Somewhere along the way, we decided that the busier we are, the more important we must be.
Who the hell made that a thing?!
But what if the real growth (or flex - adopting today's lingo) was slowing down?
What if life felt richer not because we squeezed in more, but because we actually showed up for it?
The truth is, slowing down isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing things with more presence, more joy, and way less stress. If you’ve been craving a way to step off the hamster wheel and reclaim your time (without moving to a remote house somewhere), here are five simple slow living habits to start today.
It’s tempting to roll over and check your phone the second you wake up, but starting your day in reaction mode sets the tone for the rest of it. Instead, create a morning ritual that allows you to ease into the day whether that’s sipping your coffee mindfully, stretching, or simply enjoying a few moments of quiet.
Multitasking might make you feel productive, but in reality, it’s like opening 15 tabs in your brain’s browser everything slows down, and eventually, something crashes. Slow living is about being fully present with whatever you’re doing whether it’s eating, working, or having a conversation.
In the recent years, I've made a concerted effort to try monotasking: giving my full attention to one thing at a time. And when I remember, to notice how much richer each experience becomes.
We’ve gotten so good at drowning out silence that even waiting in line at the grocery store feels like an opportunity to check emails or scroll Instagram. It's almost as if when there's a moment for us to collect ourselves, the default action is to whip out our phones to 'see what's up'.
But silence is powerful.
Take time each day to sit in quiet. Mayve it’s during a walk, while cooking, or simply breathing deeply. This small shift helps clear mental clutter and invites a deeper sense of calm.
Slow living is about finding joy in the everyday. That might mean truly tasting your food instead of rushing through meals, noticing the details in nature, or appreciating small moments of connection with others. I remember the first time I actually stopped to notice the taste of an apple I was eating. It wasn't anything particularly special but that moment of actually noticing and being aware of myself really stuck with me.
When you bring awareness to these little joys, life starts to feel fuller, even without making big changes.
I've found most joy when I intentionally leave space in my schedule. That's right. I love sharing how "un-busy" I am. That is one of my measures of success: To know that I am intentionally living life with space.
Slow living isn’t about slacking off - it’s about taking back your time, energy, and sanity. Start saying no to things that drain you, create space for rest, and protect your time like it’s your last piece of your favourite thing - because it kind of is.
If you think that your worth or success is measured by how busy you are, here's an invitation for you this year: start setting boundaries with your time to create space for yourself.
After all, we don’t get a trophy for burning ourselves out - just exhaustion and a deep appreciation for naps. Or as Juliana Chan of LinkedIn-ese says: Transformative Resets!
Slow living is about making conscious choices about where your time and energy go. Slow living is about making conscious choices about where your time and energy go. Start saying no to things that drain you, create space for rest, and protect your time like it’s your most valuable resource because it is.
All of our lives are different, so what has worked for me may not necessarily work for you. But I assure you, slowing down the pace by which we often find ourselves caught in is 100% worth it.
What can you do today to start making small, midful shifhts that help you feel more present, connected and at east? A meditation teacher once said to me, "Do you have 30 seconds in a day to spare for yourself? If the answer is yes, then use that 30 seconds to practice deep belly breathing." It was something so simple yet so powerful.
Maybe your slow living moment starts there. Or maybe it looks different for you. Either way, take a breath, take a beat, and see where it leads.
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