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Have you heard the concept of ‘slow living’? In this modern age, this might seem alien as most people are used to living a fast-paced lifestyle. Gadgets and technologies have enabled people to get things done in an instant and automation has become a way of life. But if you want to enjoy life more and savor each moment as it happens, living a slow life is the way to do it.
Adopting a slow-paced life is a conscious choice. And it is never an easy one. But the effort will be rewarded as you can get a better appreciation for life and experience a deeper level of happiness. Follow these tips on how to start living slow.
Do Less
It is hard to slow down when you are busy and have plenty of things on your plate. That is why the best recommendation for living a slow lifestyle is to do less. It is difficult to slow down when you are trying to get as many things done in a short amount of time. Therefore, make a conscious choice to cut back on your tasks. Focus on doing the most important things and let go of the others. This will enable you to live life at a more leisurely pace since you are not trying to squeeze so many things into your schedule.
Another way to achieve this is to define what is most essential to you and your life. If anything does not align with your priorities, then you should always say no to that.
Eat Healthy and Slowly
Living a healthy lifestyle is an essential component of living a slow life. When you adopt a healthy diet such as veganism, you promote a healthier body and mind. When both body and mind are healthy, you have fewer worries and are able to enjoy life as it happens.
Contrary to popular belief, a vegan diet provides adequate nutrition to fuel your health. Another common misconception that has been debunked is that vegans can eat yeast. Therefore, you have more options to follow this kind of diet and also enjoy the food that you eat.
In connection with this, you should also adopt the habit of eating slower. Learn to enjoy the process of eating instead of just looking at it as another thing you have to do.
Wake Up Earlier
Mornings can greatly affect your mindset. It sets the tone for the rest of your day. If you want to live a slow life, make it a habit to wake up earlier (and go to bed earlier). When you wake up early, you are able to enjoy slow mornings by drinking your cup of coffee and reading a book. On the other hand, if you wake up late, you are constantly rushing through your morning routine in an effort to make up the time.
Be intentional when you want to make this change to your daily routine. This helps set the mood for the purpose of taking it slow for the rest of the day.
Disconnect
Technology in the form of gadgets and smartphones can be useful, but also incredibly distracting. This is why you might have to let go of your gadgets if you want to start slow living. When you are constantly on your smartphone checking social media, you lose track of what is right in front of you. You become so enamored by technology that you forget to live your life in the present.
The ironic thing about technology is that when you are connected online, you actually lose connection to what matters most in your daily life. Be present and learn to focus on the small details that happen in your life.
Avoid Multitasking
This one is connected to the idea of doing less. In a modern lifestyle, people are naturally inclined to multitask. In fact, multitasking has been glamorized and has come to be equated with productivity. But in reality, multitasking is the bane of productivity. When you multitask, you lose focus. And when you lose focus, you are unable to take a moment to fully understand what you are doing. If you want to do better and get more done, you need to avoid multitasking.
Enjoy Nature
When was the last time that you stepped out and enjoyed nature and escaped into the woods? Being one with nature is one of the best techniques to practice a slow life. It is a great way to reconnect with yourself and reflect on your priorities. Nature forces you to slow down. If you are ever overwhelmed by the intricacies of modern life, the best way to deal with it is to spend time in nature. This will help your mind to re-focus and be present.
Slow living is not easy. But when you incorporate the tips above and commit to them, everything else should come naturally.