So many people nowadays are busy rushing from one thing to the next. We rush to work, rush to get home, rush to make dinner, rush to get ready or get the children ready, rush in the shower, and even rush our social interactions. No wonder more people than ever are feeling exhausted by their daily lives. It can feel like a never ending hamster wheel run with barely a chance to step off and that’s where slow living comes in. But what exactly is slow living and how can you fit it into your everyday life?
Slow living is just that. A chance to step off the hamster wheel of life, pay attention to appreciate the important things. It’s so easy to end up busy for busy’s sake. Living slowly doesn’t mean becoming idle, but is more about pacing yourself and ensuring you enjoy the journey as well as the destination.
When we live at a slower pace, we are able to take more pleasure from activities, our surroundings and our interactions. It can reduce stress, calms us and can even help to build stronger relationships with loved ones.
The origins of the slow living movement.
The slow living movement by name was born in response to a fast food chain restaurant approval in the Piazza di Spagna in Rome. Originally the slow food movement, Carlo Petrini, protested the approval in 1986, promoting the principles of an organic, non-processed, minimal impact food chain.
Over the past few decades, this ideology has filtered down into other aspects of modern life, including parenting, health, lifestyle habits, and even business. There is even a World Institute of Slowness that was founded in 1999 by Geir Berthlesen.
However, despite these relatively recent origins, slow living is something that many had done for years without a name. Meditation, yoga, and other ancient practices all help to achieve balance in modern lifestyles, but slow living is more the art of taking everything in and appreciating the smaller things. This is a principle that some have lived by for centuries. Once seen as a luxury, now everyone can make some time to slow their pace even just a little.
Can you achieve success in the fast lane while living slowly?
I didn’t used to know of a name for it, but once I realised that the changes I made to my life were those that are part of the slow living movement, I wanted to share more about it. I manage stress quite well – aside from the odd rant! – and take a lot in my stride, but it’s definitely been a learning curve. Sometimes we mistake being busy for feeling important, or having a more important role. However, I learned long ago that sometimes the best way to move forward is to take a step back. I think that’s definitely even more prevalent now than it ever has been, certainly when it comes to careers and business opportunities.
Slow living doesn’t mean giving up on ambition or becoming more lazy. Considered actions mean less mistakes, and less stress offers a more level head to work with. That’s why I’d like this blog to be a place where I can show you how I go about living slowly in the fast lane. You can live slowly and still chase your dreams, work hard and achieve great things.
Living slowly is about creating balance. Allocating pockets of time to plan, think, reflect, observe and to focus on what’s important. Doing things better rather than faster will make you more efficient and productive.
Within this blog, I am going to share more about how you can achieve more by doing less, how to quiet the noise, and make the most of slow living moments while still chasing your goals. For now, try some of these mindful lockdown activities for a taste of the slow life.
