A Guide to Slow Living and a More Meaningful Life

We live in a time when being busy is looked upon as the biggest badge of honor. Working a 9 to 5, going to the gym, looking after kids or pets, keeping up with your hobbies, your side hustles – the list never ends.  

As a society, we call these super busy women boss babes or superheroes, when in actual fact that kind of lifestyle is the quickest way to have you feeling like a worn-out, inflated balloon. 

Burnout is a very real and serious condition that can take years to recover from, and as most women these days are doing double shifts (working at your job and then at home) most of us have bought a one-way ticket to “burnoutville”, with hypertension, heart disease, mental illness, and obesity on the itinerary.

Busier is not better!

How can we all avoid unnecessary health problems and chronic stress? Living more slowly! Embrace the moment, be present, and stop the hustle and bustle. 

What is Slow Living?

Essentially slow living is just doing things more slowly. Allocating more time to get things done, taking the time to appreciate the simple things, noticing all the lovely things around you that normally you’d miss because you’re preoccupied with your to-do list. 

So instead of being mentally preoccupied 24/7, constantly planning and prioritizing convenience and saving time – you’ll learn to be more still and observant drinking in all the sights, smells, and sounds around you, paying attention to details and nuances of an experience. 

Think quality over quantity. 

Choosing to live a slower lifestyle can also help you build more meaningful relationships and connections, as you’re actually setting out the time to be 100% in the moment with the people around you. 

The aim behind it is to promote a more peaceful lifestyle, that allows you to be more mindful, present, and intentional about your everyday life. 

How to Start Practicing Slow Living

1. Go off the Grid

Now I don’t mean building a cabin in the woods and living off the land, but technology is one of the biggest distractions in life as a whole. Technology, social media, and the internet have conditioned us to need those constant streams of dopamine hits, so delayed gratification is quickly becoming something most of us aren’t familiar with. 

We use TikTok and Instagram to get instant information or entertainment, we use Amazon to get next-day (or even same-day) deliveries directly to our doors, and most supermarkets now actively advertise deliveries that can be on your doorstep within just a few hours of ordering – it’s mind blowing! 

So it’s no wonder, that we have zero patience for anything. Giving yourself regular tech detoxes and being off your phone for a few days, will do wonders for your wellbeing! 

Not to mention your attention span, mood, mental health, sleep quality, productivity, relationships, creativity… Should I go on?

2. Prioritize Self-Care

Something that a lot of modern-day women aren’t great at is prioritizing self-care. When you’re running around chasing your tail, thinking of all the ways you can save time, a face mask and stretching session is hardly likely to be top of your to-do’s, but it is an essential part of your well-being!

And by self-care, I don’t mean Lush bath bombs and Lindt chocolates (although they are firm faves over here!) I mean really taking care of yourself! Like, creating a slow morning routine that consists of meditation, yoga, stretching, making yourself a delicious balanced breakfast, and journaling. It will set you up to have an amazing day, letting your brain wake up properly before you start overstimulating it. 

Furthermore, try some intentional movements like walks or hikes in nature, pilates, yoga, swimming, or dancing. All of the above will get you in the zone, and allow you to focus on how it feels rather than what the gains will be. 

3. Stop Multitasking

Multitasking is a skill that everyone has now, but is it as productive as it seems? 

As the saying goes ‘A jack of all trades is a master of none’, the same goes for multitasking. Trying to juggle 50% of your to-do’s at once will ensure you drop the ball on at least one of your tasks, meaning you’ll have to spend the time to re-do it – so was that really a productive use of your time?

Sometimes we multitask and we don’t even realize it, just like when we have a cheeky scroll of TikTok whilst eating dinner, or checking notifications while you’re supposed to be studying!

Throw out the multitasking and you’ll notice that your focus is better, your quality of work is better, your memory will improve and so will your time management skills! 

4. Cultivate Mindful Moments

Creating mindful moments comes in many forms that you actively do throughout your day. Starting your day with intention will help you carry that vibe throughout your whole day and keep you present in the moment and in your body. 

A few ways you can set the right tone for your day would be things like device-free time in the morning, meditation, gratitude practice, and setting intentions for your day

Regularly practicing deep breathing creates a grounding and presence in your body. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and focus on the feeling of the air going into your nostrils and your lungs filling up, then feel the air coming back out and passing through your lips. At random moments throughout your day, pay attention to your breath and bring your mind back to your body! 

Other ways you can create those mindful moments are:

• Decluttering your house – A cluttered space creates distraction, and a clear space creates calm.
• Mindful eating – Enjoy every little morsel of your meal. Pay attention to the textures, tastes, and smells, and don’t be in a rush to finish it. Savor the flavor.
• Move in mindful ways – Exercise in ways in which you have to create a strong mind-body connection exercises like yoga, Pilates, and walking are perfect for that.. Yoga and Pilates require you to focus on your breathing, engaging your core, and feeling all the sensations in your body. Mindful walks (slow walks without distraction) require you to take in all the sights, sounds, and smells around you, being fully present in the moment. 

5. Give Yourself a Break

And not just in the physical sense. I mean don’t beat yourself up! Be kinder to yourself and give yourself a little compassion and grace. Your self-worth isn’t tied to how much you can do in a day, so if you don’t get that 17-item to-do list ticked off in record time give yourself a break and remember that you’re not a robot. 

Practice self-compassion, especially in your worst moments, and treat yourself how you’d treat your best friend. You wouldn’t berate them because they didn’t live up to your standard! You’d be understanding and you’d leave the judgment at the door, so give yourself the same kindness. 

Stay in the Slow Lane

Overall living a slower lifestyle will help you to find more joy, stay more present, and reduce your stress levels. Instead of striving for the next best thing, you can bask in the beauty of what and who you already have. There’s a lot that we have, that we overlook and forget to be grateful for, so you must take stock and realize how abundant and rich your life already is! 

Slow living is a big lifestyle change, so committing to it will be no easy feat, so take your time and make one small change at a time. Make sure you’ve identified what your priorities are and where you’d like to implement your slow-living changes first. Remember to give yourself grace because you won’t always get it first time.

Learn to set boundaries, voice your needs, be vigilant with the media and food you consume, and declutter your space regularly to create a calm and clean environment inside and out!

There’s no time like the present (pun intended) to start living your life more slowly.