Our day to day, especially now, is hectic. It’s hard to take in any particular “good moments” and harder still to slow down.
But maybe you clicked on this article for a pick-me-up. For a tiny dose of self-help. Maybe you already like the idea of slow living, and you just need that little push in the right direction.
Whether you’re stuck at home for the first-time-in-ever or you are working hard and need to find a break wherever you can, I think this is the right place.
What do you think of when you see the phrase “slow living”?
Maybe it’s a quiet house in the woods, hidden away from the world, or just a rainy day and a cup of coffee. Maybe you think of an entire place, England’s cobblestone streets or the beautiful hygge aesthetic that is Denmark.
But where did slow living come from? Does it have a definition?
The answer is yes and no. Slow living started as a movement in Italy in the 1980’s (what!) and was completely centered around the idea of “slow food” (the opposite of fast food? You get it).
A beautiful concept, in response to fast food restaurants being opened in Rome, and the entire community saying, “Absolutely not!”
The book, Slow Food Nation, delves deeper into how the movement started, as a response to the negative effects fast food has on a number of aspects of culture and overall health.
Okay, you’re stopping me. “I can’t have one fast food meal if I want to ‘live slow’?” No, that is not what I’m saying.
Here’s what I’m saying:
As this movement has developed, the main idea is really just “faster is not always better”.
You will see this phrase time and time again, and I believe it comes as a response to the common (mostly American) idea that everything needs to be “bigger, better and faster!”
It’s about applying the ideals of slow living to your day-to-day, and using it to better yourself and your daily life.
Could you stand to slow down with your family? Get up a little earlier to eat breakfast at home instead of in your car? Why not take those moments in, instead of rushing yourself through it all to get your day started?
Your day should not start with work. Your day should start with you.
That is what I did, and what I started telling myself when I found myself falling into old habits.
This is what slow living is.
What Does Slow Living Look Like in Day-to-Day Life?
Quality over Quantity – your wallet will only kind of thank you for this one.
This is slow living’s head-on response to consumer culture.
Fast fashion is the quick production of cheap clothing to fit a trend. The short time to create the product leads to underpaid workers in dangerous environments creating things made to be thrown out next season.
The same goes with fast food, and those fashion decor items (we never really need, let’s be honest).
Not only are these items unethical, they wear out fast, and they (probably) don’t truly make us happy. They are simply bought and sold to achieve instant gratification.
Slow living encourages the idea of conscious consumption, which reminds us that more is not better, and “more” will probably just make us feel cluttered and like we wasted our money.
Buying items I know come from an ethical (and yes sometimes more expensive!) place, like a small company or thrift store, I tend to cherish more. Because they are better quality, I don’t need to buy more later.
Instead, I get to fall in love with the item.
I can wear it more often without worrying about it diminishing in quality and I won’t find myself getting rid of it in a season to replace it with another unnecessary item.
Even thrifting, you have done something better for people and the environment by not giving money to companies creating fast fashion at the expense of their employees and the environment.
Plus, who doesn’t love receiving a compliment on a dress and getting to say, “Thanks it was $3!” The beauty of thrifting.
Many people become more environmentally conscious when they slow down. If you have the privilege of being able to live consciously and change how you affect the world, why not do it?
Slow living gives us a chance to analyse and take control of the quality and the quantity of what we consume.
Living in the moment! –for you and your loved ones
What are you paying attention to on a daily basis? What is your main focus, and how is it affecting your daily life?
A favourite quote of mine is by Sonya Parker, which says, “Whatever you focus your attention on will become important to you even if it’s unimportant.”
I see truth in that for myself. When my focus was more attached to social media, I found myself constantly worrying about the way I looked. Not how I felt, or who I had around me.
I had to sit down and reevaluate my life. I had to remind myself what mattered, and you know what didn’t? Instagram. Facebook.
Don’t get me wrong I use these apps, and I enjoy them. But I stopped following those accounts that didn’t make me feel good. I unfriended all those people I barely knew. I went out of my way to make sure even my social media was uplifting and enjoyable.
And you know what? It somehow made me less obsessed. It took away my need to scroll, and gave me a much healthier relationship with my phone.
Being mindful of this helps let go of the idea it is an important aspect of our lives. Instead, it is just to pass the time.
I read more. I write more! I have more drive to do the things I love because I made time for them, when I would normally be on my phone.
Now, I see what I have in life, and the more I delve into caring for my home, my own health, the health of my family, the more I love myself and enjoy my life.
Slow living encourages us to be conscious of what we give our attention to. Changing your focus changes your outlook which (not so surprisingly) can truly change your life.
There is no such thing as perfection –a reminder to just be you
Slow living is a movement for the self. It is not an aesthetic and it is not a fashion or decor trend. It is about connection, to ourselves, our lives and the world around us.
We can’t be perfect. Our lives will always be affected by the world around us, which is (duh) far from perfect. What we can do, is be our fully authentic selves and give ourselves and those we love the time we need.
We can be careful with ourselves. Careful with our purchases, with our time. We can sit down and enjoy a meal at home, or we can stop in the cafe to have a coffee before work, instead of these drive-by moments of self care.
We cannot be perfect in our world today. Sometimes, you will buy plastic, sometimes, (especially if you’re a college student, like me) you buy fast food. Do not shame yourself for these moments. We are all human and this is to better your life, no shame needed!
You deserve to feel good. To enjoy every moment, and to have control of your life. It just starts with slowing down.
That’s all for now! If you liked this post, please stick around and follow my Instagram @honey_harvest for updates on blog posts, recipe ideas, and more from me and Calli!