Long to-do lists. Packed schedules. Traffic jams. Sometimes it feels as though we’re racing against the clock with little room to breathe. Yet is this really necessary? Were we meant to rush through our days nonstop? Or is it possible—and even better—to move through life at a slower pace?
In this blog post, we'll cover:
- What Is Slow Living?
- Types of Slow Living
- Benefits of Slow Living
- 12 Tips for How to Start Slow Living
What Is Slow Living?
The concept of slow living has emerged in recent decades in reaction to the fast pace of modern life, and has become even more popular since the pandemic.
Yet what is slow living, you may be wondering? Slow living is a lifestyle—an intentional mindset that shifts how we approach the everyday aspects of life. It emphasizes mindfulness and presence: choosing to “bloom where you’re planted,” no matter how long that takes. It suggests that doing things better does not always mean faster, and that oftentimes, slowing our pace brings joy and fulfillment out of even the most ordinary tasks. It prioritizes connection and consideration over speed.
According to slowlivingldn.com, slow living evolved as “part of the wider slow movement which began in the 1980s in Italy. Faced with the opening of a McDonald’s in the heart of Rome, Carlo Petrini and a group of activists formed Slow Food, a movement that defends regional food traditions…. Carl Honoré, one of the most well-known authors and speakers on the slow movement, helped bring the concept of slow living into the mainstream in 2004 with the publication of his book In Praise of Slowness. Honoré explores how Slow Food sparked a broader slow living movement with ‘slow’ now being applied to other areas of life which have experienced huge acceleration, including work, parenting and leisure.”
Types of Slow Living
Slow living can be applied to travel, gardening, interior design, and virtually every aspect of life. For instance, slow traveling could mean not rushing through tourist spots, but soaking in a few key destinations at an easygoing pace. Slow gardening means allowing yourself to enjoy the process of nurturing your plants rather than forcing your garden into a "perfect" image. And slow interiors could look like collecting thoughtful pieces with time rather than rushing simply to fill a space or implement a trend.
Benefits of Slow Living
Slow living is like planting a seed. Its benefits turn your life into a garden of productivity and meaning. It helps you connect more with three essential things:
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Connecting with yourself: Slow living allows for self-reflection, investing in your hobbies, improving yourself, working toward your goals, etc.
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Connecting with your surroundings: Slow living enables you to breathe in what’s around you rather than ignoring it, emphasizing presence and gratitude over hurry.
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Connecting with others: Slow living gives you the time to relate with the people in your life, whether at meal times, during car rides, or throughout the work day. It lets you have intentional conversations that strengthen your relationships.
Slow living also reduces the long-term physical impacts of stress. In fact, the term “hurry sickness” was coined in the 1950s by Dr. Meyer Friedman, a cardiologist, and Dr. Ray Rosenman, an internist, to describe the very real medical issues the doctors were seeing with patients who didn’t slow down enough. An article by Dr. Scott Hoye, Psy.D. explains, “Both doctors recognized that there were certain personality traits that seemed to be related to heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure. They noticed that these people tended to be competitive, driven individuals who were constantly in a rush—hence the term ‘hurry sickness.’ Today we understand that hurry sickness is not just associated with physical health issues but can also cause psychological distress and affect our overall wellbeing.”
Slow living is not just nice in theory; it can have tangible benefits for both short- and long-term health.
12 Tips for How to Start Slow Living
Implementing slow living into your daily life doesn’t have to be an immediate transition. It’s okay to take even this process slowly! Like any change, adjusting from a hurried pace to a more relaxed one won’t happen overnight, and it won’t be perfect all the time. Some things happen outside your control, and sometimes you will still have to pick up your pace. But slow living is about choosing to step back as much as you can. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” Be patient with yourself as you make these changes.
And how exactly can you begin slow living? Below, we’ve listed 12 ways to start slow living—plus journaling tips to help you relax as you go along.
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Cook, bake, and meal prep: Start a recipe journal for new recipes you want to try, or to save some of your cherished favorites. Don’t worry about rushing through each recipe; enjoy the process of creating food to nourish yourself and those you love. Additionally, meal prepping is a great way to save time for your future self and allow for a slower pace.
- Go for nature walks: Find a local park, garden or trail and reflect on the nature there. Take a notebook and write your observations on the sights, sounds and smells, or record your poetry or other inspiration. You could even add some sketches to an Artisan Journal or a Refillable Journal with blank or dotted pages.
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Read new books: Decide to read a certain number of books each month—even if that’s just one! Dive into a topic that interests you, then try one that challenges you. Start a reading log journal to rate each one and capture your thoughts.
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“Travel” to your own town: Traveling is an amazing opportunity. But to be honest, it’s not realistic to expect a new trip every few weeks. That doesn’t mean life has to become overly routine, however. What if you viewed your own town as a tourist? Try a new restaurant or bookstore, or invite a friend to a new cafe. Even walk around a new neighborhood. Journal about your experiences. What did you see and feel as you were there? Get to know your hometown like a friend.
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Listen to music or other media: Music is a simple yet powerful way to add beauty to your life. Classical or slow-paced music, especially, has been shown to reduce stress—the perfect accompaniment to slow living. Play music while you cook or garden. Or try a new podcast on a subject you’re interested in but don’t know much about. Keep it at the default speed and stay curious about what you’ll learn.
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Invest in your surroundings: We’re more in tune to our surroundings than we often realize. Along with taking your time while decorating, make sure to invest in lighting, colors, textures, and even fragrances that uplift your mood. They don’t have to be expensive to be welcoming and peaceful. Even something as simple as a good-smelling soap, fresh flowers, or warm lightbulbs can enhance your environment.
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Get creative through artwork: Creativity is an essential part of slow living. Even if you’re not a professional artist, try your hand at sketching, painting, scrapbooking, etc. Our Creator’s Journal sketchbooks have heavyweight pages for multiple media, and our Refillable Journals with blank or dotted pages are perfect for getting your ideas on paper.
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Start bullet journaling: Bullet journaling in a dotted journal is a wonderful and creative way to stay organized. Click here for our list of 10 easy bullet journaling ideas. You can create calendars, vision boards, habit trackers, and checklists, and even compile quotes or review your favorite movies.
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Garden: Gardening is one of the most beautiful and rewarding ways to implement slow living. Not only will you bring in fresh produce and flowers for your food and home, you’ll learn the beauty of trusting the unseen process.
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Self-reflect: With slow living, taking time to step back and reflect is important. Journal your thoughts as you begin slow living. How have you implemented slow living today? How has living more slowly shaped you? How have your lifestyle changes positively affected those around you? Consider how your emotions have transformed as well.
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Start a gratitude journal: Staying grateful is one of the most essential elements of slow living—and in some sense, it’s the whole point. Slow down long enough to enjoy your surroundings, your loved ones, and your own life. Start a gratitude journal to put yourself in a positive mindset and notice the many gifts all around you.
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Enjoy the gift of silence: Lastly, a key part of slow living is learning to simply enjoy the gift of silence, or to tune in to nature’s music. Take some time as you walk or drive to listen to nothing but what’s around you: the birds, the water in a river, the wind. Journal the sounds of your home—perhaps the fridge humming, the water boiling, the door opening for guests, or the creak of the floors underneath your loved ones’ feet. Perhaps it’s your children’s laughter, your spouse’s conversations, or your dog’s delighted barking. Don’t force constant entertainment; let yourself be alone with your thoughts and your surroundings.
We hope this list has inspired you on your journey to start slow living. With a slower pace, you can restore your life from unwanted stress and take note of the beauty it has to offer. Shop journals for slow living here.