Are you searching for a slower pace of life, one where things are simple and time isn’t breathing down your neck? Maybe you’re like me and feel like getting caught up in the rat race is eating away at your mental health and you desperately need to escape to a simpler existence. Well let’s break down why you’re absolutely in the right place where I explore how to simplify your life, savor every moment and answer the question: What is slow living?

What is slow living? 

To me slow living is switching off from all the noise. The noise from the fast-paced world we live in. Noise from the news, the constant chatter in all the messages and notifications we get. 

Instead it’s taking a step back in time, the way things used to be, the way our mums or grandmothers used to live. A time when the shops shut at 1pm on a Saturday. When there was time to cook a meal from scratch or spend some time in the garden. 

As we live more slowly we have more opportunities to prioritize self-care and make room for what makes us truly happy. 

And it makes me wonder: Do we have too many choices in our lives these days? Are we forced to make too many decisions?

There has to be a way to make a deeper connection with the world around us by being intentional with little pockets of time.

Benefits of Slow Living

It’s not rocket science why slow living is good for you. Overall living a more simple existence can improve our mental health and enhance our quality of life by lowering stress levels and reducing anxiety. 

Slow living allows us to have more time to do the things that bring us joy. This is different for everyone but all in all the benefits are the same. And I think by having a reference point of the way things used to be, before life got too busy, can help us realize how much our lives have changed. 

These days we are always having information come to us from many directions which can lead to an overload which in turn affects our dopamine levels. The more hits of dopamine we get from scrolling, notifications, emails and the like, the harder it becomes to find the time to recharge. 

Here are some other ways slow living can benefit our lives: 

• • Allows us to notice the little things

• • Makes room for creativity and hobbies

• • More time to spend in nature

• • Better physical health

• • Stronger relationships

• • Builds a sense of purpose

• • Saves money savoring quality over quantity

• • Improves attention span and increases productivity

How to live slow:

Practical Tips 

One way to start living a slow life is to detox from the digital norm. One of the best things I ever started doing was using the “Do not disturb’ function on my phone. I have it turn on automatically at a certain time each night and turn off in the mornings. I can also turn it on whenever I want at the flick of a switch. Having the power to be unavailable especially from work feels liberating! It’s basically taking the phone off the hook as we used to say. I do though have certain family members that can reach me through this barrier in case of emergencies.

Other ways to detox from the digital world is to schedule digital free time in your day or tech free areas in your home. For example when eating a meal alone or with others make a point of not looking at a screen of any kind. Sounds boring but that’s kind of what the point of slow living is. Getting away from all the noise in our lives. Minimizing the clutter around us and intertwined in our lives. That way, we can focus on the simple joys of devouring a delicious meal.

Create a Slow Living Routine

Depending on where you are in life will determine where a slow living routine will make the most sense and have the most impact. Perhaps a morning ritual will be what you need or maybe an evening routine is more your style. Whatever time of day creating a methodical habit to help start the day slow or unwind at the end of the day is key to establishing a mindful approach. Here are some things to try:

1. Finding a quiet space at a window to sip a cup of tea and take in the view
2. Thinking/ journalling 3 things you are grateful for before going to bed each night
3. Finding 5 minutes in the midst of your day to just breathe 
4. Dim the lights each evening to create a cozy glow
5. Choose a time in the day for stillness, stretches and reflection

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Slow Living in Different Life Stages

Slow living will obviously look different for each individual person but it will also vary greatly depending on where you are in life’s journey. Here are some ways people in different phases of life can implement slow living in their lives:

Young adults:

• • Establishing routines and setting boundaries at work

• • Setting career goals that don’t lead to burnout

• • Balancing social commitments, saying no sometimes

• • Getting enough sleep and exercise

• • Learning to cook healthy meals from scratch 

New parents:

• • Having a rest when the baby is sleeping

• • Mindful parenting such as playing and/ or reading with children

• • Minimalism to reduce stress from clutter

• • Self-care rituals

• • Setting 3 chores per day 

• • Date nights at home

• • Savouring the time after school drop off

Working Professionals:

• • Setting professional boundaries such as turning off notifications after hours

• • Setting personal boundaries to ensure time for family and hobbies

• • Enjoying the quiet alone time during the daily commute

• • Scheduling mindful moments and self-care routines

• • Getting out of the concrete jungle and back into nature

Parents with older children:

• • Explore and ignite old passions and interests

• • Start new hobbies that you haven’t had time for

• • Traveling locally or far and wide

• • Spending more time in nature

• • Coffee with friends and family 

Overcoming Challenges in Slow Living

Slow living can be challenging in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. We are always dealing with pressures from society to be in the know, leading some of us to develop FOMO. The fear of missing out on social media, the fear of missing out on the news. I believe the truth these days is we know too much and that can lead us to too much worry, stress and concern. 

In order to overcome these challenges we need to limit our social media usage and turn off the news. This might be very daunting at first, so small steps could be the way to go for the first little while. Starting with pockets of time in the day, maybe a 7 day challenge or a 30 day challenge. Or you could go cold turkey like my family did where one day we just stopped watching the news. We had had enough.

Changing our mindset. 

For me it started with a trip to the beach with some friends and family. We were enjoying the warm weather, crashing waves and chit chat. I picked up a piece of dried seaweed admiring its shape and colour when my friend told me about incredible pigments in seaweed and how you can paint with it. I told her quite abruptly that I didn’t have the time to do things like that! My friend was a bit offended by my response but totally understood where I was coming from. 

I kept thinking about what I had said for many days and it dawned on me that it was my choice that I had no time for creativity such as this. I made a point of contacting my friend several days later and apologised for my ignorance. It was a pivotal moment for me. I had to make some changes to my life and take my slow living journey to a whole new level.

So what is Slow Living?

Regardless of what stage of life you are in, the key to slow living is to feel less stressed and cultivate a more meaningful existence. It’s about simplifying our days, noticing the beauty around us, finding joy, being mindful, resting, nurturing relationships and striving to consistently live a balanced life with purpose.