Effortless Ways to Embrace Slower Living

I recently took a subscription to Mubi, the app for non-mainstream movies. It is a treasure trove for a world-curious mind looking to learn about life and other cultures. I was always a big fan of independent and slow-paced movies. I recently realised how difficult it was to sit in front of a 3-hour foreign language movie without fidgeting, looking at my phone, or moving around.

I have to relearn to be patient and stick with the movie while I can easily walk out and switch off the film I’m watching. Today I watched a 3-hour movie in Turkish, “The Wild Pear Tree, “ by Nuri Bilge Ceylan. I loved the movie, and it was a challenge. I’m glad I managed to stick to it and be patient until the end, but we are no longer used to watching movies this slowly. Everything in our life is so fast our attention spans are down to seconds, and we are constantly indulging in short videos and reels to the point we become addicted to new information all the time. In this post, I will discuss ways we can embrace learning to go back to living at a slower pace.

Do you wish your days felt fuller, happier, and more meaningful? That is the appeal of slow life living and travelling. While it can be a challenge to slow down the pace of your life and finally start enjoying the simple pleasures, it is possible and worth the effort. With dedication and a few simple steps, you can learn to live a slower, more balanced life and reap the benefits. This article will examine how you can shift to slow life, including prioritising and unplugging, setting meaningful goals, travelling slower, practising mindfulness, and breaking bad habits. Reading this article will help you take the time to appreciate the simple things in life is just one of many ways to create a happier, slower existence.

1) Find Your Focal Point: What does slow living mean to you?

It might be the ability to savour each moment and appreciate life’s simple things. Or take the time to unplug and become mindful of your surroundings. Still, it could also mean reducing stress levels and becoming less obsessed with ticking off our to-do list.

Whatever your focal point may be, focus on that when you practice slow living. Aim to make conscious changes and prioritise activities that bring you joy and peace. Remember, everyone’s slow living journey is unique and should be tailored to fit your individual needs.

2) Reconnect: Unplug and make time for yourself.

How difficult is it to get off the social media train and switch off? Everything is done to grab our attention. I grew up before the internet and often wondered what we did with our time. We

• Went to the movies.

• Walked in the park

• Read a book sitting on the balcony in the sunshine

• Had conversations

• Learned to cook, bake or sew

• Sat on the beach for hours doing nothing

• Had time for self-reflection and contemplation

• We had to be patient. Imagine no mobile phones, snail mail and being in limbo, lost in the middle of nowhere, that certainly shaped our problem-solving creating mind.

  Nowadays, you have to be very self-disciplined not to look constantly at your phone, and I’m guilty of it as well. I thrive on travel and self-development videos constantly comparing my life to others or trying to learn new things. How often have I lost 40 minutes browsing when I could have done something more meaningful? Does it sound familiar? One of my sons went off social media entirely, and I admire his determination. I need to be on it, but I have to learn to use my time more wisely and make time for myself.

Reconnecting with ourselves is essential in today’s world filled with distractions. We can often become overwhelmed with the hustle and bustle of everyday life and forget to take the time to focus on our own needs. Taking a few hours (or even minutes) each day to do something that brings you joy can help put everything in perspective. Whether reading a book, meditating, walking, listening to music, or anything else that makes you happy, try to dedicate time to yourself and your well-being. Focusing on what makes you special and unique can help you become the best version of yourself and make it possible to make the most out of life.

3) Take Joy in Appreciation: Enjoy the moment.

I was not a person who could live in the moment. The shatter in my head about the past and the future was constant. What helped me shut it down was reading The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. That book has taught me to enjoy the moment, and I’m inviting you to do so.

Our society doesn’t teach us to stop and acknowledge appreciation. On the contrary, we constantly compare ourselves to others, hustling the career ladder to keep up with the Jones and being on a conveyer belt of constant dissatisfaction. Comparing yourself on Instagram will make you feel miserable, and even I’m guilty.

But what about being grateful for getting up in the morning, walking, breathing, having a roof over our heads, and being surrounded by our loved ones? Being able to travel and decorate our homes in the style we want? For me that is pretty high on Maslow’s scale of basic human needs.

Instead, we are in constant dissatisfaction, chasing more material stuff, money, love, and recognition while completely forgetting to take a step back, take a breath and say thank you. Making it a point to stop, take a moment to appreciate what is happening around us, and be thankful for all we have can help create a much more positive environment. Enjoying the little things can often remind us of what matters most, and that can bring true joy.

4) Reimagine Your Goals: Set new and achievable goals.

Once you have imagined new goals for yourself, trying to make them achievable is essential. Start small. Break large tasks down into smaller, more manageable ones. Taking one step at a time will allow you to stay focused and motivated to reach your goals. In addition, setting realistic deadlines for yourself is essential to ensure you can reach them efficiently and on time. Give yourself some praise, and remember that not every goal has to be achieved instantly. Pace yourself, and set yourself up for success.

5) Share Your Slow Life: Making a small impact.

You can impact by sharing your slow life and making small but meaningful changes to your day-to-day actions. Whether taking time out of your busy day to give back to your community or simply buying sustainable products, your choices have an effect. Maybe it’s taking an extra long lunch break to walk around your neighbourhood or ending your day by unplugging and reconnecting with nature; whatever it is, small changes can go a long way. By implementing mindful practices, you can make a difference in the world and achieve a more balanced and fulfilling life.

6) Discover the power of slow travelling

Next time you want to travel, stop and think. Don’t forget the journey to get there is also travelling. Could you take a train instead of flying? Instead of visiting three cities in 5 days, why not immerse yourself in one town and take the time to enjoy it like a local? When we travel, we often want to boast about how worldly we are, having visited so many countries, but what if we started to think about quality instead of quantity? Making an effort to connect with the locals, wine and dine in the places they favourite instead of eating in a 5-star palace?

Travelling slowly means taking the time to get to know a place rather than simply visiting it. It’s about immersing yourself in a place’s culture, history, and people, engaging with the locals, and learning about the area and its people. Slow travel allows you to experience something deeper and more meaningful than a few days of seeing the sights. It allows you to experience a place authentically, learn about its unique culture and connect meaningfully with its people.

Living a slow life is rewarding, providing many benefits such as enriched relationships, better mental health, and improved productivity. With the right mindset and a few simple steps, you can quickly learn to adopt a slow-living lifestyle.

Take the first step towards a slow life today. Leave a comment and share your experience in embracing a slow-living lifestyle.