Life has become more complex than ever before. With the advent of modernization and technological advancements, people have to deal with the world’s hustle and bustle.
Pew Research wrote about how Americans feel about the
satisfactions and stresses of modern life. Here are some highlights of the statistics:
- 70% said they have at least found some meaning in their jobs.
- 52% said they are doing two things or more at once.
- 60% said they are sometimes too busy to enjoy life.
- 39% said technology has made their work more demanding.
- 73% said they are at least somewhat satisfied with their social life.
Many people tend to forget how to slow down in life. The
pandemic, however, has caused massive disruptions and
upended our lives. If anything, it has taught us to value what’s more important — our health, family, and life in general. It has taught us about the value of slow living.
As the name implies, slow living is a
lifestyle approach to various aspects of life. It started as a slow food movement focusing on traditional foods over modern processed foods in the 1980s and evolved into a slow living movement. Both are now part of the green movement as viable solutions.
The slow living movement has four core values:
- Sustainable
- Local
- Organic
- Whole
9 ways to slow down and move more
Unfortunately, practicing slow living is easier said than done. So how do you go about incorporating this approach into your lifestyle? Here are nine tips for slowing down while moving more:
1. Plan your life
There’s a line drawn between those who plan in life and those who don’t. The former has complete control of their lives. While they have time to relax, they still accomplish more in life. Some even have
lifestyle planning, where their business and career plans cater to their preferred lifestyle.
Life planning entails setting goals for various aspects. What do you hope to achieve for your career, family, and life? Come up with a list and focus on these goals. Doing so allows you to drop those unnecessary things in life.
2. Schedule your day
Everyone knows the importance of time management, as it allows you to slow down and enjoy life. However, not all practice this in their business or personal lives. Unfortunately, only
18% have a proper time management system.
As part of your time management strategy, start by scheduling your day. But most importantly, be sure to stick to your schedule. Note that the
Eisenhower matrix is the most successful time management technique. However, dealing with whatever comes up is the least successful technique.
3. Separate personal from professional life
Work-life balance has been a buzzword in business. It is what every company aspires to achieve for their employees. Zippia notes that 60% of employees claim
they have a work-life balance. Unfortunately, 77% have experienced burnout at least once in their current jobs.
The best course of action? Draw the line between your personal and professional lives. Yes, prioritize your work as it puts food on your table and pays the bills. However, make time for your family, friends, and yourself. Slow down, unwind, and enjoy!
4. Focus on your passion
Nothing is more fulfilling than doing what you’re passionate about in life. Joanne Gonzales, Content Manager at
CraftWhack, said that most successful people pursue their passion in life. “As they love what they’re doing, work for them is all fun and play."
Whenever possible, find a job related to your passion. Establish a career that allows you to enjoy. As such, there’s no need to slow down and take a break.
5. Practice self-care
Self-compassion is crucial to your mental health and overall well-being. It’s about being kind to yourself by taking good care of your mind and body. That’s where self-care comes in.
Self-care entails slowing down in life and having time for yourself. Here are some self-care tips for you:
- Eat healthily.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Get regular exercise.
- Have enough sleep.
- Pursue your hobbies and interests.
- Have “me” time.
6. Get support from your core group
Slowing down doesn’t have to be a lonely battle. Get your core group involved, whether your family, colleagues at work or circle of friends. Encourage a slow living and help each other live life to the fullest.
Stephan Baldwin, Founder of
Assisted Living, couldn’t stress enough the importance of a core group. They provide the utmost support to help seniors live their last few years in the best way possible. Baldwin said, "Building a core group applies to people who want to slow down and live more."
7. Avoid 'urgency culture'
There’s no denying that many of us partake in “urgency culture” in today’s society. It’s the notion that everything is equally urgent. Hence, almost everyone is busy with work and life.
However, it’s crucial to
protect yourself from urgency culture. You don’t have to attend to all things that come your way. Know what’s important and urgent and prioritize them. Ditch the unnecessary work and make time for yourself instead.
8. Make time to break, rest and sleep
Life doesn’t have to revolve around your work or family. First, have time for leisure and recreation. Also, allow yourself to rest and sleep. That is what it means to slow down.
Brian Nagele, CEO at
Restaurant Clicks, provides people with a go-to restaurant guide in their cities. "We want people to sit down and enjoy their foods and drinks. Most importantly, we want them to slow down in life and have a break."
9. Be present
Some people are so preoccupied with their past or worried about their future. They do things to compensate for their loss or to carve their future. While both are a part of life, your present is the most important.
The best way to live life is to be present. Live the moment without necessarily neglecting the past and planning for the future. Prioritize your present and enjoy it as much as you can.
How to achieve a peaceful and productive life
According to Forbes,
slowing down is the fastest way to be more productive. The idea makes sense as taking a rest gives you the energy to do more. The more you slow down, the more focused you can be.
That said, consider the nine tips recommended above. Learn how to slow down yet move more in life. Don’t allow the world’s hustle and bustle to overwhelm you and cloud your judgment for what’s more important. Take a break and prioritize only those that truly matter.
