What is slow living?
The slow living movement is not moving that slowly. The use of #slowliving on Instagram has over 4.5 million uses and it continues to grow. What's this movement to live slower? Why are so many drawn to this “new” way of life? Let’s explore these questions together.
What is Slow Living?
Slow living has formed from the slow food movement in Italy. “The Slow Food movement originated in Italy in 1989 as a response to the growth of fast food and other changes in the food system worldwide.” as stated by Mark Notaras. Mark further explained that “Slow Food’s primary missions are to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, counteract the rise of fast food and fast life, combat people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, and how our food choices affect the world around us.”.
Since the 1980s in Italy, this mindset has spread far beyond food, and into living, fashion, travel, design and so much more. This mindset shift: that living slowly brings us more. Slowing down allows us to find a deeper connection to everything around us. Instead of a continuous consumption-mindset that can easily disregard how things came to take form in our lives. This slowing down invites us to have a connection to the process of creation, and bringing anything (physical or non-physical) into our lives.
What does slow living look like?
Are you feeling intrigued but wondering how to start?
In our modern time of constant production, performance, movement and never stopping, slow living may seem foreign. It may even feel impossible unless you live in a very remote place removed from society. Slow living is available to all of us because it begins in our individual mindsets. We must first begin to shift our beliefs and ideas of how things must be.
Slow living isn’t about living without technology or stopping our productivity. Instead, it is about shifting our relationship with these tools in our lives. Which means beginning to look at them as tools instead of them using us. Our technology is a wonderful tool, it is allowing me to write this and for you to read it. Yet what has happened with technology is we have collectively grown into the ones being used by our devices.
Let’s take Instagram for example, this platform is “free” for us to use. I say “free” because we the users are paying in our time. Your time in my belief is your most valuable non-renewable resource. The more time Instagram gets from us, the more money they are making, and the less time we have for our desires. It can be a tool but we must use it as a tool, which can look like spending less time on the app. This also looks like on the app (any app), using it with awareness and conscious connection.
This also applies to be being successful or productive. It comes down to reframing our relationship and what we want. Instead of continuously creating and pushing for what may not be our deepest desire. It begins by looking at where we really want to put our energy. Prioritizing what is most important to us, and redifining what success looks like! It may look very different than what society tells us is successful, and that is simply wonderful.
The takeaway here, simplify and clarify your life. What do YOU desire and how can you slow down and enjoy the beauty of life.
What are the benefits of slow living?
More time - When we step away from always going, and step into being here, we find more time than we knew we had, and more presence in each moment.
Stronger relationships - Slow living helps us to decrease our stress and increase our capacity to listen and love. Which gives us more spaciousness to be fully present with those we love or hope to love.
A deeper sense of self - Slow living gives us space to find who we are. We can spend more time connecting with ourselves through meditation, hiking, hobbies, and other slow living practices. Connecting to our inner self can guide us and allow us to feel more whole.
More fulfillment - Slow living allows us to give time to the things we love, desire, and that inspires us in a multitude of ways. This will only lead to more fulfillment as it will fill your cup with all that matters to you.
A deeper connection to nature- Slow living invites us to live in a deeper rhythm with the earth. It can help us connect with the seasons, our food, and spending time in nature. Which can further assist in us slowing down more.
What steps can I take to start living slower?
Start small and simple, and build from there. You are not meant to overhaul your whole life at once. That overhaul will likely not last, but making small changes in your every day, will eventually ripple into a giant wave of change. I am including 4 simple practices you can add to your day. I invite you to add them to life one practice a week. Let’s go slow here!
Set a boundary with our phone
I have spoken to this before and I know I will many more times. Setting your phone away at sunset will give you so much freedom. It will enrich your life in ways you never knew possible. Those hours at the end of the day, I believe should fully be for YOU! Doing what you find nourishing to your system, for example: this may look like reading, knitting, yoga or dancing! Truly the sky is the limit. If you want a list of ideas for an evening routine you can read more here.
If you find it very challenging to put your phone away, use a tool to make your smartphone less smart. I love using the Freedom app which I use to set windows in my day where my apps aren’t useable. It helps me to break the cycle because, well I cannot do much on my phone. If you want to check it out you can find out more here.
Get outside
It’s truly that simple! Get your booty outside, no matter where you live. Put your shoes on and walk out the door to spend some time in the outside air. The outside air isn’t the air in your home. Maybe stop and smell a flower, or don't. This is your space, but take time to walk and explore and listen. Oh, and remember not to pull out your phone on this outing.
Journaling
Journaling has been my go-to for years. I use it as a space to get the gunk out of my head. As my healer says, don’t stop your poopy pages! These pages don’t have to be good, bad, or truly anything. It is simple for me, I use a decomposition journal and fill two pages in the morning. I find this time works for me. I write all my worries, stresses, and joys from the day before, and the day ahead. Some days I just write, “I don’t want to write…,” and something else usually comes out. This practice brings me closer to myself and brings me a clearer mind. Just grab a journal and get writing. Oh, and you never have to read them! Honestly, I suggest you don’t until maybe a year or more from when you wrote the entry.
Alone time
Alright, we're getting intimate with ourselves here. Spending 20mins each day of the week alone with yourself and with no distractions. No phone, laptop, music, book, or project just you! Maybe it's alone outside, in your tub, or laying on your couch. Just give yourself 20 minutes of complete solitude. It may feel overwhelming or daunting. Do not judge those feelings, just observe them and let your inner voice know, hey I've got this, I am completely capable of solitude. Over time it will become one of your most cherished gifts because with solitude comes great clarity, creativity, and the space to recharge.
How are you going to start slowing down? Let me know in the comments below!