Slow living - why I want to live slow

I can do it all. Work full time. Be a full time mum. Keep the house clean, manage the finances, cook crappy dinners, look after the pets. But all I think about is slow living and why I need to slow down.

I’ve been a full time working mum now for over 15 years.

People actually say the words to me “I don’t know how you do it”. I tell them – neither do I.

I first saw Sarah-Jessica Parker star in the film “I don’t know how she does it” at the cinema in 2011 with my mother’s group friends.

It quickly became one of my favourite films. I have never read the book but I’ve watched the movie at least 100 times.

On the contrary I’ve also watched Eat, Pray, Love about the same amount of times wishing I could embark on a journey of self discovery without the need for an income….

The truth is I can’t do it all anymore. And I don’t want to do it all. I can’t live busy anymore. It feels like all I do is work, clean, and sleep.

I crave simplicity and rest, the chance to do things the old fashioned way. I want to enjoy the simple things in life again and enjoy slow living.

The Never Ending To Do List

Year after full time working mum year, I’ve said to myself in my head ‘getting things done – Yeah!’

Always crossing off things on my to do list. I’ve thrived on being busy and getting things done.

I used to have this print hanging up on a wall in my home with the quote: ‘Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance in life, you need to keep moving forward.” I hate that quote now. I just want to get off that bike because sometimes I feel like I’m out of control rolling down a hill.

A Taste of Slow Living

At the beginning of 2023 I turned the big 5-0. I gave myself a gift of one school term of long service leave and it was the best feeling ever. I walked out on the last day of the term before, with my arms in the air. YES! Strangely enough at the start of my long service leave, I did feel a sense of guilt, like I was meant to be somewhere, like I was faking a sickie.

I didn’t want it to end. I wanted the feeling of freedom to go on forever. Now that I’m this age I really want things to slow down. I don’t want to work full time anymore.

I love sitting in silence, the stillness and feeling of an empty house when the rest of the family is out. Having the freedom to stay home to organise and decorate it.

On other days, I would love the freedom to get in the car and take myself on a day trip.

I want the time to write, to ponder, to think and do things that fill my soul. And these things can change over time.

Advancing my teaching career doesn’t appeal to me. Changing my career is something I have tried a few times to do but never succeeded. I want to stop working for others and work for myself and still have a purpose.

I want to spend more time in nature, crafting, and creating. The time to cook more nutritious meals for my family would bring me a real sense of achievement.

I need to get away from the rat race and turn off all the noise!

Slow Living ideas

What I’ve tried so far:

1. Taking sick leave to rest
2. Decluttered many areas of my home of things I don’t need anymore
3. Only bringing items into my home that fill me with joy
4. Play a fireplace YouTube video on my tv to simulate a warm fire
5. Set boundaries work
6. Explored ways to work part time
7. Started this blog
8. Do little to no extra curricular
9. Get back to being creative
10. Quit social media – changed the way I use it.
11. Lots of slow living research
12. Simplified routines – home cleaning

As I reflect on my journey, I realize that the quest for balance isn’t about doing it all – it’s about choosing what truly matters. I’ve spent years chasing an impossible ideal, but now I’m learning to embrace a different kind of success. One that’s measured in moments of peace, in the joy of creativity, and in the luxury of time well spent.

This shift hasn’t been easy, and I’m still figuring it out. But I’m excited about this new chapter. I’m trading in the constant busyness, for a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling. It’s not about giving up on my responsibilities, but about redefining them in a way that aligns with my values and well-being.

As I continue to explore this slower, more intentional way of living, I’m discovering parts of myself that had been overshadowed by the chaos of “doing it all.” And you know what? I think I like this version of me better. Here’s to embracing simplicity, finding joy in the everyday, and finally getting off that out-of-control bicycle – at least for a while.