Hey earth muffins! Sustainable living has been on the rise (thank goodness!), but I’ve also been seeing a trend towards slow living as well. You might be asking yourself, what is slow living anyways? Curiously enough, eco-friendly lifestyles go hand-in-hand with “slow” ones… So let’s jump into the basics of slow living!
What is Slow Living?
There are numerous definitions of “living slow”, which can be different depending on who you talk to. Wikipedia defines it as “a lifestyle which encourages a slower approach to aspects of everyday life, involving completing tasks at a leisurely pace”. Basically, exactly what it sounds like: living slow. Other synonyms for this style of living include: intentional living, holistic living, conscious living, and mindful living.
Slow living is a mindset to live in a more meaningful way… Which includes thinking about your impact on the planet! I personally like to think about it with this definition:
“giv[ing] back by co-creating mutually supportive communities, bioregions and economic systems – where we combine the wisdom of the past with a vision for the future to ensure a balanced, fulfilling way of life for all generations to come”
https://www.slowlivingsummit.org/what-is-slow-living/
The Tenets of Living Slow
–Be present: Our time is limited, so we need to make the most of it! Focus on the things that make you feel most balanced and impactful… And limit those things (like Instagram scrolling) that don’t.
–Slow down: You can’t subscribe to this lifestyle without consciously slowing down. This can mean numerous things: slowing down your fast paced life, reducing consumption/utilization of planet resources, or increasing the number of community driven groups you are a part of.
Easy Ways to Slow Down
–Disconnect from technology: I think technology is wonderful but also dangerous at the same time. Our culture supports being connected 24/7, so an easy way to start living slow is to disconnect every once in a while. This could be every day at a certain time in the evening or taking a full day off from electronics over the weekend.
–Stop rushing! Since when did it become a crime to do less? Americans have a tendency to always be rushing around (if you don’t believe me, go visit Italy and see how fast you walk compared to the locals!). Force yourself to slow down, embrace what you are doing, and actually enjoy it. Life is fleeting; as my good friend Ferris always said, “If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
–Live more sustainably: There are plenty of correlations between living an eco-friendly lifestyle and living “slow”. When you reduce your consumption, reuse as much as possible, invest in slow fashion, etc. you are helping both the planet and yourself by creating a more balanced and meaningful existence.
Slow living is amazing because it allows you to be intentional about how you spend your time. While it can be challenging to slow down at first, I guarantee it will be worth it! Start living those tenets of living slow… Try to disconnect for a bit, be more sustainable day-to-day, and make sure you slow down. Do you try to follow this lifestyle? Comment below and let me know your favorite benefits of it!
Love,
Jenna ♥
