Slow living can drastically change an unfulfilled and overwhelming life.

I’ve been reflecting lately about how I’ve spent my entire life looking for the next thing to do, the next goal to accomplish.

Since we were kids, we’ve been conditioned this way. For me, I was always eager to start the next school year, then college, then my first job, then my first promotion and so on and so forth.

I’ve been a relentless carrot chaser. 

I started to get antsy at my old corporate job once I became manager, because I didn’t really know what was next. I even suggested to our HR team that they make another role called “Senior Manager” so I had another carrot or goal I could realistically achieve…

Because without that next tangible goal or accomplishment, I felt like I was lost. And maybe that is why I have been feeling lost in my entrepreneurship journey. When I first began, there were a gazillion different carrots to chase – views, plays, engagement, clicks, posts, etc.

I found it overwhelming. And what happens when I find something overwhelming? Well I usually spend money asking other people for help and then maybe I get a spark of creative energy or focus but not much later I’m back in my rut of feeling directionless, unhappy and anxious.

With my mindfulness and yoga background, I offer myself compassion and kindness for this time without clear direction. I focus on what I can control and I let go of the rest. I remind myself of the life that I am enjoying and the impact I have on others with the offerings and content I share. Without realizing this, I’ve been learning to embrace slow living.

Slow living can be a game changer if you’re unsure where your life is headed or if life feels like it’s passing you by.

What is Slow Living?

Slow living does not mean you have to move at a sloth’s pace and waste time by going more slowly. Instead it means learning to move at the pace that is right for you, in this moment. It means learning to take a step back and reassess your priorities and values, choosing quality over quantity and creating a conscious approach to life. It’s about embracing each moment with intention.

Why Slow Living?

Simply put, cramming your schedule with endless to-dos and constantly striving for maximum productivity does not guarantee a happier, more fulfilled or enjoyable life. Often, it means you’re filling up your life with these extra things because you are searching for something or are too afraid to be in stillness.

When we learn to slow down, we become vulnerable to our mind. We become vulnerable to our heart’s desires and wants. We start to uncover the things that really matter in life.

So when we slow down we may experience:

• Deeper personal and external relationships,
• More fulfillment and purpose,
• Better work-life balance,
• Less stress and overwhelm,
• And more peace and joy

Slow Living is about finding the right tempo for your own song.

7 Tips to Slowing Down in our Digital Fast Paced World:

1. Prioritize What Matters To You: Identify what truly matters in your life and create an achievable plan to work towards your priorities. If you’re not sure, imagine you’re 100 years old on your deathbed. What are the things that if you were to look back at your life would make you proud or happy?
2. Embrace Mindfulness: Make mindfulness a part of your daily life. Take time out of your day to become aware of your breath, the feeling of the sun on your skin, the way your food tastes. These little intentional moments are the stepping stones to an intentional and meaningful life.
3. Create Boundaries: There are tons of different boundaries you can create, but for this one try to create a better boundary with your work and personal life. Especially, for my friends who struggle to turn off when the workday is done…give yourself rest. You cannot do as well in your work if you are lacking in rest. 
4. Quit Mindless Scrolling: Do you ever pick up your phone to look at one thing and then find yourself sucked into the void that is social media…to only forget the original reason you picked up your phone. I do. Tell me I’m not alone in this habit. Some things to combat mindless scrolling include turning off notifications, setting app time limits and if you’re feeling really ambitious change the screen to grayscale so things aren’t as eye-catching and pretty to look at. 
5. Just Say No: This goes back to the third point on boundaries but expands beyond work to everything in your life. Give yourself the time and space to say No and allow that to be a complete sentence. You don’t need to explain why you can’t do something. Giving yourself more free time on your physical calendar not only frees up literal time but also frees up thinking and feeling space as well. You don’t have to always say no, but don’t forget to prioritize your own well-being.
6. Create Community: We are social creatures. Find others that resonate with your new mindset to help keep you inspired and motivated on your slow living lifestyle. A few YouTube channels that embrace slow living and simplicity. 
   1. Hippy Highland Living
   2. The Cottage Fairy
   3. The Wondering Mind
   4. Helena Woods 
7. Treat Self-Care as a Non-Negotiable: I don’t mean the type of self-care where you treat yourself to the extra purse you don’t need or spending oodles of money on a fancy spa day. That can be self-care, but that does not need to be your non-negotiable. Instead, allow your non-negotiable self-care to have time alone, take care of your needs, refill your cup. Take your slow girl walk around the park, breathe slowly, sleep-in when you can, disconnect from social media, and allow yourself to simply be.

More Resources on Slowing Down? Check out these gems!

• Books: ‘In Praise of Slow’ by Carl Honore
• Podcasts: ‘The Slow Home Podcast’ with Brooke McAlary
• Blogs: ‘Reading My Tea Leaves’ by Erin Boyle for minimalist and slow living inspiration

The Unhurried Path Beckons

While the slow living movement isn’t a magic wand, it’s a powerful compass guiding you towards well-being and true happiness. Should you choose to embark on this path, may you uncover the wealth that comes from living deliberately and lovingly.

Embrace the slow. Witness your life unfold beautifully when you give it the time it deserves.

 

Breathe deeply,

 

Faye