There's No Place Like Home

Create A Slow Living Home

This voiceover is an audio version of my Slow Sunday Letter below. It is unedited, so may have some stutters, imperfections, and background noise. (The journal prompts below & Book Lovers Chat are not included in this audio). I hope you enjoy listening to it anyway!

Welcome to Generosity of Spirit, a space to share my slow and gentle living philosophy. Please do subscribe to join me on this gentle journey of discovery and receive my Slow Sunday Letter straight into your inbox.

‘The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are, and not be questioned’

Maya Angelou

Hello and welcome back! In this week’s Slow Sunday Letter, I would like to revisit another important theme within Slow and Gentle Living- creating a Slow Home. Last week, we talked about the importance of a reset day, and I think the need for a home that really echo’s our inner feelings and cultivates a calm space in which we can thrive is just as fundamental.

Thank you for allowing me to revisit these themes and update them within Generosity of Spirit. I felt these foundational elements of Slow and Gentle Living were important enough to place front and centre, in the hope of providing some gentle guidance for you. So, grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s find out why Dorothy discovered, ‘there’s no place like home’ …

---

As an introvert and a slow living advocate – I love and cherish my home on a deep level. My home is so important to me, it is the place I feel the safest, and the space I can truly be myself in. I recharge, learn, explore, relax, rest and play, and there is nowhere more nourishing to me. I am always grateful for the calm and peace my cosy environment offers. Finding my ‘safe place’, in which I can be my authentic self away from the noise of the outside world, has given me so much confidence and a stronger sense of self.

Over the past year or so, I have adopted slow living and have never felt better. I have always been more of a ‘homebody’, but intentionally translating the principles of slow living into my home rituals and practices, has been immensely comforting.

---

What is slow living?

For anyone new here, I follow a slow and gentle living philosophy, and it has totally transformed my life and how I cope with anxiety. A slow living lifestyle inspires a deliberately slow life, focusing on gratitude and living mindfully. Slow living teaches us to making deliberate choices that align with our values and priorities, creating a more intentional and mindful approach to daily life.

Slow living is a guiding philosophy of life, that takes time to unfold and time to explore and discover. At its heart, slow living is about cultivating a deeper connection to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.

Benefits of slow living.

Increases connection to Nature and the Natural World.

Appreciation for the simple things in life.

Reduces stress and anxiety.

Improves well-being and mental health.

Encourages mindfulness.

Inspires a sustainable lifestyle.

Enhances creativity and productivity.

Greater sense of purpose and meaning.

Teaches an intentional and mindful approach to consumption and possessions.

What is a slow living home?

‘Home – the story of who we are, and a collection of all we love’ anon

Transforming your home into a haven of peace and calm that reflects you, is a fun way of embracing a slow living lifestyle. It is one of the most powerful and influential ways you can channel slow living. In taking time to create a quiet and tranquil environment, we can cultivate a greater sense of inner peace and mindfulness, helping us to slow down and appreciate the present moment.

Creating your own slow living home is a personal journey that will be unique to you and will develop over time and evolve alongside you. Your slow home will reflect your authentic self, align with your values, and needs and provide a quiet escape from the outside world.

---

Five ways you can create your own slow living home…

1. A Calm Space

Your home should be a retreat from daily life – a space where you can take the pressure off. By creating a calm environment, you are giving your body and mind permission to relax. There are many simple ways to create calm, focus on comfort and promote spaces for relaxation within your home.

• Music is a wonderful way to evoke calm and set a mood. I enjoy listening to jazz, and use ‘cosy’ and ‘calm’ Spotify playlists.

• I burn candles all year round, and I love filling my home with soothing scents. I often use essential oil diffusers and incense.

• I encourage cosy vibes with softness. Blankets, soft jumpers, cardigans, slippers and fluffy socks are a quick and easy way of providing comfort.

• Lighting is so influential when creating a calming ambience. We use Philips Hue light bulbs so we can change the colour, brightness, and density of light - but lamps, dimmers and candlelight can all help.

2. Hygge

Hygge is a Danish concept that encourages a cosy and comfortable atmosphere, inspiring a sense of warmth and contentment, and savouring the simple pleasures of life.

'In essence, hygge means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people. The warm glow of candlelight is hygge. Cosying up with a loved one for a movie – that's hygge, too.' Visit Denmark

Embrace Hygge in your home …

• Enjoy a warm beverage.

• Put on comfy clothes.

• Read more books.

• Take a long shower or bath.

• Indulge in comfort food.

3. Be Inspired by Nature

Embracing natural elements in our homes, such as plants, natural light, and fresh air, can help us feel more connected to the natural world and promote feelings of peace and serenity. Nature-inspired homes are well known for having benefits which include promoting calm and improving creativity. Homes that connect to the outside world with a focus on bringing elements of nature into our spaces to improve our health, productivity, and happiness. This can be achieved by using natural colour tones, taking advantage of natural light, finding ways to bring the outside in, and growing a collect of indoor plants.

4. Declutter your Space

I find it impossible to relax amid mess or clutter. I have spoken before about the importance of a ‘reset day’ in a previous Slow Sunday Letter.

The first step in any reset day for me is to take the time to clean, organise and declutter my space. Living with less can have several benefits for our well-being and the environment. It can reduce stress, improve our mental clarity, and create a more peaceful living environment. I haven’t adopted minimalism in a drastic way, but I have been focused on decluttering and making sure I only have what I need and what I use. I have found in doing so, I have a greater sense of gratitude and in holding on to what truly matters to me and letting go of the rest- I feel lighter and more content.

5. Mindful Living

Practising mindfulness is an important aspect of embracing slow living in our homes. By being fully present and aware of our surroundings, we can cultivate a greater sense of gratitude, appreciation, and contentment for the simple things in life.

'A mindful home is a space that’s designed to support our own wellbeing and helps make it easy to practice self-care (in whatever form that may take) or indulge in creative hobbies – but one that’s equally aware of the impact that decorating mindfully entails to the environment.’ Joanna Thornhill, The New Mindful Home and How to Make it Yours

Think about your daily routine, values, needs and what brings you calm and happiness. Then adjust your home to work best for you, prioritising functionality, and comfort.

Top Tips for Mindful Living-

1)     Limit screen time/technology.

2)     Make your bed every morning.

3)     Buy indoor plants or have fresh flowers.

4)     Focus on gratitude.

5)     Nourish yourself with home cooked meals.

---

Slow Home: Journal Prompts

I wanted to give you some journal prompts to help you figure out what your Slow Home looks like and feels like. I hope they help you think about what your home means to you, and how you can curate a space that truly reflects you.

Grab a notebook and pen and reflect on your thoughts and responses to these prompts.

My home makes me feel…

My home feels most peaceful when…

My favourite room in my home is…

My most treasured memories in my home are…

When I open my front door and walk into my home I feel…

How would you like your home to feel?

Does your home feel cluttered or minimalist? What would make it feel more balanced?

Do you have a space in your home that feels like your own special space? If not, can you imagine one?

What kind of life do you dream of living, and how can you organise your home to reflect this?

List 3 things that you're grateful for about your home…

Book Lovers Chat

‘Have I gone mad?’ ‘I am afraid so, you are entirely bonkers. but I will tell you a secret… all the best people are.’ Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll

I really enjoyed filming a short video for you last week, so I thought I’d leave you with another one this week. As a total beginner to video work, it is STILL rough around the edges! I just ran out of time this week to play around with it! In the spirit of not over thinking, I have included it in it’s perfectly imperfect form. I hope you enjoy!

---

Your Slow Living Home

‘There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort’ Jane Austen

These are just a few ideas to help you create your own slow living home, every person’s home is unique and will evolve over time. Your home is where you spend most of your time, and ideally will be calm, warm, and soothing. Investing your time in cultivating a space that reflects your authentic self, your principles, needs and values will have a tremendous impact on your sense of inner peace, productivity, and overall wellbeing.

I’d love to hear how you encourage slow living in your home, or if any of these ideas have inspired you! Please do comment below and let us all know if you have any tips of your own!

Thank you for being here,

With Light & Love

Emily xxx

If you enjoyed this post, found it useful or want to help me spread the word about how enriching Slow & Gentle Living can be, please do like/leave a comment or share/restack to help others discover Generosity of Spirit. Thank you for reading!

---