5 Ways Slow Living Can Improve Your Life

If you live in modern society, I think we can all agree it feels a bit chaotic a lot of the time. The busyness, the expectations, and the distraction of this world are overwhelming. We’ve been conditioned to believe that success is measured by busyness and sacrificing time with loved ones in pursuit of our careers and other worldly achievements. However, I’ve come to realize that true success cannot be defined by feeling drained, disconnected, and burnt out.

The Slow Living lifestyle is a philosophy that encourages us to live our lives without rushing through them, to be fully present for the moments of our lives, and to prioritize what truly aligns with our core values. In a society fixated on speed and accomplishment, we’re taught to seek more and more, often losing sight of the satisfaction that lies within what we already have. The pursuit of “more” distracts us from actually finding purpose and meaning in our lives.

In a media-drenched, data-rich, channel-surfing, computer gaming age, we have lost the art of doing nothing, of shutting out the background noise and distractions, of slowing down and simply being alone with our thoughts. 

– Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness

I want a life of quality experiences over a high quantity of achievements. Slow living means a slower mindset to step away from the mindless grind and create a deliberate space where you have to be more intentional and present each day.

The History of the Slow Living Movement

The Slow Living Movement happened as a reaction to the fast-paced, hyperconnected modern world that leaves so many of us feeling drained, disconnected, and burnt out. I know I started craving a different way of living—one that valued a slower, more intentional way of life. 

The movement started with the idea of “slow food.” In the 1980s, a man named Carl Petrini protested against all fast food chains when a McDonald’s was placed in Rome. It was his direct response to the rise of fast food culture, emphasizing the importance of savoring meals, supporting local business and agriculture, and celebrating traditional ways of cooking. 

This idea eventually went beyond food and became a broader philosophy engaging all aspects of life—hence the birth of the slow living movement. So today you can find information on slow travel, slow living, slow interiors, etc.  

You can find several books such as Carl Honoré’s “In Praise of Slow: Challenging the Cult of Speed” which examines our world’s obsession with speed and why people are looking for outlets to slow down. His book made the movement event more popular and brought it into what it is today.

Today, the Slow Living movement continues to thrive. As the world continues to get busier, as news becomes more negative, and as the abundance of information that we were never meant to consume becomes more overwhelming, it inspires people to reevaluate who and what deserves their time. I know for me, I want to adopt a slower, more mindful approach to life for my own sanity! We were never meant to live this way.

The movement provided a framework for reconnecting with nature, nurturing relationships, and rediscovering the joy in simple day to day pleasures. 

My goal is to be genuinely excited to sit down and enjoy my cup of coffee in the morning without feeling like I need to rush on to the next part of my day.

Slow living reminds us to find beauty in the ordinary and that we don’t NEED more. It helps us learn to be happy with what we have and to cultivate deeper connections with ourselves, others, and the world around us.

6 Things Slow Living is Not

Before we can truly understand what slow living means and how to implement it into our everyday life, we need to understand what it doesn’t mean.

1. Slow living doesn’t need to be a drastic change in your living situation

I’ve got good news! You don’t need to sell everything you own and go live on land in the middle of nowhere to start living a slow life. While that does sound appealing, slow living is finding satisfaction in what you have right now. However, it may mean making some changes in life as opportunities present themself. 

For example, this year I chose to live by myself. I knew I could truly lean into slow living and focus on my individual growth in this season by having more control over my environment and fewer distractions.

If you do have a roommate or live with your partner, this could look like setting boundaries around your time and space or having a conversation about implementing this lifestyle together

2. Slow living is not laziness

Slow living is often misunderstood as an excuse to be lazy. This isn’t true! Slow living is about being intentional in how we choose we spend our time and energy throughout our day, focusing on activities that align with our values and goals. 

It’s about being intentional in our actions, rather than living in a chaotic, busy, and unfulfilling environment. There are times, regularly, when it’s necessary to go “fast” but if you are living in a constant chaotic environment, it may be time to look at where you can set some boundaries.

Slow living is setting boundaries around things that take up our time that does not align with our values and making the things that are important the priority. 

3. Slow living is not doing everything at a snail’s pace

Slow living doesn’t mean literally doing everything slowly or being inefficient. It’s not about slowing down to the point of not being productive or wasting time. Slow living encourages us to find a balance that allows us to fully engage in what’s most important and have the energy and focus when it’s necessary to go fast.

It’s meant to save us from wasting time and energy doing things that aren’t aligned with our top priorities for that day or our core values.

4. Slow Living is Not About Withdrawing from the World

Some may perceive slow living as retreating from the fast-paced world. However, it’s the opposite. Slow living values deep community. To me, there’s nothing more important than our relationships with the ones around us. We need people and people need us. Our friendships and familial relationships are what matter at the end of the day. Slow living values slower pace relationships to fully appreciate the people you love.

5. Slow living is not one-size-fits-all

Slow living is a highly personal and individual journey. There is no single specific set of rules that everyone must follow. You know yourself, what will work for you, and what areas you want to slow down in. It’s about finding what works for you and designing a lifestyle that aligns with your values, priorities, and goals.

6. Slow living is not all-or-nothing

Slow living is not an all-or-nothing philosophy that requires drastic changes overnight. It’s about making conscious choices and incorporating slow living principles into your life at a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable for you. 

I know if I try to go all in on anything I want to start implementing into my life, I’m bound to fail! Pick 1-2 things you want to start implementing. Do those things for 3-4 weeks and once they feel part of your routine, add another thing.

Start small! Starting with just carving out moments of stillness or simplifying your schedule, can have a significant impact on your day-to-day well-being.

All the things that bind us together and make life worth worth living – community, family, friendship- thrive on one thing we never have enough of: time. 

– Carl Honoré, In Praise of Slowness

My Slow Living Journey 

I didn’t just want to give you a checklist of things I think Slow Living entails because the truth is, everyone’s way of doing it looks different. It’s not just boxes you can check off. 

I’ve provided a look into what that journey has looked like for me in the hopes that it will inspire you to reflect on what slow living could mean for you personally.

I didn’t seek out slow living or even know about the Slow Living movement. It was only after stumbling upon it on social media that I realized it encompassed many of the ideas I had already begun incorporating into my life. I had reached a point in my life where I was tired of chasing the next exciting thing – whether that was a job, a partner, moving to different places, staying on top of the latest trends, etc. I was overwhelmed and drained from not finding the satisfaction of a life my 18 year old self decided we wanted a long time ago. 

I am by nature a planner. It’s easy for me to feel disconnected from reality and live in anticipation of the future. Always fixated on what was coming next and not focusing on what was right in front of me -completely missing my life planning for things that 9 times out of 10 don’t happen the way I pictured.

While I’m still very much on my journey, I have begun to find purpose in things I’ve rushed through or didn’t pay much attention to. I’ve begun to find solace in my faith, to be more intentional with who and what I’m giving my time to, to minimize distraction and the amount of things I put my focus into.

1. Slow living is prioritizing my faith and being present

Being rooted in my faith has helped me prioritize being present and put value in something bigger than myself. 

Knowing that everything I do is in service of a greater purpose gives me purpose and holds me accountable when the choices I make are not aligned with those values. 

In the midst of life’s inevitable challenges and uncertainties, my faith has been an anchor when I’ve been at my lowest and grounded me in truth. Slow living, intertwined with my faith, has brought about a sense of peace, purpose, and stability.

2. Slow living is creating space for intentional living

Creating an environment that brings me peace and not negativity and stress has become important to me. What you choose to consume, how you decorate your home, and how much clutter you bring into your home are the things you have control over. I’ve created a space that is comfortable and cozy. A place I can go that brings me peace when life inevitably throws curveballs. A place I can feel a sense of stability in life’s chaos and busyness. 

While this includes the physical space of my home, it also includes my mental space and what I choose to consume daily. 

May I give some big sis advice?

I don’t consume the news or at least I don’t seek it out. It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking every piece of information is important or that you should have an opinion on every topic. I don’t care if I agree or disagree with a piece of news – 98% of the time, it doesn’t impact my day to day life or my local community directly. 

There are horrible and crazy things happening in the world – no one can deny that. However, worrying, stressing, and obsessing about things that you aren’t witnessing firsthand and don’t directly impact you or your community is not beneficial either – it only hinders you. It takes away from being present in your own community and seeing the needs of people you love and your community right in front of you. 

Being aware of what’s going on in the world is not inherently bad but it is when we are constantly consuming and placing a higher priority on the latest trending hot topic over being present in our own faith, community, and relationships.

3. Slow living is spending time in nature

I used to live in Colorado and there is nothing quite like being in the mountains surrounded by majestic beauty and the freshness of the air. Just being outside in nature has a profound impact on our well-being and connection to the world around us. 

Now living in Florida I walk nearby trails, spend time by the ocean, or relax in my boyfriend’s backyard. 

Nature presents the opportunity to slow down, appreciate the beauty of our surroundings, and find see the simplicity busyness doesn’t offer.

4. Slow living is traveling to immerse myself in new cultures

I recently traveled to Spain with a girlfriend and had an amazing time in a beautiful country. The one thing I wish we had done differently was slow down. 

The older I get, the way a like to travel has changed. Instead of fitting as much in as possible and going down a list of touristy things to check off, I want to be intentional about what I want to experience and immerse myself in the local culture to truly understand what it’s like to live there. 

I want to travel in a way that allows me to connect with the culture, the food, the nature, and the people in the little time I have in that place. 

5. Slow living is building deep community 

Slow living extends to the depth of our relationships and the community we build. One of the most important things for me has been being intentional about the people I am surrounding myself with. People who I can trust and know they have my best interest in mind. You need people around you who love and support you and who you can love and support as well.

Building deep community brings fulfillment into our lives, providing a support system and people to share our experiences with. It’s through authentic connection that we find support, celebration, and a profound sense of belonging in our daily lives. 

When you are on your deathbed, you aren’t going to be thinking about all the tasks you completed at work. I’ve never been on my deathbed but I can imagine I’ll be thinking about the memories I’ve created over my lifetime and all the people who were part of that.

Conclusion

Slow living offers us the rest and peace we’re looking for. It lays the groundwork to help us prioritize what truly matters and to find joy in the simple moments. I’ve personally discovered that success isn’t about constantly being busy or achieving more. It’s about removing distractions, finding joy in the simple things in each day, valuing experience over material, and nurturing your closest relationships.

Slow living allows us to step away from the hustle, slow down, and create a life that aligned with our core values.

Again, it’s not about doing everything slow, but about finding a balance and not burning yourself out. Together let’s design a life of intention, presence, and meaningful experiences and learn to find true joy in our morning cup of coffee.

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