What is Slow Living and How Will It Better Myself?
In 1986, the slow movement began with the creation of the slow food organization. Since then, the worldwide movement has grown exponentially with more people interested in embracing a slow-living lifestyle rather than the fast-paced lifestyle we are all too familiar with.
The concept of slow living is to live a slower pace of life, but how can we have a slower lifestyle when we feel like we are stuck in this hustle culture? It feels like every day we have an endless to-do list. Is the only way to achieve a slow living lifestyle to pack up your bags, move somewhere rural, and live off the land? No, although a lot of people on social media might have you convinced otherwise.
We all have lived through fast-paced lifestyles, and unless you want to slow down, you’re still going to speed wherever you are. Our current daily routine of rushing everything, not just traffic, causes us to lose sight of what’s right in front of us; the present moment.
Choosing slow living has plenty of benefits when it comes to your physical health and especially your mental health. Making a lifestyle change to a slow lifestyle or simple living can drastically improve your health. It’s been proven. Living slowly is a way of life that can improve your health, mind, and most importantly your family. With us choosing to live slower, we are all so much happier. And my children being happy is the most important thing.
The Slow Movement
The slow movement began in 1986 when the political activist Carlo Petrini protested the opening of a McDonald’s in Piazza di Spagna, Rome. When the movement began, however, it wasn’t known as the slow movement but rather slow food. The slow food movement advocates for consuming local and traditional foods, the opposite of fast food.
Since the 1980s, the movement has grown into the slow movement. It has plenty of different sub-categories like slow food, slow living, slow fashion, cittaslow and more.
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What is Slow Living?
Truthfully, even though a lot of people consider it to be a lifestyle, slow living is more of a mindset. It’s not about abandoning technology or moving to a rural community. Sure, those things might help, but that isn’t going to make you live slower.
A slow-living lifestyle or a slow-living mindset is about living a balanced and mindful life.
Slow living is set on balancing your life, being able to balance the fast and slow. It’s about taking a slower approach to life. Instead of speeding somewhere, drive slower. Instead of making an instant meal that takes a few minutes, make a meal that involves ingredients and take the time to cook. Smell the aromas of the food that so many people haven’t smelled in their homes because of the quick meal idea.
Embrace the time you are given and don’t rush.
We often have correlated the word slow to mean something bad. While of course being on time and getting a deadline completed for work is very important, it doesn’t mean we can’t add some slowness in our lives.
A great example is spending some extra time with our kids. Not looking at the clock, being there in the moment with our children. Whether you are reading a book or playing, it’s these moments where you’re slowing down. You aren’t aware of time, you aren’t rushing playtime because you think you have more important things to do. This is slowing down. Being in the moment. Slowing down and forgetting time.
What about technology?
Does slow living mean you need to toss your technology away? I mean, it’s really thanks to our phones that it’s hard to slow down. We have access to everything we could imagine at our fingertips. Don’t get me wrong, there are some great aspects of technology. An example, I’m writing currently on my MacBook, I have an iPhone, and my husband has gaming consoles. Technology can be great, but it can also be our downfall.
That’s where balancing comes into play in slow living. Balance your time away from technology, away from speed and into the moment. Go for a walk without your phone and look around you. What do you see? Hear? Smell? Take deep breaths, smell the fresh air, and be slow.
The Benefits of Slow Living
There are plenty of benefits to living life slower. From better health to more time for the things you love. I think the best benefits for a slow living lifestyle are:
- Less stress & anxiety
- Better for your health
- More time for the things you love
Less Stress & Anxiety
I think we can all agree that we could live without stress and anxiety. Did you know that rushing your time, constantly working and never giving yourself a break, can cause more stress? I think we all know this.
Not rushing yourself, and being slow can really benefit your body and mind. Also, when you don’t rush and take the time to accomplish something, generally it will be finished better and you will be more proud of whatever it is.
Driving the speed limit for example is a great way to slow down. Why do we need to rush when we are in a vehicle that could easily take our lives or someone else’s? There’s a reason speed limits exist. Simply slowing down your vehicle, taking things in and not worrying about being stuck in traffic, can drop your stress levels while sitting in traffic.
Chronic stress is awful for our health, and it should be something we should be actively avoiding. Living more slowly can help.
Better For Your Health
It has been proven that slowing down is better for your overall health. With the decrease in rushing, you’re eliminating a lot of stress & anxiety which can trigger health problems like heart issues.
Not just slowing the roll on rushing yourself, but also the food you consume. When you’re living a slower life, you’re more conscious of what food you consume. Not focusing on those quick easy meals like microwave dinners or quick rice. Instead, consuming real ingredients and real food. Real food made in your kitchen.
Spending more time outside like going for walks. Instead of driving everywhere, you substitute walking more without your phone in hand. Walk, take your bicycle out, and jump on a form of transportation like a train or bus. But still walk to different locations.
More free time for the things you love
Living slowly means you have more time for the things you love doing. Maybe you have hobbies you really enjoy, or maybe you want to spend more time with your child.
Whenever this topic is brought up, people counter by saying “But I have to work”. Well of course. You can work and find the time for the things you love. It’s all about balance. That little device in your hand, you know your phone, can wait. Delete apps that you spend way too long on like TikTok or Instagram. Put your phone down and pick up your hobby or sit with your kids and ask how their day was.
Go for a family walk after supper with no phone. I like taking only my camera with me, that way I can still take cute pictures of the kids. I want to remember these moments. Balancing your slow and fast is important. Once you can balance this out, you’ll have plenty of time to do the things you love.
Related Blog Posts: 8 Slow Living Hobbies to Help you Slow Down
How To Start Slowing Down: 3 easy ways to start slowing down
It’s easier said than done. We live in an age that is obsessed with speed. I mean, I know I’m not the only one who gets annoyed when my internet isn’t fast enough. We expect everything to be done faster.
“Instant gratification takes too long”
Carrie Fisher
Some of the best ways to live slower are little things you can do each day that can help you start learning how to slow down.
Spend less time on your phone
I know, I know everyone says do this. But seriously, it’s a game-changer.
Stop checking your phone when you first wake up. Turn your alarm off, get up, and open your curtains. Drink some water, and maybe meditate a little bit. You will be much more refreshed and energized when you’re not lying in bed, scrolling endlessly on your phone.
The best way to recognize how much time you spend on your phone is utilizing the screen time setting on your phone. On the iPhone, you’ll get a notification weekly notifying you how much time you spent on your phone and how much of that time was spent on different apps.
Once I saw how much time I was sitting on my phone, mostly endlessly scrolling TikTok, I needed to stop. The time I spent on my phone was time I could’ve accomplished all the things I kept on saying I should be doing instead. I could be more present with my kids, knit, or sew more.
Seriously, spending less time on your phone means more time for the things you enjoy. Now, I’m not saying get rid of your devices altogether, just stop spending every available moment you have on your phone.
Cook real meals
First off, yes I know that the cost of groceries right now is insane. But believe it or not, cooking food from scratch actually saves you money. A lot of people will counter it by saying “It takes too long” or “I don’t have time”. Ahh, this is where we let the fast-paced society take control.
An example of this, my husband and I wanted pizza one Friday night. Instead of us spending the money on ordering takeout, it turned out we had all of the ingredients at home to make pizza AND garlic fingers. Not only did we save money, but we really enjoyed being in the kitchen, making the pizza from scratch together.
Also, quick thanks to my bread maker for the dough setting, you’re the real MVP.
Real food is better than processed food. It’s better for your health and it’s better for your “time”. To slow down after all is our goal. Purchasing ingredients to make homemade food from scratch is better for our wallets because well.. we now have those ingredients that we can make for multiple different things. Purchase your food from bulk stores, like Bulk Barn here in Canada. Go to local farmers’ markets to support your local farmer and your local community.
Walk more
Less driving, more walking. Now this is difficult in some circumstances. For example, the province I live in is a very car-dependent province. We don’t have great a transit system, just buses but even those aren’t the greatest. Definitely living in the city, you can walk way more than in other parts of the province.
For example, where we live because there are no sidewalks around us or any type of transit, it’s safer for us to have to drive to our closest playground. If you are in a similar situation to us, where you can’t leave your home to go for a walk, I suggest driving (I know, I know) to a local trail and spending at least an hour walking around the trail with your family.
Slow Living Books
The best resource I can give anyone who wants to learn more about slow living, is looking at Carl Honoré. He wrote mulitple slow living books like The Praise of Slowness (The Praise of Slow) which is a fantasic book to learn even more about slow living.
The Praise of Slow: Challenging the Cult of Speed
The Slow Fix: Solve Problems, Work Smarter, and Live Better in a World Addicted to Speed
Under Pressure: Rescuing Childhood from the Culture of Hyper-Parenting
Time for a more balanced life
Hopefully you’ve come this far. This post is rather long but I’m hoping informative for learning about slow living and how it can benefit your daily life with living a more intentional life.
Have any questions of slow living? Leave them below.
