Here’s everything you need to know about slow living to embrace this beautiful way of life for more joy, peace, and contentment.
For most of my life, slow living was a foreign concept for me.
I was the girl who reached my classes thirty minutes ahead of time, always took the fastest route, and even talked at a pace that earned me the nickname ‘bullet train’.
I thought I had it all under control and was oh-so smart and productive.
But then I had a mental burnout (followed by a breakdown), and it was bad enough that I had to take a full year off from college.
If that doesn’t change things, what will, right?
My pride took a hit that year, but I was forced to reassess my lifestyle and my ways.
And in my quest to be better and feel better, I ended up on the path to slow living, which is funny, because it was actually when my life really began. I don’t think I was truly living before that.
Slow living allowed me to embrace the beauty of everyday life while still going after my goals (the right goals this time, because I finally had the clarity to know what I really wanted).
In this post, I want to share the slow living practices that made all that possible for me, so that you can adopt them too, without disconnecting yourself from your commitments and priorities.
But first, let’s try to understand it better, shall we?
What Is Slow Living?
I could write a whole post just talking about what slow living means.
But to sum it up simply, slow living means saying yes to what brings you peace, and no to the rush that stresses you out.
No, this doesn’t mean kicking your important tasks to the curb.
I know you probably have a job, or college, or kids to look after, and other responsibilities that demand your time and attention.
But with slow living, you get to prioritize things better and take a softer approach to your daily activities.
At first, the idea can seem scary and like a threat to your ‘productivity’.
We are so wired to do things a certain way, to always be on our toes, that the idea of anything different can feel like cheating or being lazy.
But I can promise you (like really promise you) that if you open your heart to the idea of it and actually give it a try, slow living will change you, your days, your relations, your job, and your life forever.
And you will love me for introducing you to it.
Pin this post now for safekeeping, thanks!
Btw, before I dive in, I want to tell you that slow living isn’t new to the world.
It is actually an old practice that is now re-emerging because humans need it now more than ever.
Our grandparents knew how to sit on porches and watch the world go by.
They knew the value of a home-cooked meal shared with family, and they knew that relationships need space to deepen.
They understood that some things can’t be rushed, that bread needs time to rise, and gardens need seasons to grow.
And so they lived slowly and in doing so, they lived fully.
Sounds beautiful, right? So now, let’s see how you can embrace slow living in the modern world.
How To Embrace Slow Living – 6 Practices
1. Create Slow Mornings
Mornings set the tone for your entire day. But so many people I know start their day in a panic.
They get up in panic to the sound of the alarm, rush to get ready, grab coffee on the go, and check emails while walking.
All this might look fun in movies, but in real life, it’s a recipe for burnout for your mind.
So, please, even if you do nothing else from this guide, just create slow mornings.
Prepare for your day the night before. Set out your clothes, prepare breakfast ingredients, and create space for ease and comfort.
In the morning, wake up earlier than you do, but do it gently. Let natural light help you rise instead of a harsh alarm.
Then, stretch in bed for a moment and feel your body waking up. Take three deep breaths before you reach for your phone.
Have a glass of water before you do anything else.
When making your morning drink, do it with intention (whether it’s coffee, tea, or warm lemon water).
Feel the warmth of the mug in your hands, smell the aroma, and take that first sip slowly.
This is your time to set the tone for a slow day, so enjoy it before you start your day.
Also, I’d really recommend starting a positive morning practice.
You can write in a journal, read a few pages of poetry, do gentle stretches, or sit quietly for five minutes as you sip your coffee.
Coming to breakfast (which should never be skipped), eat it mindfully. Even if you only have ten minutes, those can be ten peaceful minutes, so make them count.
Taste your food, appreciate the energy it’s giving you, and let breakfast be nourishment for both your body and soul.
2. Fill Your Home With Soft Vibes
Your home is the space you spend most of your time at, so naturally, it is a big part of your lifestyle.
In slow living, we create spaces that support peace rather than stress.
The first thing you should do is declutter, but that too, slowly.
There is no need to organize your entire home in a weekend. It’s okay if the process takes months, because you are building a practice here, not a one-time thing.
Choose one small area, like a drawer or a corner of your bedroom. Remove things that don’t serve you, and keep things that bring you joy and have a clear purpose.
As you clear physical clutter, you’ll notice mental clutter clearing too. When everything has a place, your mind can rest, too.
Secondly, fix the lighting in your home. Harsh overhead lights can make you feel rushed and anxious.
So, when you’re not working (especially in the evening), turn on softer lighting using candles, table lamps, and string lights.
The third thing you can do is bring nature indoors by adding plants, flowers, and natural materials like wood and stone.
Even a single houseplant can change the energy of a room, because it connects you to the slower rhythms of the natural world.
Lastly, create spaces in your home where you can do your slow activities.
Put up a comfortable reading chair by a window, set up a small table for puzzle-solving or letter-writing, and a cozy nook for your afternoon tea.
Having dedicated spaces like these will invite you to pause and enjoy your simple pleasures.
Your home will feel like a true sanctuary with good vibes that you love spending time in.
3. Practice Slow Eating and Cooking
Food is one of life’s greatest pleasures, but people often eat in a hurry, missing the joy of mindful food habits.
Not only does it steal your mindfulness, but it can also cause physical problems like bloating and weight gain.
So, for the sake of your mind and body, slow down your eating by doing these things:
- Set the table, even if you’re eating alone
- Use dishes you enjoy eating in
- Light a candle
- Put away devices
- Eat slowly and chew well
- Put your fork down between bites and taste each flavor
- Have conversations if you’re with others
Cooking is also an important part of slow living.
I was never a fan of cooking, but in my journey to embrace slow living, I ended up falling in love with food preparation too.
I make sure to make at least one full meal myself a day, and it’s a pure joy for my senses.
Slow cooking doesn’t mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen every day. It means approaching food with more intention and less hurry.
Here are some tips to practice slow cooking:
- Plan your meals when you’re calm, not when you’re hungry and stressed
- Choose simple and whole foods when possible
- Make cooking a meditative practice (feel the vegetables as you chop them, and listen to the sizzle of onions in the pan)
- Smell the herbs as you add them to your dish
Being slow with your food (be it eating or cooking) will make you enjoy your food and be satisfied with less.
You’ll find yourself doing less of stress-eating and overeating, and that can truly make your life better.
4. Slow Down The Rhythm of Your Days
I can talk about a dozen aspects of slow living, but none is as important as the rhythm of your days.
The speed at which your day goes by is actually what defines the kind of life you are living.
If you are barely aware when you leave the bed and when you hit it again, or if most of your day goes by in anxiety and stress, then you are living a fast and hectic life.
And it’s all the more reason to embrace slow living, and slowing down the rhythm of your days is the way to achieve that.
The first thing you can do for this is plan less, but plan better. Don’t cram your calendar full of things, but choose fewer activities and give them more space.
Build in buffer time in your routine. If you think something will take an hour, give it an hour and fifteen minutes. It’s a simple change, but it will help you slow down a lot.
Honor your natural energy rhythms. Schedule hard tasks during your peak energy times, and save soft activities for when your energy is lower.
Take breaks that actually restore you instead of adding to the clutter in your mind (like scrolling, duh). Look out a window, take a short walk, eat a fruit, or do some deep breathing.
And lastly, end your day as slowly as you began it (remember point no.1).
Have a night routine that helps you unwind. Do some reading, take a warm bath, and do gentle stretches. I love having a cup of chamomile tea right before bed; it relaxes me so well.
What would your ideal night routine look like? Think of three soft rituals right now before reading on.
5. Pour Into Your Relationships Slowly and Lovingly
In our digital age, we’re more connected than ever, but often feel more isolated. Social media gives us hundreds of shallow connections but not many deep ones.
But in slow living, we always prioritize quality relationships over quantity.
So, to fully embrace this practice, you also need to change the way you pour into your relationships. You need to be sofer, more loving, and better.
Practice being fully present with the people in your life. When someone is talking to you, listen completely, and don’t think about what you’ll say next.
Don’t check your phone while you’re with them, and just listen. This simple act is a gift that costs nothing but means everything.
Choose depth over breadth in your social life. Don’t waste time and energy maintaining friendships with everyone you’ve ever met. Instead, pour into the relationships that truly nourish you.
Write letters and send thoughtful texts instead of generic ‘likes’ on social media. These personal touches will show people that they matter to you.
Have long conversations, share meaningful experiences, and be vulnerable and authentic. That might seem scary, but trust me, my friend, it’s the best thing you can do (even at the risk of being hurt).
6. Spend Quality Time With Yourself
Okay, we’re down to the last practice, and this is hands-down the most important one.
This is what was missing in my life before and would’ve changed everything for my past troubled self.
I see this practice missing from so many people’s lives, too, and it makes me more determined to spread the message:
Spend time with yourself every day. Good time, quality time, positive time that would actually matter.
Binging a series and scrolling on your phone and laptop does not count. That’s not quality me-time, because you are actually a little mindless during these activities.
Quality me-time should leave you feeling better, not neutral or negative.
It should slow down your senses, bring you closer to yourself, and make you love being in your own company.
Here are some me-time activities that are perfect for slowing down:
- Mindful walking, where you look around and notice everything (even with headphones on)
- Working out to a YouTube video (without music plugged into your ears)
- Reading a book indoors or outdoors
- Writing in your journal
- Do yoga (I do once a week)
- Cooking yourself a nice meal
- Guided meditations or deep breathing
- Hobbies (like gardening and painting)
Check out more: 50 Me-Time Ideas That Will Make Your Heart Sing
Find Your Own Version of Slow
Slow living looks different for everyone.
A busy parent might find slowness in five quiet minutes with morning coffee, a student might discover it in taking handwritten notes, and a retiree might embrace it through long afternoon naps.
Experiment and find what works for your life.
Maybe you need to change how you wake up in the morning, or how you eat lunch, or how you end your day.
When embracing a slow living practice, notice the changes that come with it.
Do you feel more peaceful, more present, and satisfied? These feelings are signs that you’re moving in the right direction!
Be patient with yourself as you learn to live more slowly. You’ll have days when you fall back into old rushing patterns.
That’s normal and okay. Slow living does not demand that you be perfect. It just asks you to make progress and have self-compassion.
You’re choosing presence over productivity. You’re choosing being over doing. And you’re choosing what matters over what’s urgent.
And that, dear reader, will make all the difference.
The Gifts of Slow Living
Before I let you go, I want to end this post by recounting the gifts of slow living.
When you embrace slow living, life becomes richer and so, so beautiful. You realize that you don’t need to fill every moment with something. You feel fulfilled all the time.
Empty spaces in your routine feel like golden chances rather than problems, boredom turns into creativity, and stillness becomes a source of strength.
Slow living makes you stop fighting against time and start flowing with it, and so your stress melts away too.
Your relationships deepen as you show up more fully for the people you love.
Your creativity flourishes when you give it space to breathe, and your body relaxes when you stop pushing it to do more.
And yes, you remember what it feels like to be truly alive. Feeling your feelings, noticing beauty, and appreciating the beauty of life you’ve been given.
So, if you are ready to start living the way you were always meant to, then start today. Use this post as your slow living guide, and take your time building all the practices.
I promise you’ll love every second of it.
Read next: 30-Day Happiness Challenge To Become A Cheerful Person
Leave a Reply