What is Slow Living?

Laying the foundations for your Slow & Gentle Life

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.

Welcome back! I am so happy to have you here as we explore Slow & Gentle Living together as a growing community. In this week’s Slow Sunday Letter, I wanted to provide a little foundation to the concept of slow living. My intention is to pin this post so our new community members will be able to easily find it, and discover the basics of slow living. I hope that this will also serve as a gentle reminder and re-focus for us all trying to live slower lives. So grab a cuppa, get cosy and let’s go back to basics and discover - what is slow living?

Discovering Slow Living

“Slow down in your pursuit of happiness and it’s more likely to catch up with you.” - Ernie J Zelinski

This is a big statement, but I believe it wholeheartedly - Slow & Gentle Living has completely transformed my life. I have suffered with anxiety for many years, and I often find the world overwhelming. I’ve gone through periods of unease, uncertainty, and downright fear. I lost myself completely to anxiety a few years ago, and on the road to recovery I slowly started opening myself up, as I embarked on a one-woman mission to sooth my spirit and heal. I tried everything; meditation, journaling, herbal supplements, walking, movement, art, breathwork, crystal healing – on and on I went. I forced myself back out into the world, telling myself that I had to try and be ‘normal’. I couldn’t retreat into myself, and just exist in my safe place (my house!) – I had to live. Of course, I did get back out there – but I felt like I was walking in treacle. I still didn’t understand my place in this busy, loud and sometimes scary world.

I first came across slow living about a year ago, when doing some research for one of my blogs – the more I read and explored, the more I realised it could be everything I had been looking for as a philosophy and foundation for how I wanted to live my life.

I use Slow & Gentle Living as a guiding philosophy. This has given me the opportunity to disconnect from the noise of the world and find a deeper sense of contentment and gratitude. I am more motivated and productive than ever before, my confidence has grown and I have found a way to encourage and protect peace and calm in my life. It helps me live more mindfully, and connect more meaningfully and authentically with who I really am. I feel lighter, happier and more open. For all these reasons and more I am devoted to sharing this philosophy with you all - because I really believe in it’s transformative power.

If you want to learn more about me and what I hope to achieve here at Generosity of Spirt, have a read of my ‘hero’ post and please do consider subscribing to join our growing community.

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What is Slow Living?

“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” Lily Tomlin

Taking a slower approach to how you live your life is fundamental when it comes to living a meaningful and fulfilling life. Start with a few changes every day, and little by little a shift in mindset will welcome a new slow philosophy that could open up the key to a happy and content life.

• Slow living is a way of life that is centred around taking your time and enjoying the present moment.

• It’s about slowing down your pace and appreciating the little things in life.

• Slow living is all about disconnecting from the world and reconnecting with yourself.

• It’s about finding a healthy balance between doing and being.

• It’s about taking the time to enjoy life’s simple pleasures and living at your own pace.

Top 3 Slow Living Books

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World - Haemin Sunim

The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this timely guide to mindfulness, Haemin Sunim, a Buddhist monk born in Korea and educated in the United States, offers advice on everything from handling setbacks to dealing with rest and relationships, in a beautiful book combining his teachings with calming full-colour illustrations. Haemin Sunim's simple messages - which he first wrote when he responded to requests for advice on social media - speak directly to the anxieties that have become part of modern life and remind us of the strength and joy that come from slowing down.

In Praise of Slow: How a Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed - Carl Honoré

Across the Western world, more and more people are slowing down. Slower is better: better work, better productivity, better exercise, better sex, better food. Don't hurry, be happy.

Almost everyone complains about the hectic pace of their lives. These days our culture teaches that faster is better. But in the race to keep up, everything suffers - our work, diet and health; our relationships and sex lives.

Carl Honoré uncovers a movement that challenges the cult of speed. In this entertaining and hands-on investigation, he takes us on a tour of the emerging slow movement. There has never been a better time to embrace the healing power of living slow.

Seeking Slow: Reclaim Moments of Calm in Your Day - Melanie Barnes

Are you being consumed by never-ending to-do lists? Are you working harder and enjoying less? Seeking Slow provides simple ways for you to slow down and reconnect with yourself, your family, and your surroundings—while finding joy in doing so.

If daily life feels too busy and hectic, it's time to discover the beauty of slow living. Being fully present and intentional with your time allows you to embrace the wholehearted moments that are right in front of you every day. Take time to consider what your slow moments are, whether that is heading outdoors for a walk with family, learning to meditate, taking up a new craft, reading a book, or simply taking a long deep breath during a busy day. This soothing book includes helpful insights into:

• Managing your time

• Learning to nurture yourself

• Making a slow home

• Seasonal living

• Living sustainably

• Meditation and mindful living

• Daily slow-living rituals

Feel your heart rate drop as you read this gentle guide to slowing down.

I have read and loved these three books, and I highly recommend them to you- however I want to stress that you have everything you need right now, in this moment to start Slow Living. You don’t need to buy a book, or attend a workshop to fully grasp every single element of this philosophy to begin today.

Start small, and find the opportunities in your day that invite you to slow down. This could be going back to bed with a cup or tea in the morning, and intentionally starting your day slowly. It could be going for a walk with no destination in mind. It could also be carving out some time for your favourite hobby, or doing something creative. It may be a couple of minutes of meditation or some un-rushed time in your kitchen preparing some food.

This is the essence of slow living. It is all about what you choose to do in the present moment. It is asking you to consider where your attention is. The more you explore, the more it will flow through all aspects of your life, and you’ll feel it’s gentle influence as you create your unique version of a slow life.

The Slow Secret of Life

Slow down the pace

Learn how to be more present

Take some time for yourself

Be more observant of the world around you

Spend time doing what matters most

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The Four Principles of Slow Living

The world of slow living is focused on four main principles: mindfulness, gratitude, simplicity, and generosity.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness means being in the present moment and practicing self-awareness. It’s about purposely disconnecting from distractions and tuning into your own thoughts and emotions.

Gratitude

This is all about consciously appreciating what you have in your life. It’s a practice that focuses on being thankful for the things, people, and events around you.

Simplicity

Simplicity is about focusing on what’s truly important to you and cutting back on things that are unnecessary. It’s about getting rid of the excess in your life so you can make room for the good stuff.

Generosity

The final principle is all about sharing yourself with other people. Through slow living, it’s possible to connect and share yourself with others in a meaningful way.

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Slow Living Tips For Beginners:

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” — Eddie Cantor

Morning Routine

Spending a few minutes before your day begins to truly make time for yourself and set the pace for the rest of the day is powerful. Read a few pages of a book, meditate, move your body, journal or simply sit quietly with your first cup of tea. Start small and see how creating a morning routine that really speaks to you, can have a positive impact on your day.

Connect with Nature

I have recently leaned into my connection with the natural world and its restorative energy. Connecting with nature has so many benefits. I live and work in the city, so for me being in nature isn’t as easy as I would like – but even a city has many opportunities to reconnect with the natural world. I make sure to get outside most days, helped by my daily walking commute to and from work. I find the pockets of green, or spend time by the river which happily flows through the city. I’ve tried to slow right down, to really notice the small things and give myself time to appreciate the natural beauty right under my nose.

Slow down - literally

We are all guilty of wishing time away, and doing a bit of clock watching every now and again. One of the most important keystones of slow living is embracing it as a mindset, just as much as a lifestyle. Listen to your body and tune into what your spirit needs. Allow yourself to take the time to enjoy every part of your day, often this can mean literally slowing down. Things will take as long as they take, accepting this is such a powerful shift.

De-clutter

Busy lifestyles often equal cluttered homes so why not take the opportunity to simplify your living space? I have been embracing minimalism and have found it has really calmed my space and decluttered my mind. Re-organise your space so it suits a slower pace of life, truly think about what you need and spend some time thinking about how you curate your living space. This has so much influence over slow living. I love my small home, and I enjoy creating a peaceful space that allows my spirit to relax and gives my mind the opportunity to be curious. It can be as easy as lighting a candle or burning some incense, lowering the lights and putting on some gentle music. It gives your body and mind the signal that you are safe and it is ok to slow down.

Slow Cooking

I love cooking and for me slow living and slow cooking go hand in hand. To start with why not try focusing on eating mindfully… Cook your favourite meal, a meal you have made many times and can cook on auto pilot. Then, eat it at a table and remove any distractions - focus entirely on the physical sensations of eating your meal. Think about how different it feels, and how much more nourished you feel afterwards.

Saying No

You don’t need to change every aspect of your life to go slow but eliminating activities that you have no interest in is a good place to start. As I live with anxiety, I am very used to creating a safe place for myself, and I think very carefully about what I say yes to in terms of a social gathering or activity. Just make sure you are moving with intention and not out of obligation. Embrace the joy of missing out and make time for those things you love.

Embrace your time alone

I am an introvert, so I do enjoy spending time alone, in fact it is a vital part of my self-care. I simply couldn’t ‘do life’ without a significant amount of time on my own and cultivating a very calm and quiet pace. I think there is real benefit to embracing your time alone, and making sure you allow for some quiet moments. This can be through meditation, a walk with no headphones or just having a quiet bubble bath. We are constantly bombarded with noise, screens, people, and our minds are constantly flooded with stimulation. Learning to slow down is about getting to know yourself and giving your mind peace.

Allow for ‘free time’

We schedule in everything… work, appointments, social gatherings, exercise, food shops but do you ever schedule free time? Block out time in your week for nothing. It is all too easy to notice a free afternoon in a busy schedule and quickly rush to fill it. Leave your free time free and see what happens. Make this non-negotiable – and let your day evolve organically and see how your day unfolds.

You may enjoy my recent post about ‘pottering’ - follow the link below to take a look!

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If you are new to slow living, I really hope this has helped introduce you to some of the foundations of slow living, and perhaps piqued your interest. If you already practice slow living, please feel free to share some of the ways you harness the philosophy!

Thank you for being here,

With Light & Love

Emily xxx

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