As humans, we are quick to romanticise being busy. We allow how busy we are to become a yardstick for our success. It is easy to become super active to a point where we forget to slow our bodies, minds and souls down. Slow living is a mindset that gives you a more meaningful approach to life. It allows you to connect with yourself and the things around you. Slow living means intentionally choosing a less chaotic life that lets you reach realistic goals and take purposeful action. It does not mean that you become lazy or do things at a sluggish pace. Instead, you start to live up to your idea of success, prioritise what is important to you and engage in activities that bring you joy and purpose. 

Slowing down is the best way to speed up, which reminds us of a proverb from childhood tales that the ‘slow and steady will always win the race’ . 

The art of slow

Slow living is a lifestyle coined from the 1980’s slow movement in Italy led by Carl Honoré. The movement focused on fast foods and whole foods – how home-made meals are better for your health than fast food. The advocates had an acronym for SLOW: sustainability, local, organic, whole. Over the years, people have incorporated slow movement into different aspects of their lives. They are dropping the hustle culture and making more time for self-care, friendships, and making a conscious effort to live more mindfully. We live in a fast-paced world and we have become keen on doing things fast instead of well.

This way of living has several benefits for both our mental and physical health. It is usual for us to perform activities subconsciously because we are always running on autopilot. We are so engulfed in the cult of being busy that we forget we only get one shot at life. By slowing down, you take time to enjoy life and pay attention to your overall well-being. When life is less chaotic, you have more time and energy to find joy in simpler pleasures.

Creating a daily routine where you focus on the things that matter reduces stress and the need to overwork. Instead of overscheduling your calendar with meetings and tasks, there is always a slow-paced alternative that will leave you less overwhelmed, helping you achieve desired results more efficiently. The slow life is about finding and appreciating balance. 

To have a healthier routine, think about the one thing you can incorporate into your day to spark joy. It can be taking a walk, savouring the taste of your morning tea or coffee, or doing a ten-minute indoor workout. Little mindful activities like journaling, taking slow breaths or making healthier choices can help you live a slow life. Decompressing and decluttering mentally and physically also means letting go of things that do not add value to your life.  

The concept of slow living means different things to different people. I spoke to two women who highlighted the benefits of slow living.

Kamnelechukwu, a photo research and community growth lead, explains how slow living has benefited her mentally while living in Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most bustling cities.

She says, “As someone with an anxiety disorder, I have become less on edge. Being intentional about things like my mornings and not needing to rush out of bed and start panicking about my to-do list has been beneficial. I am more than my to-do list. I have found more ease in saying no to things and opportunities that don’t align with my desire to be intentional. Turning off my notifications and learning how to be present has been beneficial for my parasocial relationships. I get to spend time just being present and noticing things and just enjoying other people's company.”

She added that, “Being intentional about acquiring material things mindlessly has been a huge benefit for my bank account as well. But most importantly, slow living has been beneficial in terms of teaching me what it is to rest, which wasn’t something I knew how to do before. Dolce far niente – the sweetness of doing absolutely nothing.”

For Ene, a communications and media professional, slow living has made her more comfortable with minimalism and maximising simple joys.

“I am way less overwhelmed by anxiety and I manage stress better. I think slow living especially nurtures people who have introverted inclinations. It affords you the comfort of enjoying life at your own pace and being intentional about the simple things you want to fill your life with,” Ene says. 

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Personalise your slow

No one starts living slowly at the snap of a finger. There is no particular age to begin slow living – for your personal growth, you should be intentionally evolving, as this will make you more passionate about living a purposeful life. Slowing down means living with the consistent idea of voluntary simplicity. Applying the concept in different areas of your life allows you to pay attention to the things and people around you. It enables you to savour every minute of the day; you identify what is essential in your life and work on it at the right pace.

One of the misconceptions about slowing down is that there is a limitation to the use of technology. We live in a digital era, most of our work, family and friends are only accessible through phones, tablets, and laptops. However, the slow life makes you focus more on why you need to stay on your phone and when to put it down. Instead of scrolling through the internet mindlessly and overwhelming yourself with information, you know when to take an intentional break from your digital consumption.

With relationships, paying attention and being present helps you control your emotions. This way, you can understand the dynamics of relationships in your life and communicate better. You embrace the comfort of spending quality time that will ensure growth with family and friends. Allow yourself to identify the slow moments in your life and watch as it becomes more peaceful.  

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Start living slowly today

For anyone willing to start living slowly, there are online resources that will help you ease into the lifestyle. The Slow Home Podcast by Brooke McAlary has more than 300 episodes to help you navigate slow living. The Zen Habits website by Leo Babauta and the TedTalk by Kathryn Bouskill on The Unforeseen Consequences of a Fast-Paced World are a good start to guide you through the slow living journey.

Brooke McAlary, after suffering from postnatal depression, had this to say after she transitioned into slow living, “Slow living provides an opportunity to step back, pay attention, and question the ways we use technology to recalibrate our relationship with your constantly switched-on, logged-in world.”

To live a happier life, you need to learn to enjoy the simpler things of life and commit to the things you're passionate about. So, as you go about the festivities this year end, remember to allow yourself to identify the slow moments in your life and watch as it becomes more peaceful.