What is slow living all about? It’s a concept that I didn’t discover until the past year. When I first heard the term, I immediately thought of being lazy and unfocused towards my goals.
However, it turns out that the concept perfectly complements action and goals.
Slow living is just as much of a mindset as it is a lifestyle. It’s about embracing the flow of life rather than going against it.
Slow living might be for you if you want to live a life that not only helps you to achieve the things that you want, but also aligns with your values. Yep, that’s right – you can have both!
The Origin Story of Modern Slow Living
While the term slow living may not have been used 5,000 years ago, the truth is that it was our default way of being before technology.
5,000+ years ago, human beings had no choice but to live slowly. We were hunters and gatherers. Our entire days revolved around being outside and spending time in nature.
No technology, apps, gadgets, clicks, dings, or buzzes.
We had to be deliberate with every step that we took and be fully present with nature. If we weren’t fully present with nature and mindful of every step that we walked, it meant being vulnerable to saber tooth tigers and other predators.
We are wired for slow living and not genetically made for the busy environments that we live in today. To live slowly and mindfully today is to go back to our instincts and be present in nature and life.
What Slow Living Means Today
What is the meaning of slow living in today’s world and how did it all start? The official movement began in Italy during the 1980s.
The movement started with traditional food activists that wanted to protect local food traditions.
The idea of Slow Food helped to create a much broader meaning of living slowly, where eventually it became known as Slow Living today.
Why Has Slow Living Gotten So Popular?
Before delving into why slow living has gotten popular recently, it’s important to look at the world and what has led up to it.
When you think of Western society, what comes to mind? Productivity? Business? Capitalism? Perhaps because Western countries (And other countries as well) have become productivity machines.
Not that I’m against productivity. I freakin love it! The issue is that we’ve become more human doings than human beings. There’s a cost to extreme productivity, as great as it is.
An Alternative to Hustle Culture?
Coinciding with extremely productive cultures is hustle culture. It’s pushed on us through social media, personal development thought leaders, and TV.
Don’t get me wrong: there are many blessings to hustling and in my opinion, everybody should cultivate an excellent work ethic and learn to hustle and get through obstacles.
However, I believe that the issue becomes when extreme grinding and hustling become a part of the human identity.
It’s great to identify as a hard worker, but I’m not sure if that should be 100% of a person’s identity if they want to also prioritize happiness and fulfillment.
We should enjoy the fruits of our labor after all, and relax a bit.
With nearly a quarter of U.S. adults saying that they have high stress levels, there’s no doubt that extreme productivity has affected the mental health of Americans and perhaps other countries as well.
People are looking for an alternative way of living where they can be productive but not at the cost of inner peace, happiness, and fulfillment.
What Slow Living Is Not
There are some common misconceptions of slow living. Granted, I’ve had some of these myself, but as I’ve been practicing slow living more and more in my life, I’ve become familiar with common misconceptions and realize why they’re untrue.
While I won’t dive into all of the common misconceptions here, I want to explain what slow living is not about so that hopefully you can dispel some of the misconceptions that you hear about or come across.
Slow Living Doesn’t Mean Laziness
My initial idea of slow living is that it means kicking back, not doing anything, and letting go of all dreams and ambitions. That’s not what it’s about at all.
Slow living is not about letting go of your dreams and desires and becoming lazy. It’s about having a more meaningful life that is filled with both relaxation and productivity. Taking time to work hard and time to relax.
Slow living has even enhanced my productivity! When I was into hustle culture, I always felt that I wasn’t working hard enough and never doing enough.
It hurt my self-image, and I felt like I was always being productive but not enjoying life enough.
Since I’ve moved towards a slow living lifestyle, it’s like I can breathe again. I can take action towards my goals and not feel guilty for taking the evening off after a long, productive day.
Also, I feel rewarded and fulfilled by taking time off rather than feeling guilty about it. I no longer feel like a loser every time I watch a show, hang out with friends, or watch a movie.
Plus, taking action is more relaxing than ever before because slow living has helped me to permit myself to actually enjoy work!
I don’t like associating the word “hustling” or “grinding “with my work because whether something is work anyway is largely psychological.
There’s a Zen saying that says, “hurry slowly.” What that means is that you can chill and relax while you are working! That’s right, you can be relaxed and not “grind” while working. Who says that you can’t enjoy and feel at peace during your work.
10 Ways to Try Slow Living for Yourself
Interested in trying out the slow living lifestyle? Hey, if you’re on the fence about it, try it out. It’s like going into the store to try on a suit. Just try it on and see how you like it.
Here are 10 great ways to get started with slow living. You don’t have to do all of them. Just try out a tip or two and see if it makes a difference in your life.
1. Declutter Your Schedule
Feeling overwhelmed by a busy schedule? It can be a high-quality problem to have a lot going on with your goals.
However, if you find yourself getting overwhelmed over a long period, it might be time to reassess your schedule.
I know, it’s tricky. You might think to yourself as you look at your schedule, “but this all needs to be done.” Sometimes you have to get more creative to declutter and be able to let go of some things in your schedule.
Ask yourself if it’s truly necessary to have everything done that you have on your agenda. Find out what can be automated, delegated, or dissolved altogether.
It can feel uncomfortable to let go of certain activities and commitments, but there is more time freedom and personal energy on the other side.
2. Nature Walks
One of my favorites! While I appreciate the accessibility and simplicity of treadmill walks, nature walks never get old.
Walking in nature is a great way to get in vitamin D, destress, exercise, and become more present and live in the now. It may help to boost your mental health as well, and many physicians prescribe it as “balm for the brain”.
If you live in the city, go to some nearby parks or find a good, safe neighborhood with lots of trees to walk in. Or, if you live in the country, you’re all set!
Walking in nature is a throwback to our pre-modern human days – a time when we were connected to nature not by choice but by default.
3. Find An Outdoor Hobby
Finding a fun outdoor hobby can be a super fun way to slow down and detach from the busy modern world.
If you’re not sure what a great outdoor hobby would be, look back at your childhood. What did you enjoy doing in nature as a kid that you may have forgotten about?
Many of us love nature as children and then forget what it’s like to have so much outdoor fun when we become adults.
Here are my personal favorites:
- Rockhounding
- Metal detecting
- Magnet fishing
- Hiking
- Exploring historical areas
- Beach fun
There are so many hobbies that you can do outside! Research and try some different things to see what you like.
I didn’t even know rockhounding was a thing until the past year or so. I now have lots of fun when I look for cool rocks outside.
4. Rest More
If you’re a goal-oriented person who loves to achieve a lot like I do, you may not like to hear the word “rest”. However, I’ve learned how important rest is for not only slow living, but overall productivity.
Greater sleep and becoming more intuitive with my body has made me more productive than ever before. I’m working with my biology and not against it.
There’s nothing wrong with giving your body’s cells the rest that they deserve. After all, they work pretty hard to give you the gift of life!
I used to be proud of the fact that I sacrificed sleep to get “more done.” In hindsight, it’s a foolish way of thinking.
Getting high-quality sleep is tantamount to high levels of productivity and mental clarity that supports high-quality action while working.
About one-third of the U.S. population is sleep deprived. Don’t be one of them. Honor your body. Honor your cells and allow them to regenerate fully.
Your cells will reward you by giving you greater productivity, happiness, and enjoyment with your work.
5. Qigong
I’m not by any means a qigong master, but I get a lot out of what little I know. The benefit that I’ve personally gotten from qigong is letting go of mental and physical tension.
There are different types of exercises that qigong entails. They can range from deep breathing to vigorously shaking the body, or a mix of the two.
If you’d like to learn some simple qigong exercises, I recommend checking out Austin Goh’s YouTube channel here. He’s my go-to for qigong exercises and has daily exercises that you can do and can be done in about 5 minutes or so.
In stressful societies, it’s so easy to build up so much tension in the body. That tension needs to go somewhere, or it’ll be stored in the body.
I love having rituals like intense exercise, stretching, and qigong to be able to release the tension that my body has accumulated.
6. Stretch Out
Stretching is another one of my favorite ways to let go of stress and tension in my body. It’s also great for mobility and flexibility.
While it’s great to go to stretching, pilates, and mobility classes, I usually prefer to simply do guided stretching routines on YouTube.
I recommend Mady Morrison on YouTube. Her guided stretching and mobility routines are my go-to, and I’ve gotten great results with destressing, boosting my mobility, and getting more flexible.
Stretching is a great way to slow down during a busy day or enjoy a rest day while still being productive.
With stretching, you have no choice but to slow down and become more present. It’s an excellent way to practice slow living.
7. Self-reflection Time
Modern life has become so busy with social media, busy jobs, and technology that it’s easy to let time go by without taking time to pause and reflect.
Going out in nature or at least being in a quiet, still area is a great way to recharge, unwind, and take some time to reflect on life.
During your self-reflection time, there are no hard rules about the right way to do it. Go with your intuition.
Perhaps you want to take time to reflect on where you’re out in life. Maybe it’s time to make some changes. Or maybe you need to reflect on changes that you’ve already made and haven’t taken the time to look at how far you’ve come in life.
I like to set aside at least 1 hour per week for self-reflection. As an HSP and introvert, I probably need it more than the average person, but it’s a practice that anyone can benefit from.
8. Take a Nature Vacation
Even since I was a kid, I’ve loved taking vacations that involve nature! Going to national parks, state parks, wildlife preserves, or any great nature area has always been one of my favorite things in life.
You don’t need to pack up and go to the middle of nowhere to have a good nature vacation. You can find great nature places in just about any city in the world.
Having grown up near the beach for a big chunk of my childhood, beach vacations are one of my absolute favorites.
I love getting near the waves, having fun in the sand, and experiencing the aliveness of the ocean.
Consider taking a nature vacation to slow down in life and take time to have fun, recharge, and connect with nature.
9. Read Books
Thanks to social media and the internet, many of us are learning interesting facts all the time. I’m sure you’re familiar with coming across one of those “Did you know that…” videos and learn something interesting.
While consuming information online is great, it can get a little fast-paced and perhaps give your brain information overload.
I love reading books because I’m consuming information in a very structured, peaceful way. Having a physical book or reading a Kindle are great ways to unwind, learn, and connect with authors.
It’s more of a peaceful, slower experience. Remember, slow living doesn’t mean to stop learning, upgrading your skills, and personal growth. It’s about trying to consume information in a more simplified way that’s less overwhelming.
10. Cook Your Own Meals
Cooking your own meals or with family/friends is a great way to slow down and become more present in your daily life.
If you read above about how modern slow living started, it all started with food! Instead of a quick fast food meal, one can take the time to slow down and make a meal.
Cooking your meals is not for everybody, but it’s a great way to unwind, eat healthier, and relax.
Cooking your meals is also a great way to ward off depression by cooking delicious comfort foods that support good mental health.
Families cooking together is a tradition that is found in traditional societies and tribes around the world. It’s a great way for communities and families to come together, slow down, and have a great time.
Recap
So, what is slow living? It’s an alternative to a crazy hustling lifestyle that involves having to stay busy all the time.
It’s about living a productive life that includes more fulfillment, happiness, and enjoying what matters most in life.
I hope that this blog post gave you some insight into what it means to live slowly in life. I’m so glad that I discovered the concept because it enriches my life in so many ways.
Let me know in the comments below about some ways that you like to integrate slow living into your life.