Slow living, slow life, and simple living are on everybody’s lips right now. Have you wondered why? We are all in need of a change. And slowing down might be the answer. If you’ve ever asked yourself “what is slow living?“, “why does it matter?“, and how to make it work for you, you’re hopefully on your way to find out.
Do you know that feeling when you don’t want to be anywhere else or doing anything else than you are doing at this very moment?
That moment when you’re in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing exactly what your heart is telling you to?
When there’s no regret about the past and no worrying about the future?
Well, that is how slow living feels like. No guilt, no rush, no pressure, no self-doubts.
In this article, I’ll do my best to explain what slow living is, how this concept emerged, and how you can switch to a slow-paced lifestyle. Stick around to find out:
- What is slow living and how it evolved as an ideal lifestyle
- What is the slow-living mindset
- How to switch to a slow-living mindset
- The Slow Movement. How and when it all started
- Key influences of the slow living philosophy
- SLOW stands for Sustainable. Local. Organic. Whole
- How slow living can change your life
What is Slow Living and How It Evolved as an Ideal Lifestyle
A century ago, slow living was the normality.
Back when society was relying less on technology and more on people skills and human connection, back when conversations mediated by screens were nowhere near, we used to have a stronger connection with nature and people.
Eating together, having face-to-face conversations and off-screen time with family and friends, taking pictures with a camera, and traveling with a map in our hands were all common sense. When we were in a special place, we knew how to be present in the moment, so that we could remember it afterwards as well as possible.
We found it easier to tie relationships with members of the nearby community – the priest, the baker selling bread at the corner of the street, the dressmaker, or the hairdresser – people with whom we shared a comforting sense of familiarity.
Farmers and people living in the countryside used to organize their lives and work around traditions, religious holidays, and nature’s cycles – in many parts of the world, they still do. And to them, time seems to be passing more slowly.
It surely isn’t a coincidence that slow living is the default mindset for people living in the so-called blue zones around the globe, who reach the age of 90 or 100 and are still active in their community. I recommend watching the doc series Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix if you haven’t so far. It’s a must-watch for a deeper dive into slow living.
In Romania, there are still many villages where people’s lives are guided by their natural clock, intuition, and religious beliefs. Communities where people grow their own food, stick to family traditions, and don’t miss any church service. When you reach such beautiful places in the regions of Maramures, Bucovina, Ardeal, or Transylvania, you can feel that life has another rhythm and time is more generous to people.
Unfortunately, in my country, fewer and fewer young people choose to stay in these small communities and live a simple life, led by traditions and social norms inherited from generation to generation. Young people move to large urban areas to go to college and then pursue a career or even leave the country for better income rates and an enhanced quality of life.
In the meantime, representatives of a different generation (mostly Millenials) from around the world are reevaluating their work-life balance and reconsidering their life choices. Where they live, where they work, how they travel or spend their money is no longer an implicit choice. Horizons are broad, options are numerous.
They search for remote or hybrid jobs, they trade big cities for small towns or even remote villages, and they start making more conscious choices in all aspects of their lives. They want more, by leading a slower life. They want to work while seeing the world, they want to have more freedom and flexibility, take better care of their health, become financially independent, and raise their children differently.
In Romania, in the first two pandemic years 2020 and 2021, 250.000 people moved from urban to rural areas, while 2022 has seen the highest rates of this internal migration in the last 10 years. In that time of crisis, people understood what their priorities were and found comfort in a simpler way of living.
Globally, this phenomenon also known as counterurbanization or neo-ruralism gained momentum during the post-pandemic years. Individuals seeking a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle choose the rural environment for a better quality of life with significantly lower costs. Teleworking, freelancing, or entrepreneurship, are all location-independent options that are more compatible with a slow-paced lifestyle.
People return to their roots, feeling the need to be closer to nature and build their own safe corner of the world, away from the madding crowd. They understand what is slow living and how it can make a difference. A slower life comes with more time, more space, and more fulfillment – and more people come to terms with this idea.
Today, slow living encourages us to appreciate the present moment, savor simple pleasures, and cultivate a deeper connection with our surroundings. Living as we did several decades ago might take some radical changes, but living with intention doesn’t. Slowing down means seeing life with new eyes. Happiness is just a shift of perspective away.
In the end, it all comes down to having health, safety, love, freedom, and the basic needs fulfilled. Only when you lose one of these vital gifts that we too often take for granted, the utter need to have them back strikes you deeply.
What Is the Slow Living Mindset? A Personal View
As the name suggests, living slow means living with intention and prioritizing what’s truly important to you. Doing things at your own pace, and leaving more time aside for the things that bring you joy.
More often than not, the transition to a slower life starts with a process of self-awareness and self-discovery, because when you know who you truly are and what brings you joy in life, you’ll know what things you want to have more of.
Life is made up of small decisions which, like brick upon brick, imperceptibly shape the structure of our existence.
Diane Armstrong
I love how author Diane Armstrong’s quote puts things in perspective when it comes to everyday decisions that might seem small at the moment, but, in the end, they shape who we are and what we become.
The decision to take some time off for yourself and to slow down is not selfish, it doesn’t show laziness and it shouldn’t come with guilt. It’s your right and your responsibility to enjoy life. If you don’t build the life you love, one small decision at a time, no one will do it for you.
Here are two questions that bring me clarity whenever I feel lost or energy-drained: “Will this matter in one or two years?” and “What will I want to remember about this time of my life – living by generally accepted social rules, a life spent in the rush, trying to constantly please others, and simulating a perfect life on social media? Or staying true to what genuinely fills my heart with joy?”
I know my time is a finite and priceless (yet free) resource and I should spend it in a way that’s meaningful to me.
The temptation is to try and do it all, to have it all – financial wealth, material possessions, a successful career, popularity, and active social life, many times with the cost of weakening your health, peace of mind, or relationships. Yet I come and ask: why struggle to have more than you need?
As Indian educator, author, and philanthropist Sudha Murty points out, “Good relationships, compassion, and peace of mind are much more important than achievements, awards, degrees, or money.” Of course, they don’t necessarily exclude each other but you shouldn’t compromise the first for the latter. Balance is the key.
Good relationships, compassion, and peace of mind are much more important than achievements, awards, degrees or money.
Sudha Murty
How to switch to a slow living mindset?
Finding your purpose and doing what you love for a living is of course an ideal starting point for a slow-paced lifestyle and a more fulfilled life in general. However, this is not an easy task and maybe you shouldn’t wait for this milestone to switch to slow living.
Since this topic is so important and broad, I will talk about it in a separate article. For now, you can read a bit about ikigai and finding your life purpose in this article about slow living philosophies around the world.
Leading a slow lifestyle means starting each day with intention and creating the context for activities you love. A mild mindset change is needed, because the fast pace of life nowadays might seem such a big part of who we are that it might be hard to stop and give it up.
At times, it might seem like the only choice – “this is how life feels when you’re a grown-up, everybody’s doing it, and I can’t do much about it”.
Well, it doesn’t have to be like this. If you have a busy schedule or a demanding job, slowing down may require some planning at the beginning, but you’ll benefit so much from this approach that it will come naturally to you sooner than you think.
Depending on your priorities, you may want to:
- leave one or two hours for `me time` or quality time with friends or family at the end of the day
- prepare your equipment for a quick morning sports routine the night before
- replace your phone on your nightstand with a book so that you can unplug at bedtime
- plan a weekly menu and stick to it when you go grocery shopping, so that you can eat smarter and cook nurturing meals at home.
Think of what makes you feel good and is easy or achieve daily/ weekly. From nature walks, hiking, gardening, and baking to letting yourself immersed in the plot of a good novel while enjoying a cup of your favorite specialty coffee, shopping for antiques or fresh groceries at the local market, getting cozy with your partner at a Netflix movie, roughhousing with your kids.
What are those activities that make YOU feel most relaxed, energized, inspired, and ready for whatever comes next? When do you feel most at ease and alive? That first thing that just came to your mind – do it! You’ve been waiting for too long.
The Slow Movement. How and When It All Started
The home of the slow movement is, not surprisingly, Italy. In my opinion, Italians should be in the dictionary definition of `slow living`, still today. It isn’t for nothing that everyone visiting Italy immediately falls in love with this country and it’s not just about the food, is it?
- Such a concept first emerged in March 1986 in Rome, when Carlo Petrini – an Italian former political activist – started protesting against McDonald’s opening a restaurant near the Spanish Steps – a historical landmark dating from 1725.
- Petrini was outraged by the fast-food culture and the standardization of food production taking over and I can see why. It was a pretty bold move to open a McDonald’s in the heart of a country that has a cult for slow food and is widely known for its el dolce far niente!
- Slow food means dishes made of high-quality, locally grown or produced ingredients, through recipes and cooking techniques inherited throughout generations. It’s food for which people take more time to cook and enjoy together. The exact opposite of fast food.
- Three years later, in 1989, leading Italian figures and representatives from 14 other countries signed the Slow Food Manifesto. From then on, the slow food movement gained momentum outside Italy’s borders.
- Throughout the years, Carlo Petrini’s Slow Food non-profit association organized various international events and projects meant to support small-scale food producers in promoting their local culinary traditions. These events were also meant to educate institutions and consumers about the importance of preserving food culture and diversity around the world.
- The launch of the Ark of Taste in 1996 is another important milestone in the evolution of the slow movement. As their official website says, “The Ark of Taste is the world’s largest catalog of cultural and traditional biodiversity related to food and agriculture”. It helps preserve food knowledge by gathering and documenting native products from around the world, it supports small-scale producers to save their heritage and food culture, and much more.
- I love the fact that the Slow Food Association is a very active NGO, with plenty of ongoing projects. In 2004, it even founded the University of Gastronomic Sciences – “the world’s first learning institute dedicated entirely to the multidisciplinary study of food and food culture”.
- Food diversity enriches the world we live in, while slow food makes our lives more flavored and colorful. Not to mention the fact that gastronomy is directly linked to a nation’s identity, speaking volumes of its history and culture.
Key influences of the slow living philosophy
- Carl Honoré’s “In Praise of Slow”
- Journalist and author Carl Honoré played a significant role in popularizing the slow living concept with his 2004 book, “In Praise of Slow.” In the book, Honoré explores what is slow living and how the Slow Movement extends beyond food to encompass various aspects of life, advocating for a more balanced and mindful approach.
- Offline and Online Content on Slow Living
- Ever since, multiple books have been published and numerous blogs and podcasts have been launched on this topic, showing a growing interest in this evergreen life philosophy. Slow living is a broad concept that encompasses all areas of one’s life, so there’s much appetite for learning and getting inspired. Some of my favs in this category will follow in a later post.
- Slow Cities and Slow Travel
- Building on the Slow Food Movement, the Slow Cities Movement emerged, promoting the idea of creating urban environments that prioritize quality of life, sustainability, and a slower pace.
- The first officially designated Slow City in the world was Greve in Chianti, located in the Tuscany region. It received this designation in 1999 as part of the Slow City Movement, which focuses on preserving local traditions and enhancing the quality of life in small towns.
- Additionally, the concept extended to travel, encouraging a more immersive and leisurely exploration of destinations.
- Rejection of Hyper-Consumerism
- The slow living philosophy is, in part, a protest against hyper-consumerism and the constant pursuit of more.
- Advocates emphasize the importance of savoring experiences, fostering meaningful connections, and prioritizing well-being over material accumulation.
- Inspiration from Traditional Cultures
- The slow living movement draws inspiration from traditional cultures that have long embraced a more deliberate and mindful way of life.
- Concepts such as “hygge” in Denmark and “ikigai” in Japan emphasize the importance of finding joy, purpose, and balance in everyday living.
- Environmental Awareness:
- The slow-living movement is closely tied to environmental consciousness and living in closer harmony with nature.
- By encouraging sustainable practices and mindful consumption, it aims to reduce the ecological footprint associated with a fast-paced, consumer-driven lifestyle.
SLOW Stands For Sustainable. Local. Organic. Whole
`Slow` in slow living is not just the opposite of `fast` or the term for defining a certain rhythm for doing things, but also an acronym and umbrella term highlighting four major concepts this life philosophy encompasses.
S stands for Sustainable. In a nutshell, living slow means being aware of how your actions might impact the planet in the mid and long term. Leaving from the premise that every small good deed counts, especially when repeated frequently, you learn to naturally integrate sustainable choices as part of your daily lifestyle.
It might take a perspective shift and the motivation to educate yourself on this topic, but at the end of the day, it’s still about finding joy in everyday life. I think the most important takeaway of this sustainable approach is the satisfaction and peace of mind you get from knowing that you do your part in not harming the environment.
Simple sustainability ideas that can grow on you as part of a slow-paced lifestyle:
- switch your usual car commute with public transportation whenever possible
- replace plastic bags with reusable tote bags
- carry a reusable water bottle and coffee cup in your bag
- switch to LED light bulbs at home
- buy bulk groceries instead of plastic-wrapped ones (zero-waste shops are great by the way)
- try to reduce water consumption around your household
- shop from local producers or thrift shops whenever possible
- repurpose old things as opposed to buying new ones
L stands for Local. Interlinked with the idea of sustainability, buying local means supporting small businesses or local producers, as close to your home as possible. This not only ensures you get to eat fresher and tastier products, that wasted fewer resources to be made (were not stored in warehouses, nor transported on large distances), but you also encourage and support small farmers and entrepreneurs from your community.
Buying local also provides a more personal and gratifying buying experience. You get to know the provenience of those products, and you can learn about their ingredients/ materials and manufacturing process.
When talking about sustainable living, there’s a lot of information about growing your food. I am here to tell you that you can have a perfectly sustainable lifestyle without doing it and without feeling any pressure.
While having your own vegetable garden is ideal and idyllic, we have to keep a realistic eye here: not all of us own a home with a big yard, farming skills, or the time to care for a garden. Instead, a great option for most of us is installing some small pots with herbs, cherry tomatoes, or chili peppers in your kitchen or balcony. They will not only provide some fresh, home-grown vegetables, but they will also make our spaces look greener and prettier.
O stands for Organic. Predictable, huh? Organic foods are everywhere now, available at affordable prices, regardless if you live in a big city or a small urban area.
You’ve probably heard it over and over again, yet avoiding products that have been genetically engineered or mass-produced is so much healthier and sustainable in the long run. Again, quality over quantity is the key phrase that applies to anything slow-living-related.
W stands for whole. I can not even get started on the benefits of whole foods. Due to the fact they are minimally processed and often free of added preservatives and artificial ingredients, whole foods tend to be more nutrient-dense as well as often high in fiber. They’re a life changer for a healthy gut and digestion.
It seems such a paradox that in a world where the most unhealthy and processed foods are usually the most marketed and most within reach, it became counterintuitive to just eat food in its natural state. It might take some time to re-learn how to integrate it into our daily diets, but I think it is not only recommended but also necessary.
How Can Slow Living Impact Your Life?
- The gift of time. Slow living is a mindset that encourages putting every aspect of our hectic lives on hold (at least for a few hours a day) and allowing ourselves to just be. Clear your schedule, leave the social pressure behind, say no to things you don’t need, and cherish the gift of time.
- The privilege of living in the present. By doing activities that bring you joy – home cooking with your family, gardening, journaling, reading, doing sports, etc. – you get the opportunity to indulge in the present moment, thus thinking less about the past and stop worrying about the future.
- A deeper connection with people. Quality time with your dear ones is a time you can never have too much of and a time you’ll never regret. Take every opportunity and make beautiful memories with the people around whom you can be 100% you. Be a good listener, hug them often, try new things together, and laugh loudly.
- A better awareness of your surroundings. Slow living means spending as much time in nature as possible. Nature is a free therapist and the best teacher when it comes to slowing down. Get out there, observe how everything is in synergy, and try to synchronize your inner rhythm to the one of nature.
- An improved work-life balance. When there is a clear delimitation between your work time and your free time, when you constantly invest in your mental, emotional, and physical health, and when you dedicate enough time to hobbies, nature time, and small indulgences, your quality of life improves, while the risk for anxiety or burnout gets significantly lower. In addition, a fulfilled personal life and a strong work-life balance are considered to increase productivity at the workplace and can lead to better focus and efficiency.
Conclusion
The thing with slow living is that you can start anytime. Focus on finding joy in each step of this amazing journey called life. Its principles can be applied to almost any area of your life – food, work, commute, travel, fashion, home decor, you name it.
A slower life does not mean radical transformations, you can start with small changes and stick to them. Understanding what is slow living and what it’s not will also make this approach to life more accessible and easy to adopt. As Aristotle said, `we are the sum of our actions and therefore our habits make all the difference`.
We are the sum of our actions and therefore our habits make all the difference.
Aristotle
Make a habit out of making yourself happy. Happiness can be found in the mundane, in the spontaneous, and ultimately, in slowness.
One last note to self:
20 years from now, when you’ll look back, at this very moment, what would you like to see yourself doing? What will be valuable and relevant to you in two decades? Things or moments? Trying to impress others or make yourself happy? These answers can trigger the perspective shift you need to change your life.
Featured image: Max Ilienerwise via Unsplash
