Slow Living Life
Our modern day world has become noisy and many of us are seeking a return to a simple slow living life. While there are definite benefits to smart phones, apps, and online banking that make life easier, it’s important to strike a balance. Although I do really love being able to ask my girl Siri to dial a call so I can order take out on the way home, I also see how my life is speeding up. In my daily life the more time I save, the more errands I can fit into a rushed day.
The older I get, the more I feel the need to slow down and make sure I’m enjoying my life as I’m getting things done. Striking a balance is necessary for us to get to the end of the day feeling at peace, and hopefully joyful of the day we’ve just lived. Life is precious and time limited – we have to use it well and to do that we need to (forgive the cliche) stop and smell the roses. The answer to restoring balance is a simple, slow living life.
Quiet the Clamor
I’m not gonna lie, I do love scrolling Instagram, Substack, etc., especially before bed but although it might be entertaining, I can’t really say it leaves me feeling relaxed. Do you feel the same? Once I start scrolling, off down the rabbit hole I go…and truthfully I do this quite often. But on the nights I leave the TV off, don’t scroll, light a candle and chose music I am decidedly more relaxed by bedtime. Try it for a few nights and see if it makes a difference in your anxiety levels.
Simplify your Closet
Curating your closet by decluttering worn or unwanted pieces is the start to simplifying your home. When building back your closet, go for less but higher quality clothing. With fewer choices but only ones you really love and reach for, it simplifies your life considerably. Having less to manage in your home will bring peace instantly.
Simplify the Pantry
Grocery stores are filled with all sorts of possibilities, some good, some well…not so good. Simplifying what you buy can be achieved in a couple of ways… First, by meal planning ahead with an ingredient list in hand. This way your pantry is filled with what you currently need, not with a lot of excess.
Secondly, use your grocery store’s delivery or pickup option. This saves over buying as you’re home when ordering and can see what you really need. Before pickup, I used to think I was out of something when in fact I had one in the pantry. Ordering pickup also avoids the end cap temptation of cookies, candy, pop, etc. which saves money and calories. With grocery prices currently so high, buying less and using what I have helps me keep it simple and save money as well.
Make Simple Meals
People are always telling me that cookbooks are unnecessary these days, what with Pinterest and Google. It must be the prevailing thought – for proof just look at any used bookshop and you’ll find stacks of cast off cookbooks. Some of the old ones are really good too. While it’s great if I’m in a hurry to figure out how to make something, I feel like it’s much more relaxing to thumb through an old cookbook looking at the pictures and deciding what to cook for dinner. It’s in the slowing down that brings some good old fashioned cozy days back into your life. When I was young, dinnertime was the family around the table, eating a nice dinner and talking about our collective days. Nothing today precludes us from going back to connecting over a delicious homemade meal with the ones we love.
Quiet Evening with Friends
Inviting friends over for a grilled meal patio-side in the evening, where you just sit and chat – enjoying each other’s company can do wonders for slowing down an anxious mind. Ending the day this way or on the weekend can restore you and help you forget the weekday annoyances that tend to accumulate and weigh you down.
Writing Letters
This one might sound a little Jane Austin for some but there really is something lovely about sitting down with some beautiful stationery to write friends or family. Slowing down to thoughtfully write something the other person will read is worlds away from email or text with it’s instant gratification. Obviously text has it’s place and is a great when you need to reach someone quickly but truth is, we don’t have to always do this and it really is mechanical and not personal.
Sitting by a Lake
This one is a favorite of mine… I love to go to a local park and sit by the water and read or just enjoy the sounds of the water, birds, and to calm down from the rush of daily life. I find it really does calm down my nervous system with a reset.
Embrace the French Way
Do like the French do and sit in a cafe, sipping on une cafe and reading, writing or just people watching. The French really know how to slow down and enjoy life. They enjoy meals with several courses where they sit, talk and really enjoy the food, it’s flavors and the company of others. Try adding this to your week and truly savor the moments. Enjoy fully.
Sunrise, Sunset
Making time to catch a beautiful sunrise or sunset is a great way to slow down and really feel your life, instead of running through it like a race.
Music and Hobbies
Go old school and listen to FM radio, or fire up your turntable and enjoy some vintage vinyl. Carve out some time to spend working on hobbies you enjoy like maybe photography, knitting, pottery, etc. You get the idea. Make time for yourself too, it’s so important.
Final Thoughts…
Simplifying your space brings peace – fewer choices means less to manage. Less to manage means more peace of mind.
Life shouldn’t be a rush to the end of each week, just ticking off the circles in the notes app of your phone. Although some things really do need to be accomplished, there has to be some of what the Italians call “dolce far niente” (the sweetness of doing nothing) mixed in. Some balance has to counter all the noise and clamour of our busy lives for us to have some level of peace and joy. Do more of what you want and a little less of what you think you should to bring everything into balance.
I hope some or all of these suggestions are helpful and if you have some solutions to add, feel free to comment!
