This is for women! The over-achievers! The mothers! The incessant do-ers! The none-resters!
The ones who cannot stop despite getting pockets of quietness in their day (granted, it may not be til 10 pm…)
The ones who insist that, instead of reading a book, they start vacuuming for the tenth time or checking their emails, working after dark.
OK, so this might be a pretty darn obvious question, but! I’ll ask anyway.
Do you feel exhausted by the endless tasks and obligations accompanying your life?
If so, it’s time to consider embracing the simple joy of slow living. Also known as a more intentional life.
Slow Living
To say that slow living changed my life is not giving it enough credit.
And you don’t buy, wear, click or make money on slow living either. It’s not something you just click and get delivered by Amazon.
It covers all of everyday life in more ways than I can explain. It’s a mental thing. A mindset, maybe.
A way of saying, “I’m sick to death of life running away from me. I want to enjoy it! Not waste it.”
Overview of Slow Living
Slow living is a movement dedicated to taking things slower, unplugging from technology, and reconnecting with yourself.
From Carl Honoré’s popularisation of the movement to its mental and physical health benefits, there are sooooo many reasons why we should all take a step back and enjoy a slower pace of life.
Here, I’ll discuss how to incorporate slow living into daily life, plus slower alternatives for fast-paced days, and explore its potential implications on society.
Speed Of Life
The slow-living movement is a worldwide phenomenon that challenges the current hustle culture, promoting an alternative, calmer way of living.
Its aim is to encourage people to slow down and focus on meaningful relationships and activities rather than constantly striving for more.
Slow Movement
Oh, the benefits of slow living!
The value to daily life is huge and is becoming increasingly recognised by experts across multiple disciplines.
From improved physical health to enhanced mental well-being, increased productivity, and greater work-life balance—slow living offers a range of gifts that lead to happier and healthier lives.
The concept can also be used for sustainable growth by many businesses that recognise its potential for reducing stress levels and improving customer experience.
The slow living movement emphasises taking time for yourself, slowing down the pace of your life, appreciating nature, and connecting with family and friends.
Or how about unplugging from technology, focusing on quality over quantity, exploring new ideas, being present, and setting aside time for reading, relaxation, movie watching or meditation?
Giving full attention to one thing at a time, taking mindful approaches towards eating, fitness, interiors—and so much more!
Slow living goes way beyond simply finding methods to move slower physically – it’s about making conscious choices that align with your values so you can live with intention.
While it may seem daunting at first, it doesn’t have to be complicated or overwhelming. Small steps each day will make a big difference over time.
Benefits Of Slow Living
Slow living has a number of positive effects on our lives.
The advantages of a slower lifestyle are undeniable, from improved physical and mental health to increased energy and more meaningful relationships with our family and friends.
First and foremost, slowing down allows us to become more mindful and intentional with our behaviour.
Doing this makes us better able to see how decisions impact not only ourselves but also the people around us.
This leads to healthier lifestyles as we become aware of what habits, such as eating unhealthy food or not getting enough exercise, are detrimental to our well-being.
Additionally, this awareness helps us make better choices for ourselves, leading to an improved quality of life.
Slowing down also has beneficial effects on our social lives.
Taking time for yourself away from the hustle and bustle allows you to appreciate life’s simple pleasures – like spending quality time with family or enjoying a leisurely walk in the park – leading to memories that will stay with you for years.
So too, taking time out from your busy schedule could help you build deeper relationships with friends by allowing you to dedicate more time to them than you usually would if you were living life at breakneck speed.
Finally, when we practice slow living, we become more aware of the small things that make up each day – something that is often lost when we’re caught in the fast pace of modern life.
These moments may seem insignificant on their own, but collectively, they create an experience that is uniquely ours that cannot be replicated anywhere else.
By identifying these moments, we get to appreciate the often overlooked things, such as the smile of our toddler, the warm sun on our face, and the smell of freshly cut grass in the garden.
Tips For A Slow Lifestyle
The notion of slow living has been becoming popular in the last few years – and with good reason! We all want to experience more and stress less.
Slow living is a lifestyle choice that promotes mindfulness and intentionality, allowing us to be conscious in the present moment, and appreciating life’s simple pleasures.
Although this might seem challenging to implement, there are manageable ways to include it in your day.
Start off by allowing just a few minutes where you step away from your phone and become aware of your environment.
This might look like taking a short walk (without your phone) or sitting outside to observe nature.
Set aside time, too, dedicated solely to yourself every day. Use it however you please – read a book, listen to music, or pick up a new hobby.
Mindful breathing exercises and meditation can also lessen stress while providing clarity.
Consider being thankful throughout the day, which helps recognise even the most minor accomplishments in our lives, leading to increased happiness overall.
Oh, and don’t forget to have fun!
Participate in slower-paced activities such as walking through parks or leisurely bike rides with friends or family. Slow down while your toddler or child puts on their shoes.
Sit with your children while they eat, and maintain eye contact when you talk to them.
Slow-living moments are opportunities to relax while enjoying whatever it is you’re doing – no matter how mundane!
Small steps taken today towards crafting an intentional lifestyle will put you right on track for leading an enriched life tomorrow.
Simple Living
Living simply is a refreshing change to modern Western life.
It’s an opportunity to reclaim time and energy, to savour the small moments that make up the day.
If we’re intentional with how we do life, small changes add up and significantly impact both ourselves and the planet.
Mindful eating is an excellent way of practicing slow living. Taking time to taste and experience food, being grateful for its flavours rather than wolfing it down on the go.
Staying present to each bite, and chewing slowly, allows you to digest what you’re eating better and increase satisfaction during meals too. Win-win!
Switching up your vehicle methods is another way to shift your lifestyle towards slower living.
Instead of hopping in the car, use public transport such as buses, ferries, or trains. Doing so provides an opportunity for quiet reflection (or even a nap! The perfect slow moment!)
Finding quality free time amidst modern life’s hustle and bustle can be problematic, but small changes make all the difference.
Limiting social media use or taking breaks throughout the day are great ways of reclaiming time that would otherwise be lost scrolling through feeds or playing online games.
Taking mindful exercise classes, such as yoga or walks in nature, are great for calming down after a stressful day while letting your mind wander at its own pace.
Finally, making conscious choices when it comes to fashion, home decor, waste management, and lifestyle improvements have far-reaching effects way beyond just ourselves.
Making sure our purchases are sustainable has become increasingly important if we want future generations to benefit from our decision-making today!
From opting for slow fashion companies committed to sustainability, such as upcycling fabric scraps, using sustainable materials, and sourcing from reliable, ethical creators, instead of factories blasting out new, toxic materials which only end up in landfill six months later.
Slow living offers us a much-needed break from rushed lifestyles. It allows us to take our time enjoying life’s simple pleasures while being mindful of how these actions affect ourselves and others.
By replacing rushed activities with slower ones over time, we can begin cultivating meaningful connections with ourselves and those around us while creating a better future for our kids.
Slow Living Lifestyle
Slow living is a worldwide movement that has been gaining traction for the past two decades.
It’s a solid ‘NO’ reaction to the hustle culture of speed and efficiency. Instead, encourage a slower pace of life by focusing on personal values, meaningful relationships, and quality time with those you love.
The principles of slow living are simple: take your time and savor every moment. This means taking fewer shortcuts and focusing on what brings us joy.
From spending more time with family to enjoying nature or simply being present, slow living encourages people to take back control of their lives and prioritise important things. It promotes mindful approaches to everyday activities such as eating, exercising, shopping, working, and even resting.
The benefits of slow living are wide and vast. Studies have found that slowing down helps reduce stress levels while boosting concentration and creativity.
Slow living can also lead to better physical health by encouraging healthier habits like mindfulness meditation, cardiovascular exercise or mindful eating, and regular exercise outdoors – walking in a park or swimming at the beach – all of which provide an opportunity for relaxation and contemplation away from work or home pressures.
Additionally, it has been linked with improved mental health such as better sleep and the ability to detach from negative thinking patterns – which is essential for good health.
Slow living can also have implications for society at large: it encourages individuals to make conscious decisions about how they live, to create positive change within their local community and globally.
By reducing our consumption of fast food products as an example, we can help safeguard our environment from further damage caused by high energy-consuming practices. This also reduces our risk of heart disease and diabetes amongst other nasty illnesses.
By investing in sustainable fashion, we can reduce pollution. Choosing public transportation over cars means we reduce carbon emissions.
By taking regular breaks from technology, we spend more time connecting with those we love.
By travelling slowly, we can explore other cultures in depth. By opting out of busy lifestyles, we reclaim moments of peace within our day-to-day lives. The list is endless!
Ultimately, slow living gives us an opportunity to step off the life treadmill – if only temporarily – so we can appreciate all that life offers us each day.
The little things often get overlooked amid our rushing habits, but there really is so much to life when we allow ourselves to see it and experience it!
Further Reading
Slowing down and enjoying life
Using plants for Mindful living
