Everyday Enhancement, The Slow Living Way.
Slow living is a growing trend, it has gained traction in the past few years and many individuals have grasped at the tailcoats of this lifestyle to help us through an unsettling few years globally. The goal is always ultimately the same; to move at a slower pace, not moving physically, but to move conceptually. It is a lifestyle switch and requires us to hang up the rushing around and instead take things up in a considered and meaningful order, preserving energy with a focus on self-care. The final outcome will hopefully give us more time to appreciate what we have, reduce stress levels, and mould us into more mindful, calm people overall.
Slow-Living fast times, the series that has now run here on the blog since 2020 was all about understanding how to curate a life that can be slow and considered in this fast-paced world and consumer culture that we are currently living in. I realised that I have seldom spoken about the everyday small benefits of embracing Slow-Living as a lifestyle and stripping it back to a place that can be related to by most; so today that is exactly what we are going to do.
Managing Stress
Slow Living reduces stress levels considerably by simply slowing down our pace. When we are constantly rushing, it is inevitable that stress will follow when we are constantly run off our feet unsure of what direction we are headed in. We all feel like we need to do more these days; work harder, get ahead of everyone else, be on the top of our game, produce more, and wear battle scars of burnout. There's always one more thing to do on our never-ending lists of things to check off before we go home for the night and one more email to send. But when was the last time you actually stopped and took some time out for yourself? Slowing down doesn't mean giving up on goals or ambition or putting a pause on working - it just means learning to balance, learning to prioritise, and planning so you can enjoy your every day with less stress and anxiety. The fast-paced way of life that we have become accustomed to sadly doesn't nourish us as much as a slower, more considered life does. The intention is to slow down your pace to a point where you are able to thoughtfully consider what you do, why you do it, and how is the most efficient way of doing it. Instead of rushing through everything to meet deadlines or get more work done for the day - slow living encourages us to actually rest and relax instead. It's a slower way of life that helps keep our mind healthy as well as our body.
Making Decisions
When we move more slowly, our brains have time to process the information around us and come to better decisions as a result. Slowing down allows us to be more mindful of our surroundings and the people we are interacting with. We're able to focus on one task at a time, rather than trying to do many things at once which usually leads to poor decision-making. Slow living also helps us become more patient, another everyday benefit of this adaptable and calming lifestyle.
Productivity
Slow Living can increase productivity, by helping us grab small windows of intensely productive work and spending the time in between the windows taking a moment for ourselves, before picking things up again. It's all about learning how to be mindful of what you need at any given moment and allowing yourself those little moments where you take stock and allow your body and mind some much-needed rest. Taking our foot off the pedal for a moment to realign, refocus and heal.
Family
When we live in a family unit there is always a fear of not spending enough time together, with work and school commitments pulling us all in different directions. Slow Living allows us to make that time for each. You can embrace slow-living family time by planning to do something as a family every few nights that involves everyone and focuses on combined interests. The intention here is not to rush through those activities and sell them short but rather - to take time out for you, your partner, or your child so every one of them feels valued and appreciated. Slow living gives us more opportunities to stop and enjoy these small moments of oxytocin-boosting bliss. Moving away from a strict routine that doesn't allow us to soak in the small, precious moments in life. I also find that involving your family in Slow-living practices like meal planning and preparation really helps to engage them in a family project, as well as teaching youngsters some valuable skills about cooking and budgeting.
Slow living is not just about one or two activities but rather an entire lifestyle that empowers you to be mindful of the choices you make every day both big and small so involving your family provides you with a path to Slow Living Success.
Housework
Slow Living Housework? really Charlie, yep, it exists, try breaking it down into manageable tasks. rather than trying to do the entire house clean in one go, try breaking it down into rooms and allocate a day of the week for each. That way you're not constantly feeling overwhelmed by the sheer amount of cleaning that needs to be done, and can enjoy some free time in between instead! Something we do is put the house to bed every night, this involves a quick kitchen cleaning, folding any clothes that are out, and putting everything back into its place. It means that the following day we can wake up to a tidy room and don't have to spend ages doing housework first thing in the morning - freeing us up for more enjoyable activities.
Nutrition
Planning ahead and making time to cook dinner every night can be difficult. So why not take a few hours one afternoon to prepare some meals, that you can freeze and heat up throughout the week? It's much easier than cooking each meal after a busy day and gives you some time to soak up and enjoy an activity that you enjoy or to spend time with people that make you feel good. As well as saving money the improvements to your evenings when you can just come home, put a nutritious and warming meal into the oven, and relax is priceless. Slow-Living can also improve our general nutrition by simply giving us time to sit down and eat at the table with our family. Eating more slowly means that we are able of making better choices about what foods we put in our bodies, being mindful of how filling they are as well as their nutritional benefits. When you slow your pace - it's easy not to rush through meals and to see them as valuable and useable time.
Intimacy
Slowing down can also help intimately by providing space to connect with your partner. Slow living provides a wonderful opportunity for you and your loved one to take time out from the usual busyness of life, reconnecting on a deeper level through cuddles, talks, or whatever feels appropriate at that moment. Make time for each other, talk, plan, and dream together. Slow-Living positivity impacts our romantic relationships by giving them space to flourish and grow without the usual distractions and pressures of life.
In conclusion, slowing down in a fast-paced world can be difficult but it's definitely worth the effort. You'll find that your days will become calmer and more mindful which is bound to have some positive impact on you and those that you love. There are so many everyday benefits to this lifestyle and I feel like I have only scratched the surface here. Doing what brings you joy is key; remember, we are only here once.
