Slow Living: The deliberate deceleration of life

Written by: Helene Ausserwöger, 07.03.2024

In this incredibly fast-paced world, where we are constantly rushing from one task to the next, the desire to lead a slower and more conscious life is rapidly growing. In an attempt to try and escape the pressure and stress of our daily lives a new way of living has emerged – “Slow Living.” When it comes to “Slow Living”, or “Mindful Living”, the focus is primarily on taking a step back from the busy lifestyle and taking a more calm, serene and mindful approach. The point is to decelerate and be able to enjoy life in its entirety again. But what exactly does Slow Living entail and why is it gaining so much significance in today’s society? In this Blog, we will show you the advantages of Slow Living and give you tips and tricks on what you can do to start integrating it into your daily life.

Table of Content:

What is Slow Living? 

Slow Living is supposed to encourage you to step on the breaks and seize the moment. The movement has actually already been established in the 90s, in order to counter the fast pace of modern life and consumerism.

Slow Living explained: The main principles

Slow Living clearly distinguishes itself from the hustling and bustling of modern-day life. If you want to live a more balanced and fulfilled lifestyle you should take note of the following principles:

  1. Deceleration: Probably the most important principle of Slow Living is intentional deceleration. Instead of rushing from one responsibility into the next, you should take deliberate breaks. Finding peace and quiet will reduce the stress and pressure of your daily life, and help you be more relaxed.
  2. Mindfulness: Another key element to Slow Living is practicing mindfulness. This means that you should focus on the moment. Try to live in the Here and Now. Through mindfulness you will be able to gain a deeper understanding of yourself and create room for personal growth.
  3. Enjoy consciously: Slow Living encourages us to really take the time and learn to enjoy and value the small pleasures in life. This could mean eating a meal, taking a walk or enjoying the company of loved ones. It’s about being present in the moment.
  4. Sustainability: Another important aspect of Slow Living is sustainability. You should interact with your surroundings in an environmentally conscious way. Be mindful of the impact that your actions have on the environment and commit yourself to a more sustainable lifestyle.

This is not what Slow Living is: The misinterpretations of Slow Living

Many people wrongfully associate the term Slow Living with a lazy, unproductive lifestyle. However, this is a big misconception because Slow Living is not about avoiding responsibility. Instead, it is about deliberately slowing down and finding the right pace, which will ultimately result in a better outcome.

Additional misinterpretations that we want to clear up are:

  • Slow Living is not for everyone: Yes, it is! It does not matter if you live in the countryside or in the city. As long as you are open to adapting your mindset everyone can practice Slow Living.
  • Slow Living will stunt success: No, it will not! Slow Living does not mean that you should limit your productivity. Instead, it means that you should live according to your own idea of a successful life.
  • Slow Living means living without technology: No, it does not! You should just try to not let yourself get distracted by it and take deliberate time away from the screen.
  • Slow Living is a quick and easy solution: No, it is not! Slow Living does not have a set beginning and end. You need to be ready to invest a lot of time and be patient with yourself. Slow Living is to continuously develop and readjust your mindset.

The advantages of Slow Living: How Slow Living can improve your life

Now that we understand the definition of Slow Living, we can take a deep dive into the advantages of this lifestyle. Slow Living is more than just a trend – it is a way of life that allows you to decelerate your pace, consciously structure, and therefore enrich your daily life.

  • Better Quality of Life: By making conscious decisions on how to effectively spend your time, you create room to take care of your own needs; Self-Care becomes an important part of your lifestyle. This, in turn, will also have a positive impact on your personal relationships, which are oftentimes neglected in the whirlwind of everyday life. So, by consciously reducing stress, reclaiming your time, and prioritizing what truly fulfills you, you can significantly enhance your quality of life.
  • Reducing Stress and Risk of Burnout: The constant pressure of always having to be reachable and available can be overwhelming. But Slow Living offers a way to escape from this vicious cycle. It is important to implement a good Work-Life-Balance and stay away from pointless activities such as endless scrolling on social media. This can reduce your stress levels and risk of a burnout.
  • Strengthening Mindfulness and Well-Being: Amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to live in the moment. Social media doesn’t make it any easier, as we constantly immerse ourselves in various content, forgetting to experience life itself. Slow living reminds us to be present and appreciate the beauty of the current moment. Through mindfulness practices such as journaling or mindful eating, you can enhance your well-being and lead a more contented life.

Reasons for Slow Living: The most common problems of daily life that support Slow Living

You’re probably familiar with this feeling: life is running on autopilot and you’re just going with the flow. But what if you could break this cycle? Here are some common problems of modern-day life that Slow Living can improve:

Enjoy the tranquility of nature and discover the art of slow living. ©Adobe Stock

Habits are not questioned

We often tend to fall into routines and habits without truly questioning them. These habits can make us sluggish and prevent us from making conscious decisions about how we want to shape our lives. Slow living is about breaking free from this automated way of living and becoming aware of why we do the things we do. By questioning and reflecting on our habits, we can determine whether they truly contribute to our well-being and quality of life, or if they just restrict and burden us. Through this self-reflection, we can then make more conscious decisions and implement positive changes in our lives.

Putting too much importance on other people’s opinions

It’s easy to get lost in the expectations of others and put our own desires and needs second. But who is to say that the opinions of other people are more important than our own? This urge to meet the expectations of others can lead us to be insecure and dissatisfied. However, Slow Living offers us a way out of this dilemma and restores our sense of freedom and self-determination. Instead of solely conforming to the expectations of others, we learn to think for ourselves and listen to our own intuition. After all, it’s important that we make our own decisions because only we know what truly fulfills us in life.

Counterproductive Systems and Routines in Everyday Life

Who hasn’t experienced it? You work your way through a day filled with deadlines and to-do lists, only to realize at the end of the day that you hardly had any time for yourself. The long hours, the constant multitasking, the continuous phone notifications, and the endless stream of tasks often leave us feeling stressed and overwhelmed. But it’s time to break free from these counterproductive systems and routines. We need to become more conscious of how we spend our time and what should truly be priority. Perhaps that means taking breaks more often instead of constantly pushing ourselves to the limit. Or adding a few non-negotiable moments of relaxation to our to-do list.

Lack of Drive and Motivation for Change

Almost everyone finds themselves at a standstill at times, unable to muster the energy to make a change—even when we know it could lead us to a more conscious and fulfilling life. The routines of daily life can seem overwhelming, while the prospect of change appears daunting and difficult. This can lead us to remain stuck in old habits, instead of exploring new paths or questioning our mindset. But how do we break free from this dull mindset and reignite our motivation for change? We must consciously consider what we truly want to achieve in life, and then we can take concrete steps towards pursuing those goals.

Lack of Permission for Breaks and Relaxation

We often have a tendency to overwhelm ourselves and neglect our need for rest and relaxation. We often feel guilty when taking breaks or spending time on our own, because we feel like we ‘should be doing something’ or that taking time to relax distracts from our goals and commitments. But it’s important to understand that breaks and relaxation are not a waste of time; they are essential elements of a healthy lifestyle. Ignoring these needs can easily lead to a burnout that can derail us for months. So, by consciously allowing ourselves time for rest and relaxation, we can recharge our energy and ultimately approach our daily lives with much more productivity and balance – because risking our health is simply not worth it.

Find inner peace and tranquility in your daily life. ©Adobe Stock

Slow Living Tips: 13 Ideas on how to implement Slow Living into your everyday life

To help ease your transition into a more conscious and slow life, we’ve compiled 13 ideas for you. These provide concrete steps to decelerate your daily routine, promote mindfulness, and embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.

Easy Steps for Decelerating your Daily

Life The following ideas are intended to help you develop a decelerated lifestyle. Learn how to consciously structure your day to reduce stress and promote a more relaxed way of living.

1. Start your day slowly

Instead of rushing out the door at the last minute, try to establish a cozy morning routine where you take time for yourself. A skincare routine or a balanced breakfast can already ensure a more relaxed start to your day.

2. Take a walk

Take the time to stroll through nature and consciously observe your surroundings. We often lack the motivation to go outside but fresh air is the best way to feel good and benefits the mental health.

3. Schedule regular breaks 

You can, for example, always take a 20-minute power nap after lunch. Also, learn how to say “No” to people and enjoy being alone – you don’t always have to please everyone.

4. Plan a day without plans

Deliberately plan a day in the week where you do nothing and embrace the feeling of boredom with open arms. You never know what boredom might lead to!

5. Slow down your meals

Take time to cook. Especially as a student, one often skips meals because of tight schedules. To avoid this, plan your meals ahead and try to find joy in preparing your own food. Also, don’t distract yourself with a series while eating, but consciously enjoy every bite of your meal.

Enjoy the moment and discover the joy of cooking. ©Adobe Stock

How to implement Mindfulness 

To help you learn how to deal with the challenges of daily life in a more mindful way, we prepared simple mindfulness practices that you can integrate into your routine. These practices aim to help you establish a deeper connection with yourself and your surroundings, leading to a more balanced and fulfilling life.

6. Start small

You don’t have to turn your whole life upside down overnight. Start small and progress at your own pace. Remember, life is not a race, and Slow Living is about primarily doing what is realistic for YOU at that time.

7. Prioritize what matters most

Whether it’s a hobby, your pet, your family, or your friends, deliberately allocate time to not let the things that matter to you in your life  fall behind. Prioritizing what matters to you, especially in stressful times, can help you feel more balanced.

8. Take a Digital Detox

Limit your time on social media. You can even set up an app limit on your smartphone, which denies you access to your apps after the self-selected time limit is up. Also, deliberately schedule time off-screen. But instead of using the new gained time to be productive, focus on a good book or a new hobby.

9. Reflect by Journaling

Start actively journaling, consciously reflecting on your day every evening. What was particularly positive today, what was not so good, and what did you do to actively counteract the stress of everyday life?

Ideas for a more sustainable lifestyle

Here are ideas centred around promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. By adjusting your habits and making better decisions, you can have a positive impact on the environment and your quality of life.

10. Staycation

Instead of traveling abroad, consider staying in Austria for a change. A staycation is not only cheaper but also benefits the environment. I’m sure there are many places near you that you have yet to explore.

11. Decluttering

Take the time to declutter your entire room: drawers, boxes, and closets. You’ll be surprised how much you didn’t even remember owning. Get rid of anything you no longer need (or donate it if it’s still in good condition), and you’ll feel much lighter afterward.

12. Quality over Quantity

Less is more. Always write a shopping list and consciously buy only the things you really need. Avoid impulse purchases that only take up space and money. Consume consciously!

13. Healthy Diet

Buy locally sourced and organic products. This not only supports local farmers but also reduces the ecological footprint from food transportation. Plus, it’s good for your body too!

Buy fresh, local products at the farmers' market and promote a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. ©Adobe Stock

Prospects for the Future: How Slow Living Could Impact our Future Lifestyle

Slow Living has the potential to not only change our individual lifestyles but also influence our entire society. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a sudden increase in the importance of Slow Living. During the time when everything came to a halt, we were finally able to focus on the important things again and realize what it means to take time for oneself.

So, if we focus more on mindfulness and less on the rat race for success, we could create a society that puts greater value on a good quality of life.

Another exciting aspect of Slow Living is its positive impact on the environment. By living more consciously and wasting fewer resources, we could take a big step towards sustainability. Slow Living encourages us to reduce our ecological footprint by reconsidering our consumption and focusing on quality over quantity. This could lead to a movement advocating for a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and a more sustainable economy.

Additionally, there is the assumption that the discussion about the pros and cons of AI-generated “synthetic” content will generate a more conscious media consumption. Slower and more thoughtful decision-making about what we consume, whether it’s content, food, or clothing, will therefore become even more important in the future. So, Slow Living is not only a personal choice but also has the potential to positively influence our society and our planet. It is exciting to see how this movement will evolve in the coming years and what changes it could bring to our way of life.

Conclusion: What we can Learn from Slow Living

The concept of Slow Living encourages us to live a more conscious, mindful, and slow life. Through deliberate decisions-making, we can reduce stress and pressure, and gather new energy and strength for everyday life. Additionally, Slow Living places great importance on consciously enjoying the simple pleasures of life and living sustainably. These ideas can not only improve our lives but also contribute to us paying more attention to each other, living more environmentally conscious, and choosing what we consume more carefully.

So, are you ready for a change? Today is the perfect day to start Slow Living. Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you in life, right now.  Start with small steps, whether it is taking a conscious break during your day or going for a little stroll in the park.

We wish you lots of fun and all the best on your journey to a slower lifestyle!

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