These days, it’s all too easy to go through your day on autopilot. You wake up, go to work, bounce from one task to the next, head home, fix dinner, go to bed, then wake up tomorrow to do it all again. It seems like every day this world gets more fast-paced, and everyone around us expects everything to happen right now.
Many of us give in to this pressure, which often leaves us so busy throughout the day that we forget to slow down and enjoy the moment we are in. If this sounds familiar and you’re ready for a change of pace, then it may be time to give slow living a try.
What is Slow Living?
The idea of ‘slow-living’ comes from the ‘slow food movement,’ which originated in the 1980s in Italy. When the first McDonald’s opened in Rome, a gentleman named Carlo Petrini was not pleased. He began advocating for people to take the time to make homemade meals instead of purchasing from fast-food restaurants. The slow food movement was all about eating local foods, slow cooking your meals to perfection, and sitting down to talk, bond, and celebrate with family or friends. The idea behind it was that we should not think of time spent in the kitchen as a waste.
Fast forward to today, and more and more people are realizing that this extends beyond the kitchen, and just because we are living faster doesn’t necessarily mean we are living better. Thus, the concept of slow living was born. Slow living is more of a mindset than anything else. It’s a way of thinking that helps you live a meaningful and intentional life that is in line with what you value most.
By doing this, you are able to live your life at the right speed for you. Instead of constantly feeling like you have to do things faster, this mindset sets you up to do things better. Yes, this often means you will be doing less during the day, but the things you are able to do will be the ones that matter most to you.
What are the Benefits of Slow Living?
Why should you consider adopting a slower lifestyle? Because it comes with more benefits than we can count! Here are just a few of them.
Time Becomes Easier to Manage
Sometimes, we feel like 24 hours is not enough time to accomplish everything we want to do in a day. As a result, we often stretch ourselves too thin, which can lead to frustration, stress, and burnout. Slowing things down will allow you to take a step back to appreciate the time you do have. You’ll start to realize that you can and should be using your time to do the things that matter most to you, making your days a whole lot easier to manage.
You Become More Productive
This might sound counterintuitive, but slow living helps you become more productive. When you are always on the move, it can be tempting to multi-task or skip over a few activities so you can get everything done. However, this often leads to incomplete projects or dismal results that can leave you feeling frustrated and unaccomplished. When you choose to slow things down, you will be able to slowly think out your tasks and plan accordingly. You will realize that when you spend the right amount of time and energy on things that matter, you will become more productive in the long run.
You Have More Time to Spend with Loved Ones
Many of us have been guilty at some point or another of focusing too much on work, school, or our other daily tasks. This often leads us to spending more time at work than we do at home, leaving little room for quality time with our loved ones. When you adopt a slow living mindset, you will be able to balance your work and social life, allowing you to prioritize spending more time with those who matter most.
Tips for Slow Living
Slowing down your day-to-day life sounds great, right? But when you’re already living in a fast-paced environment, it can be difficult to get started. That’s why we’ve put together 5 tips to help you slow down a little bit.
1. Make Time for Yourself
Slow living begins with you—so take the time to be on your own. We aren’t saying you need to become a recluse, but taking a few hours or days away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life gives you the chance to slow down without all the distractions. During this time, you can allow your mind and body to relax and think about the things you value most in life. Then, when you return to “normal” you will be better connected to yourself and the life you want to live, making it a lot easier to avoid giving in to the societal pressures to “hurry up.”
2. Don’t Be Quick to Act
Sometimes when an opportunity presents itself, we are tempted to jump on it without fully thinking it through. While sometimes this pays off, it is much more likely to put you in a situation you didn’t want to be in. Instead of always jumping in right away, learn to be patient and enjoy the path you are on. Take the time to think through every option, task, or opportunity before making a decision.
3. Cook Your Own Meals
Take it back to where this movement began—food. With the fast life we live nowadays, we are always picking up fast food or ordering unhealthy food online. While it may be convenient right now, it could have a negative effect on your health in the long run. One of the best and easiest ways to start slowing your life down is to do your own shopping and prepare your own meals. Shop locally for fresh produce, try some new recipes, and expand your cooking skills all while giving your mind and body the chance to slow down and enjoy the moment you are living in.
4. Get More Sleep
Getting adequate rest is a key part of slow living. After all, if you are slowing down your life so you feel less stressed and frustrated, then being exhausted isn’t going to help you get there. Just like with other activities throughout your day, you’ll need to make sleep a priority. Go to bed early so you can get at least 8 hours each night. That way, you’ll wake up with a positive attitude, a healthier body, and enough energy to tackle the new day.
5. Stay Positive
A slow lifestyle is about living intentionally and staying positive—without one it’s difficult to accomplish the other. When things don’t go as planned, see it as a sign to try again or venture into new territories. You can try activities like exercising, walking, yoga, meditation, or journaling to help keep your mind in a positive space so you can be present and soak up every moment during the day.
Live the #NewEarthLife
Slow living can benefit every aspect of your life. When you are in alignment with yourself, you will notice that life is for living to the fullest, and that’s what we call living the #NewEarthLife! You don’t have to make drastic changes—start small and see the benefits in the long run. The first step is always the hardest, but it’s also the most fulfilling. Try slowing down today, your inner self will thank you for it.