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10 Slow Living Tips: How to Embrace Slow Living
Learning how to practice slow living is a game changer in this fast paced world where we are constantly running from one thing to another. We are always working from our mind but not giving enough time to working on our mind.
Honestly, how many of us regularly take a break to reflect back on our lives to see what is really going on in our mind. What is something that is giving us a hard time and where do these thoughts are coming from?
Slow living is about being present both mentally and physically for the day-to-day things that add up to your WHOLE life. Its the difference between that and letting your life fly past you. Let that sink in!
Understanding slow living (and why it matters)
Living in todays manic world, with stress and burnout at the helm, the idea of slow living has taken off in a BIG way. Understanding the power of slow living is more than a trend; its a rewiring to put quality over quantity, to be present over being over-productive.
Weve all heard it before: the good old glorification of busyness and multi-tasking, the glamourization of high-stress work and lifestyles. This ultra-productive way of living might work for a while, but eventually, it knocks our minds and bodies.
Slow Living Tips for Embracing Slow Life
Lets dive into what you can do to make slow living the new way for you. Pick a few tips, one or two, if you want to just dip your toe in to start.
1. Scale back your schedule
Firstly, take stock of your month, week, and days. What are you spending the bulk of your time doing? If you arent sure (many people struggle to answer this question outside of work and family commitments), keep a diary or a tracker for a month or two and analyze it.
Youll be fascinated by what you spend time doing, and what to cut out will quickly jump out at you.
Simplifying your schedule is step one in embracing slow living. Simplify your daily agenda by sifting out what doesnt serve you.
Top tip: Another activity to help you streamline your workday can be to detox your workspace is to create a no-distraction environment.
2. Do things that mean something to you
Focusing on meaningful activities enriches your slow-living journey. A check-in around what your values, passions, and goals are is the best way to start.
After that, anything you are doing that does not align with those goals (other than unavoidable responsibilities) should be culled!
3. No thanks!
Where are the people pleasers at? Yup, I get it. Learning to say no can be painful, but its a core part of adopting slow living. Saying no allows you to protect your time and energy and avoid commitments that dont align with your values.
Saying no is an incredible skill and is part of self-love and compassion.
4. Cut the screen time
Another great way to slow down. Your body and mind will soon detox from your tech disconnect. A good strategy is to allocate specific times to plug in. This is a quick way to improve your overall well-being and to buy yourself slow time.
Remember, screen time during meals, before bedtime, and during family time should be a no-no. These are key moments to connect with people who mean something to you, even if that person is YOU.
Here are 100 things to do without your phone!
5. Practice mindfulness
Practicing mindfulness is a cornerstone of slow living. It involves paying full attention to the present moment without judgment.
Mindfulness helps reduce stress, enhance self-awareness, and improve emotional regulation.
Mindfulness-based activities can include gardening, taking walks in nature, meditating, doing yoga, practicing self-care, or sipping a coffee in nature. Anything that keeps your mind still and in the present.
6. Awareness in moment
Cultivating present-moment awareness means fully engaging with the here and now. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, focus on your current experiences and sensations.
Notice the way your body feels where your thoughts drift to, and what they attach to.
As part of slow living, being connected to the present moment helps you to fully appreciate that moment rather than looking ahead to the next moment. This helps slow life down.
7. Appreciate nature Get your feet deep in the grass
This is fundamental to slow living. Whether it’s time in your local park, an easy hike, or simply placing a chair or blanket in your garden, connecting with the trees, birds, and bees is critical to a slow living life.
It is such a refreshing and rejuvenating practice that will help you reduce stress and put you back into a good mood.
8. Feed your important relationships
The goal is time with people you love. Focus on meaningful conversations, shared experiences and activities, and memory building. Slow, meaningful time together is bond-building and life-enriching.
Spending too much time worrying about what people think of you? Ditch that trait!
9. Grow deeper connections
This involves being fully present with the folks in your life. Practice active listening, show empathy, and share your thoughts and feelings openly.
Building deeper connections takes time and effort, but the results are worth it. Think of slow-living activities you can do with like-minded people to foster deeper connections while being able to engage in some of the practices mentioned earlier.
10. Declutter your home and space
Mental clutter and physical clutter go hand in hand. A decluttered mind is a more peaceful mind, which gives that mind the space to connect more and enjoy a slower style of living.
Tackle each room one at a time rather than tackling multiple rooms and getting overwhelmed.
I hope you find these slow living tips helpful and you will start embracing slow living in your day to day life. You definitely do not need to adapt to all these activities, just one step at a time, be constant and patient and see changes it brings in your life!
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