Have you ever felt like you’re always running, with no time for anything, with the feeling that life is passing by too fast? I’ve felt that way too. It seems like we live in an endless marathon, doesn’t it? Work, family, commitments, phone buzzing all the time… and when we realize it, the day is over and we barely remember what we did.
Slow living emerged precisely to help us get out of this rush. When I discovered this way of living, my way of seeing time changed completely. That’s why I decided to share with you what I learned on this journey of deceleration. Shall we discover together how living slower can actually make us go further?
What is Slow Living really and why is everyone talking about it?
Slow living isn’t about doing everything in slow motion, as the name might suggest. It’s about knowing your own time and learning to use it according to what really matters to you. It’s as if life were a dance, and you finally learned to follow your own rhythm, instead of trying to keep up with the frantic beat that the world tries to impose.
When we embrace slow living, we begin to understand that not everything needs to happen yesterday. Some things deserve our time and complete attention. It’s like that pleasant conversation with a dear friend that you don’t want to end. Or that sunset you stop to admire, forgetting for a few minutes that your phone exists.
In practice, living slow living means making more conscious choices about how we spend our time, energy, and attention. It’s saying “no” to what doesn’t bring us value and “yes” to what really matters.
Where did this idea come from?
Did you know it all started with food? That’s right! The slow movement was born in Italy, back in the 1980s, when a group of people revolted against the opening of a fast food restaurant near the famous Spanish Steps in Rome.
The protest gave rise to the Slow Food movement, which defended the pleasure of eating well, using local and fresh ingredients, prepared calmly and savored without haste. The idea was simple: food shouldn’t just be fuel for the body, but a moment to also nourish the soul and social bonds.
Over time, this thinking spread to other areas of life. If we can eat more consciously, why not apply the same principle to work, shopping, travel, raising children, and everything else? Thus, concepts like slow travel, slow fashion, slow parenting, and of course, slow living were born, which embraces all these aspects in a complete life philosophy.
It’s beautiful to think that a movement that started as resistance to a simple hamburger ended up becoming a silent revolution in how millions of people approach life today.
The foundations of Slow Living that can change your daily life
Living slower doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a journey, a daily learning process. To help you understand better, I’ll share the principles that form the basis of slow living and how they can transform your routine:
Living in the now with all your senses
The first pillar of slow living is being truly present in the current moment. You know when you’re eating something delicious, but you’re so distracted thinking about a thousand things that you don’t really taste it? Or when you’re in a conversation, but your mind is elsewhere, thinking about what you need to do next?
Living in the present means giving total attention to what we’re doing now. It’s smelling the coffee in the morning, listening with interest to what the other person is saying, noticing the colors of the sky when the sun is setting.
The other day, I was so busy answering messages while walking on the beach that I almost missed the spectacle of a group of dolphins jumping near the shore. That’s when I stopped, put away my phone, and simply stayed there, contemplating. Those five minutes of pure presence were worth more than hours of digital distraction.
Simplicity that liberates
The second principle is voluntary simplicity. It’s not about living in poverty or giving up comfort, but questioning: “Do I really need this? Does this bring me true happiness?”
How many times have you bought something you didn’t even use properly just because it was fashionable or on sale? Or accepted an invitation to an event you didn’t even want to attend just out of obligation? Slow living invites us to clean house — not just in the closet, but also in our schedule and even in relationships.
I remember when I decided to clean my house and ended up donating half of my clothes. At first I was afraid I’d miss them, but what happened was the opposite: I felt lighter, with fewer decisions to make every morning. Simplicity isn’t deprivation — it’s liberation.
Reconnection with nature and its cycles
In the rush of urban life, we forget that we are also part of nature. Slow living reminds us to reconnect with natural cycles: sunrise and sunset, the seasons, moon phases.
This reconnection can happen in simple ways. It can be waking up a little earlier to see the sunrise. It can be observing how the plants in your garden or even at your window change according to the seasons. It can be eating seasonal fruits and vegetables, which besides being more flavorful, are more nutritious and cheaper.
Here in my city, I love to notice how people’s behavior changes according to the seasons. In summer, everyone goes to the beach. In winter, the cafes are full. It’s beautiful to see how, even in modern life, we’re still guided by nature’s rhythms.
Consumption that makes sense
In the world of slow living, consuming isn’t a hobby or pastime — it’s a conscious decision. Before buying something new, we ask questions: “Where does this product come from? Who made it? How long will it last? What will happen when I no longer need it?”
Instead of following passing trends, slow living proposes investing in quality items that last longer. Instead of discarding something with a defect, it seeks to repair it. Instead of buying from large corporations, it values artisans and local producers.
I started practicing this when I realized I was always buying cheap clothes that lasted only a few months. I decided to change: now I buy fewer pieces, but of better quality. I spend the same money (sometimes even less), have fewer items to organize, and still produce less waste.
Digital detox
Ah, the screens! They’re everywhere, aren’t they? The phone has become almost an extension of our body. Slow living isn’t against technology — after all, it has brought many benefits to our lives. But it invites us to use it more consciously.
Creating moments of digital disconnection is essential for living slower. It can be leaving your phone in another room during family meals. It can be establishing times when you don’t check emails or social media. It can be an entire weekend without internet from time to time.
I’ve tried going a whole day without my phone. In the first few hours, I confess I felt that anxiety, that itch in my hand wanting to check notifications. But then came an incredible feeling of freedom! I realized how many times I picked up the device unnecessarily, just out of habit.
Slow Living in practice: small steps to start now
Now that you know the principles, let’s talk about how to put slow living into practice in your daily life. You don’t need to change everything at once! Small consistent steps lead to great transformations:
A more peaceful awakening
The way we start the day has a huge impact on how we’ll feel in the next few hours. Instead of jumping out of bed straight to your phone (I know it’s tempting to check those notifications!), how about creating a more peaceful morning routine?
You can reserve 10 minutes to meditate or just breathe deeply, observing your thoughts without judgment. Or do some gentle stretches to wake up the body. Or simply have your coffee or tea calmly, feeling the aroma and savoring each sip.
Since I started waking up 30 minutes earlier to have this moment just for myself, before the rush, my days have gotten much better. It’s like I’m filling my emotional fuel tank early.
Food as a moment of pleasure and connection
Food is a fundamental part of the slow philosophy. It’s no wonder that everything started with Slow Food! In a world of fast meals and delivery, eating calmly and consciously is almost a revolutionary act.
Whenever possible, try to cook your own meals. The process of preparing a dish from scratch, feeling the aromas, tasting the flavors, can be almost meditative. And it doesn’t need to be anything complicated! Simple recipes with fresh, quality ingredients are often the most flavorful.
Another tip is to make meals a moment of connection. Turn off the TV, put away your phone, and sit at the table with those you love. Food tastes better when shared with good conversations.
Rediscovering small pleasures
Slow living invites us to rediscover the simple pleasures we often set aside because we’re “too busy.” The good news is that most of these pleasures are free or cost very little.
It can be a walk in the park, feeling the sun on your face and observing people. It can be reading a good book under a tree. It can be listening to your favorite music with your eyes closed, without doing anything else at the same time. It can be a long bath with candles lit.
For a long time, I thought I needed big experiences to be happy — international trips, expensive restaurants, trendy events. Today I realize how much joy I find in simple everyday things. A coffee with a dear friend often brings me more happiness than a party full of people.
Organizing time with intention
In slow living, the issue isn’t having more time, but using the time we have better. This means making conscious choices about how to invest our hours.
A technique that helped me a lot was dividing my schedule into blocks: time for focused work, time for social connection, time for self-care, time for family. And, perhaps most importantly, time to “do nothing” — those precious moments when we can simply be, without the pressure to produce or accomplish something.
Another powerful practice is learning to say “no.” When we understand that our time is finite and valuable, we become more selective with the commitments we make. Saying “no” to what doesn’t align with our values opens space to say “yes” to what really matters.
The benefits of Slow Living for your health and well-being
Adopting slow living isn’t just a lifestyle issue — it’s an investment in your physical and mental health. I’ll share some benefits I’ve noticed in my own journey and that science has been confirming:
Less stress, more joy
The accelerated pace of modern life is one of the main causes of chronic stress, which is linked to various physical and mental diseases. By consciously decelerating, we give our body and mind the chance to get out of “fight or flight” mode and enter “rest and digest” mode.
The result? Less anxiety, better sleep quality, more balanced blood pressure, and even a stronger immune system. Additionally, when we’re not constantly running from one task to another, we create space to feel more joy and gratitude for small things.
Before knowing slow living, I lived with that constant feeling of tightness in my chest, as if I were always late for something important. Today, even on the busiest days, I can maintain a sense of inner calm that makes all the difference.
Deeper relationships
When we live on autopilot, our relationships tend to become superficial. We’re physically present but mentally absent — checking our phone during conversations, thinking about the to-do list while having dinner with family.
Slow living teaches us to give full attention to the people we love. It’s looking into their eyes during a conversation. It’s listening to understand, not just to respond. It’s creating memories together, instead of just passing time.
I noticed this when I started having “phone-free meetings” with my friends. The quality of our conversations improved so much that now it’s an unofficial rule among us: when we’re together, phones stay put away.
Greater creativity and productivity
It seems contradictory, but slowing down can make you more productive. This is because the human brain wasn’t made to function at full throttle all the time. We need periods of rest and reflection to process information and generate new ideas.
Large companies like Google and Microsoft have already discovered this and offer rest and meditation spaces for their employees. They know that the best ideas rarely emerge when we’re overloaded with information and tasks.
In my experience as a writer, I discovered that my texts flow much better after a peaceful walk or a few minutes of meditation. It’s as if I open mental space for creativity to appear.
Deeper connection with yourself
In the daily rush, we often lose touch with our own thoughts and feelings. We’re so busy responding to external demands that we forget to ask ourselves: “What do I really want? What makes me happy? What’s the purpose of all this?”
Slow living creates spaces of silence and contemplation where we can reconnect with our internal compass. It’s in this space that we find clarity about our true priorities and values.
I remember a time when I was so busy pursuing professional goals I had set years before, that I didn’t stop to question whether they still made sense to me. It was only when I started practicing slow living that I realized some of those goals no longer reflected who I had become.
Facing the challenges of the slow path in an accelerated world
Let’s be honest: it’s not easy to live slowly in a world that values speed and productivity above all else. You’ll encounter obstacles on this journey, and that’s okay. The important thing is to recognize them and find strategies to overcome them:
Social pressure
“You’re wasting your potential.” “So-and-so is already much more advanced in their career.” “What do you mean you don’t have Instagram?”
These are phrases you might hear when you start making choices aligned with slow living. The pressure to conform to society’s frantic pace comes from all sides — family, friends, coworkers, media.
The key to dealing with this is having clarity about your own values and priorities. When you know what really matters to you, it becomes easier to leave others’ opinions where they belong: with others.
The guilt of “doing nothing”
Many of us have been conditioned to believe that personal worth is linked to productivity. We feel guilty when we’re not “being useful” or “doing something important.”
Unlearning this association takes time. We need to remember that rest isn’t laziness — it’s an investment in your health and well-being. That contemplation isn’t a waste of time — it’s essential for creativity and mental clarity.
A technique that helped me was renaming my moments of “doing nothing” as “recovery time” or “presence practice.” Sometimes, changing the name we give to things completely changes our perception of them.
FOMO syndrome (Fear Of Missing Out)
The fear of missing something important — whether it’s a party, a promotion at work, or the latest news — can be a big obstacle to slow living. We live checking our phone, social media, and emails to assure ourselves we’re not “falling behind.”
The inconvenient truth is that we’ll always be missing something. It’s impossible to be everywhere and do everything. Life is made of choices, and each “yes” implies many “no’s.”
The antidote to FOMO is developing what some call JOMO — Joy Of Missing Out. It’s the satisfaction of consciously choosing what deserves your time and attention, without worrying about the rest.
Your own impatience
One of the biggest ironies of those who start practicing slow living is the anxiety to see quick results. “Why do I still feel stressed? Why can’t I meditate properly? When will I feel calmer?”
Remember: slow living is a journey, not a destination. There will be days when you can be fully present and decelerated. There will be others when you return to old habits. And that’s okay.
Patience with yourself is perhaps the most important skill to develop on this path. Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d treat a dear friend who’s learning something new.
Small daily rituals to bring more slow living into your life
Sometimes, the deepest changes begin with small gestures repeated daily. Here are some simple rituals that can help you incorporate slow living into your daily life:
The morning gratitude ritual
Before even getting out of bed, reserve a minute to mentally mention three things you’re grateful for. They can be big or small things, from “I have a roof over my head” to “the sky was beautiful yesterday afternoon.”
This simple exercise completely changes the tone of your day, directing your attention to what you have, instead of what’s missing.
The midday pause
In the middle of your workday, take a 5-minute break to simply breathe. Step away from the computer, put your phone aside, close your eyes, and breathe deeply 10 times.
This small reset can dissipate accumulated stress and give you new energy to continue your activities with more clarity and energy.
The emotional check-in
Choose a moment of the day — it can be during your shower, on the way home, or before sleeping — to do a brief emotional check-in. Ask yourself: “How am I feeling now? What is my body telling me? What do I need right now?”
This simple habit develops self-awareness and helps you respond to your needs before they become bigger problems.
The nighttime disconnection ritual
One hour before sleep, turn off all electronic devices. Use this time for activities that calm the mind and prepare the body for restorative sleep: reading a physical book, taking a warm bath, doing gentle stretches, listening to relaxing music.
This ritual not only improves your sleep quality but also creates a smooth transition between the busy day and nighttime rest.
The contemplative walk
At least once a week, take a walk without a specific destination or objective. It can be in a park, on the beach, in the countryside, or even in your own neighborhood. The important thing is to walk slowly, observing the details around you as if you were seeing them for the first time.
This simple exercise trains your ability to be present and can provide surprising moments of clarity and inspiration.
Final considerations: Slow living as a path, not a destination
We’ve reached the end of our conversation about slow living, but actually, it’s just the beginning of your journey. Remember that living slower isn’t something you conquer once and for all — it’s a daily practice, a commitment renewed each morning.
There will be days when you feel completely aligned with this lifestyle. And there will be others when the current of modern life drags you back to speed. The important thing isn’t perfection, but the awareness and intention to return to your own rhythm.
Slow living isn’t about completely rejecting the modern world or living like our ancestors. It’s about making conscious choices amid the infinite possibilities and distractions that surround us. It’s about regaining control of our time and attention.
Deep down, slow living invites us to a fundamental question: what really matters? When we look back, at the end of our lives, we won’t remember how many emails we answered or how many tasks we crossed off the list. We’ll remember moments of deep connection — with ourselves, with others, with nature, with the divine.
Every time we choose to slow down, we’re choosing to be truly alive, instead of just existing. We’re choosing quality instead of quantity. Depth instead of superficiality. Meaning instead of distraction.
And you, are you ready to take the first steps on this journey? Start today, with a small gesture. Maybe it’s savoring your next meal with total attention. Or watching the sunset without taking a photo. Or making a call to that friend you’ve been putting off for ages.
The path of slow living is open before you. And the best part? There’s no rush to walk it.
Key points to take with you:
- Slow living isn’t doing everything slowly, but doing each thing in its right time
- It all started with the Slow Food movement in Italy, as resistance to fast food culture
- Basic principles include full awareness, simplicity, reconnection with nature, conscious consumption, and digital balance
- Small daily rituals can make a big difference: moments of gratitude, conscious pauses, emotional check-ins
- Benefits include stress reduction, deeper relationships, greater creativity, and self-knowledge
- Common challenges are social pressure, guilt of “doing nothing,” fear of falling behind, and your own impatience
- Slow living is a continuous journey, not a destination to be reached once and for all
- The essential question is: “What really matters in the end?”