the pleasure we are experiencing and feeling as life happens in the moment; it’s a life skill that, when learned and applied, can create meaningful connections in all aspects of our lives.
Most people can appreciate what it means to savor a delectable dessert; we take smaller bites, eat slower to enjoy the flavors and textures more, and pause before bites to allow reflection before the next taste.
But we can apply that dessert analogy in other areas, too.
So, in this article, I want to share my thoughts by exploring the theory and practice of savoring.
5 ways to savor
Savoring means making the conscious decision to slow down, be present in the moment, and allow the time necessary to enjoy the positives of a situation as long as possible.
Whether it’s sipping coffee, holding someone’s hand, having a conversation, driving a car, going for a jog, or whatever, we are making a purposeful choice to try and enjoy (savor) that moment in our lives.
On the surface, it may seem like an easy concept, but it actually proves challenging if we are not mindful and remember to do it.
For example, I love blueberry pie; by that, I mean I (f-bomb-ing) love blueberry pie. But as much as I enjoy it, if I’m not mindful of savoring it, then as soon as the dessert plate hits the table, I’ll gobble it down so fast I won’t even taste it and then be bummed when it is gone, often craving more. When that happens, I’m not savoring anything; I’m being gluttonous.
Another example is when I first began exercising, I was severely out of shape (and overweight), and of course, I wanted immediate results, so I pushed myself too hard initially, causing a minor injury and intense soreness, which led to setbacks.
However, when I savored the process I needed to go through to become healthy, I began to see results.
I developed the mindset that it was far more critical (especially in the beginning) to consistently exercise by walking every day than trying to see how far I could run. And while walking, I learned to enjoy the surroundings; I was mindful of how my mind and body felt as I exercised, balancing the line between increasing my heart rate and pushing too hard. With practice, I was able to be dialed into that sweet spot.
There was a significant shift. I wasn’t trying to get in shape overnight; I was savoring the process I needed to go through, doing just a little more each day. Savoring the process was not felt in one short-term moment (like a bite of pie) but gradually enjoyed and appreciated over time (more like growing the berries and making a pie from scratch).
You see, savoring can be applied (and enjoyed) in every aspect of our lives, not just food. And it’s a beautiful feeling when we choose to savor a moment. So, let’s walk through the five ways to savor moments in life.
Slow down your pace
In recent years, I’ve realized that to truly savor a moment, I needed to intentionally slow down during that moment. Savoring and rushing are incompatible; one can only exist in the absence of the other. The key to savoring lies in our decision to reduce the times we need to rush in our lives. And even if embracing a slower lifestyle feels daunting, we can still begin by choosing to savor individual moments.
When you allow yourself to intentionally slow life down, it’s like granting yourself permission to enjoy (savor) the luxury of uninterrupted focus while having a meal, participating in a 5k run, engaging in a conversation, or watching a movie. It’s about giving these experiences the time they deserve, appreciating their nuances, and relishing every second.
Remember, savoring starts with a conscious choice to decelerate our pace in life, giving us the appropriate time to savor the moments.
Be mindful of the moment
Being mindful and present simply means focusing and concentrating in a manner that heightens our senses and allows us to notice and absorb every detail and meaning in the moment.
I like to use two examples of this mindful approach.
First, go up to any dog and say, “Squirrel!” and then watch how they react. You will notice what it looks like to have complete and total focus. You’ll see them straining all their senses to locate the squirrel: hair standing on end, ears and tail sticking up, eyes piercing. It’s like they found the Adderall stash and ate it; they are entirely focused and committed to locating that squirrel.
The second example is watching a child playing with a toy. The news could be on the TV, parents yelling about money in the background, the dog throwing up Twinkies still in their wrapper in the corner, and the child will still be staring at their toy, playing with it, amazed by its potential. They are smiling, content, and utterly unaware of what is happening around them, mindful of the moment.
That’s what I mean by being mindful and savoring the moment.
Sharpen your senses
Our senses are like colors on a palette board for an artist. The more colors available, the more detail the artist can reveal in their work.
To truly appreciate and savor a moment, we need to use our five senses as superpowers; the more we can harness our powers to see, hear, taste, touch, and smell, the more prosperous our savoring experience will be. Science has proven that the more senses we use in learning, the more we comprehend and retain that knowledge, and the same applies to learning to savor a moment.
We already use our senses in every situation, so the task is not to use more senses as much as it is to just be more mindful of the senses we are using. Really immerse yourself in what your senses reveal; the more details we can identify, the more we’ll be able to appreciate and savor the experience.
Focus on the positives
Let’s face it: there can be a lot of negativity in the world, so for us to appreciate any moment, we need to only allow positive internal and external stimuli to enter our thoughts and experiences.
For example, if I want to savor the next hour I have set aside to start a new book, I can reduce the chance of any harmful external stimuli of noise and interruptions by turning off the TV and phone. I can also reduce negative internal stimuli from disrupting my time by being mindful of my thoughts; there are always things that need figuring out, but for the next hour, I can choose not to let any of those thoughts interfere with my reading time.
Now, I’m ready to start reading and let the savoring begin. I notice how my mind reacts to the words, painting mental pictures as the details unfold. I sense the crisp paper between my fingers as I turn the pages and smile, knowing I am not speed reading but slowly digesting each phrase and appreciating the author’s intent.
Be grateful and thankful
Being grateful and thankful for experiencing any moment is the ultimate reward for savoring. To let experiences pass by without savoring the moment and expressing gratitude is almost shameful.
It is also symbiotic. We cannot be grateful for an experience without first choosing to have that experience; without deciding to savor a moment, there is nothing for us to express thankfulness.
Gratefulness works two ways: expressing thankfulness as well as appreciating the opportunity to experience being thankful; choosing to slow down and consciously savor a moment creates that opportunity to be grateful.
Examples of savoring
Let’s walk through some real-world scenarios of savoring because, so far, it’s been mostly theory. So, with that in mind, here are three examples of different aspects of life to show you how easy it is to try savoring a moment for yourself.
For each example, I’ll summarize my thoughts for each way you can savor a moment I mentioned: slow down your pace, be mindful of the moment, sharpen your senses, focus on the positives, and be grateful and thankful.
Savoring a home-cooked meal
Even though I travel full-time, I always stay somewhere with some kind of kitchen because I cook most of my meals. There are many reasons, but mostly because I like to control my nutrition levels (salt, sugar, etc.), and it also provides an opportunity to savor my time.
Slow down your pace. Make sure to allocate plenty of time for prep, eating, and cleaning up (this prevents being rushed). When cooking, try to cook at a lower heat and simmer. Let the flavors linger in the air. When it’s time to eat, take smaller bites and chew thoroughly instead of gorging yourself. Pause often, and try not to feel rushed. Do things at a natural pace and take peaceful, gentle actions.
Be mindful of the moment. Start consciously thinking about the meal and organizing your pans and ingredients. Ensure your phone is in the other room as you center your thoughts on preparing the meal. The problems of the day are fading away as you start preparations. When the meal is ready, you feel a sense of accomplishment and experiment with the presentation of the food on the plate.
Sharpen your senses. As you prepare the ingredients, notice if they are ripe. Do they need to be washed? When you are cutting, hear the knife’s sound hitting the board, and see how the pieces fall in line next to each other. When cooking, smell the ingredients taking shape, melding together, and kindling your appetite. When eating, notice the tastes and textures and take a moment after you swallow before taking another bite.
Focus on the positives. There is no perfect way to prepare the meal, so don’t worry if the garlic is rough cut and not finely chopped. If the recipe calls for noodles and you only have rice, use rice; it may turn out better!
Be grateful and thankful. The simple fact is being able to cook the ingredients for your meal is a privilege many do not have in the world. Do not take this for granted; at this fundamental level, be grateful. If you are eating with someone, tell them you are thankful they are joining you.
Savoring your next exercise
Being physically active daily is my top priority; if I don’t have my health, everything else is nonsense. Getting exercise every day corrects many things in my life, and the following is how I savor my time being active.
Slow down your pace. When it comes to exercise, your goal is to go faster than usual physically to get the benefits of elevating your heart rate; you can still slow down your mind. When I am out jogging, I let my mind wander and daydream. I don’t think about problems or burdens; I enjoy my time exercising and not worrying about anything else. Think slowly.
Be mindful of the moment. When exercising, I am always aware of how my body feels. Is there a cramp? Do I have pain? If I am jogging, are my feet striking with proper heel placement? I also am mindful of what is in front of me and around me, and I try to keep my mind calm to get a better experience. I pay close attention to my breathing and maintain a specific tempo for each exercise.
Sharpen your senses. As my heart rate increases, I notice whether my breathing pattern matches my excursion level. I see the sights and hear the sounds of my surroundings. I notice if it is hot and humid outside and ensure I am sweating and not dehydrated. I listen to the sound my feet make while jogging and dialing in on the desired tempo. I use my senses to coordinate the exercise itself.
Focus on the positives. Staying positive is essential when exercising because there are days when we try our best to talk ourselves out of it. When we are tired, we need to quiet the voices that tell us not to exercise. When we plan on jogging, but it is raining outside, find a treadmill or a flight of stairs to climb. Counter every potential negative with a positive, and get your exercise.
Be grateful and thankful. Not too long ago, I was in poor health, and even walking was exhausting. I am fine now and train pretty hard each day, but that time has forever changed my appreciation for my health. So, if you leave with no other message from me, let it be to be grateful for your health and your ability to exercise because not everyone can.
Savoring a conversation
Being a full-time traveler is great fun but does have some downsides, and one of them is I have fewer meaningful conversations than I did in the States (mainly due to language barriers). So when I get a chance to have a real conversation, you can be sure I savor it.
Slow down your pace. To savor a conversation, take your time to make a point. Remember, a conversation flows in more than one direction. Slow your mind and truly listen to what others are saying. Take the time to find meaning in their words and understand their intent. When you share your thoughts, slow your tempo. Appreciate the idle time and use it to reflect on the conversation thus far.
Be mindful of the moment. Paying attention lets the person know you are cognizant of what they are saying. Look them in the eye often, and leave your phone in your pocket; this is a time to speak with an actual person and not surf the internet.
Sharpen your senses. When the other person speaks, notice their body language and listen to the words they say. Hear them. Use your hands and body language to emphasize your point when you respond in dialogue. Engagement takes many forms, so don’t limit your expression to just voice.
Focus on the positives. Debates are fine but try to stay positive and not get negative and personal. There is nothing wrong with saying you disagree with a political agenda, but try not to call anyone an idiot. Always take the high road when the conversation is heading in a negative direction.
Be grateful and thankful. I am always grateful whenever I meet someone new and have a conversation, and I let that person know, too. Even with people I have known forever after we talk, I say something to the effect of being thankful for our time together. I mean it, and it becomes real when I say it out loud.
Closing thoughts
You know, when I write these types of articles, I wonder whether people believe I process parts of my life like this; like, do I really stop and think about savoring things? Well, the answer is an unconditional yes; I do, and all the time. You should, too.
I live a contented life because I intentionally curate the lifestyle I want, which includes the feelings and emotions I value the most. Savoring is one of these emotions, and everyone can experience it; you just need to make a mindful decision to savor something.
