Slow Living 101: How to Live Slower

Slow living is a lifestyle and mindset that encourages taking a slower approach to everyday aspects of our lives. It originated in the Italian “slow food” movement of the 1980s and 1990s, but today, it has evolved into a far-reaching ideology. To live slower is to live better. But why is that the case? And how did we get here?

What is “Slow Living?” What Does it Mean?

Slow living is about living at your own pace and being present enough to enjoy the moment – to stop and smell the roses, if you will. It’s about seeing life not as a sprint to the finish line but as a journey whose road is paved by simple pleasures.

For the past several decades, speed has been the name of the game. Virtually no part of our lives is untouched by this truth. 

Fast-paced everything is the way of the world. Fast tech, fast consumerism, fast food and last but not least, fast fashion. 

Slow living is a direct response to this fact of modern life. It views a fast-paced way of life as chaotic and, ultimately, unfulfilling. A slower pace naturally encourages us to focus on being, not doing, and enjoy the little things life has to offer.

But slow living is not about rejecting modern society. It’s not a synonym for going tech-free. It’s also not at odds with being productive or successful. 

Key Principles of Slow Living

When you hear the phrase “slow living,” you might picture yourself striding barefoot through a meadow or curled up reading a novel while tucked in a tiny cabin deep in the woods. 

These romantic visions of a slow lifestyle can be fun, but they can also make living slowly seem unrealistic and unattainable.

The truth is that many of us – we’d wager to say most of us – are constantly busy. 

Our jobs take up most of our days. We also have friends, family, spouses, and perhaps children to care for and keep up with. On top of that, there are chores to do, hobbies to pursue, and responsibilities to uphold.

Plus, many of us are no strangers to the productivity culture that haunts our modern world. The push to become more and more efficient often comes at the expense of our own wellness.

All of these challenges mean that it’s important to define slow living not as an idealistic fantasy but as a real shift in mindset that anyone can pursue. 

No matter what your life looks like, you can likely apply one or more of the principles of slow living to it:

• Living Better – Focus on living better, not faster, by prioritizing being present in the moment.
• Kindling Passions – Identify the things that bring you joy and build time for those things in your daily routines. View them as equally important to your “productive” or necessary tasks.
• Quality Over Quantity  – When you live slower, it’s not the number of experiences that matters – it’s the value they bring.
• Conscious Consumption – Consumerism pushes us to always want, need, and buy. It also leads to lots of clutter, both literally and figuratively, that can hinder our ability to be present. Similar to minimalism, slow living discourages excessive consumption and prompts us to consume only what actually adds to our lives.
• Self-Awareness – Understanding what matters to us, what we want, and who we are is key to learning how and why we’d like to live life slowly.

Why Choose to Live Life Slowly?

When you choose to live life slowly, you create more time for a happy, fulfilling life. You can discover new opportunities to take care of yourself, rest, and do what matters most to you. 

Living slowly also comes with the natural perk of lowering stress and anxiety levels. When chaos doesn’t have a seat at your table, you’ll likely feel calmer, less overwhelmed, and more present.

You may also find that a better balance between your “on” and “off” times makes you genuinely more productive when it is time to work. Fewer commitments and a focus on what you want ensure that you don’t drain your energy on things that don’t add value to your life. 

There are even health and socioeconomic benefits to living slowly. As your lifestyle changes, you’ll likely become a better friend, parent, spouse, or colleague. You may begin to consume less or sustainably, reducing your environmental footprint. And, perhaps most importantly, you’ll feel like the happiest, healthiest version of yourself. 

How to Embrace Slow Living: 5 Top Tips

Here are some tips for living more sustainably and slowly.

1. Declutter – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

When you’re surrounded by noise, it’s hard to listen to the call of the things that truly matter in life. Eliminate the unnecessary in all areas of your life to free up valuable time and mental space.

This could look like literally decluttering your home, office, etc., or it could be more figurative. Cutting out excess commitments, letting go of draining relationships, and reducing your consumption are just a few examples of other ways to achieve this goal. 

2. Become a curious, conscious consumer.

A desire for more, more, more is a driving force behind fast consumerism. But when you live life slowly, you have more time to ponder whether that desire is authentic. 

Think carefully about the items you want to buy. Consider whether you need them or want them, and consider the long-term repercussions of either decision. What will you stand to gain if you purchase the item? What will you stand to lose? Think about the value it will bring to your life and how long that value will last.

3. Limit multi-tasking and lengthy to-do lists.

While sometimes inevitable, multi-tasking is notorious for making it difficult to live in the moment. How many of us, for example, are guilty of turning on the TV just to begin scrolling on our phones?

Remember that it’s okay to slow down and do one thing at a time. It also helps to remember not to fear boredom. You don’t need to tackle a mountain of tasks each day to live “successfully.”

4. Practice being present.

Establish slow-paced routines that help you practice mindfulness. Whether that looks like a morning yoga session, daily journaling, or occasional meditation sessions, make it a priority. 

Embrace unhurried time – don’t seek to fill or “optimize” it. Unlearn the idea that time spent relaxing equates to laziness. Relish in sensory experiences and the sensation of being alive.

5. Spend time outside each day. 

There are few things that give us perspective quite like the great outdoors. Spend some time outside each day – even if it’s just stepping out onto the porch — to stay connected to the world around you. 

Not only is it good for your mental health, but it also serves as a simple reminder that there is so much more to life than what’s immediately in front of us.

Final Thoughts

Here’s the thing – life is short. Soon enough, we won’t be around to experience anything anymore, whether it’s a day at the office or a trip to the moon. 

So, why not slow down and enjoy every second of whatever life throws your way?

Slow living isn’t a lifestyle change you can make overnight. It requires commitment and a shift in mindset that can take some time to achieve. But that’s okay – loving the process is a part of what slow living is all about.

Start making small changes right now to live slower – because you deserve to experience every moment that your life has to offer. 

Featured image via Canva