Welcome back to the blog!
If you have spent any time on social media then you probably know 2026 is the year of slow living. We have all seen the posts and reels about slowing down and enjoying the simple things in life instead of being on the go non-stop. I have actually been on this band wagon for a couple of years now and
Today I will be sharing some of the ways I got started to slow down and enjoy the simple things in life and in the process I have left anxiety and depression behind.
What is Slow Living?
Slow living is just simply slowing down and taking care of yourself. Instead of grabbing your phone the second you wake up in the morning you get up slowly and do something that you enjoy. Find something relaxing. Meditate, journal, or simply sit and savor that cup of coffee or tea. You could read a couple of chapters of a book while you have your morning coffee. Take time to really look around, The old cliche “ stop and smell the roses” really applies here. Replace being on the go with relaxing at home. Coloring books, crafts, crochet, reading . It doesn’t matter what the hobby is as long as it is something that you enjoy and that has a calm, soothing effect on you.
Why Slow Living is Gaining in Popularity
I believe the main reason slow living is gaining in popularity is because people are just burned out on everything. We have spent the majority of our life being told to work harder and longer if we want to succeed and that type of mentality has taken a massive toll on all of us physically, mentally, and emotionally. People are ready for the so called “granny hobbies” and to give our minds and bodies time to recover.
Benefits of Slow Living
The main benefit of slow living is less stress. Stress can take a major toll on you. When you embrace slow living you are choosing a less stressed lifestyle that has been force fed to all of us. When your stress level goes down, so does your anxiety levels. Since adopting the slow living lifestyle I have less anxiety than I ever have. I incorporated daily walks into my routine and have really been doing so much better. My daily walks are one mile long and I take my time, I enjoy myself and stop to talk to neighbors that are out and about and I have even met a few people along the way that also have started walking daily for their physical and mental health
We have been told for years to Hustle non-stop if we want to be successful. Unfortunately the hustle culture,( boss babe) whatever you want to call it, takes a massive toll on our health. Physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's time to slow down and take care of ourselves. You can still be successful and work at a pace that works for you.
Simple Steps to Start Practicing Slow Living in Your Everyday Life
It really is easy to start a slow living lifestyle. I started with my schedule. I used to plan every minute of the day and as you can imagine it was overwhelming. Not only was it stressful but I would feel like I had failed if I didn't manage to complete every task for the day. I started with my morning routine. Instead of trying to cram four hours worth of tasks into an hour and a half I set my morning routine as my slow living time each day. Now, I wake up when my body says to wake up. I no longer use an alarm, sometimes I wake up at 3:00 AM sometimes I wake at 7:00: AM either way works. I leave mornings completely open. Once I wake up, I start my meditation time which consists of gratitude, affirmations, manifestation, chakra balancing and more. I use the Insight Timer App for all of this. ( Free by the way) . After meditation I make a cup of coffee and while I'm waiting for my coffee to cool down enough to drink it I shower, do my skincare. After skincare I sit down with my cats and drink my morning coffee. After coffee, I get dressed, do my hair and makeup ( non-negotiable) because having my hair and makeup done makes me feel good about myself. Then I start my day. I put an audiobook on to listen to while I do my household chores. After that I check on my brother and his family, check emails and start my blogging day.
Hobbies to Try:
Baking
Reading ( join a book club)
Art
Writing
Gardening
Crafts
Coloring
Puzzles
Legos
Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them
I'll be completely honest, I really didn't think I would be able to adapt to the slow living lifestyle. I had so many responsibilities at the time I thought no way this would work for me. I was wrong about that. Start by clearing out one hour a day from your schedule. Take social media off your phone just for the weekend and see what happens. I actually removed all social media from my phone and I couldn't believe how much more time I had. Those I'll just check in on socials for a few minutes several times a day really add up quick. Now, if I have a few minutes instead of grabbing my phone I pick up a book or magazine to read. Instead of streaming a movie I grab a puzzle or a Lego model to put together.
Really pay attention to what makes you feel good and what causes you stress. Make a list and start adding in more of the stuff that brings you joy and start removing the everyday stuff that stresses you out and causes anxiety and depression. It might take a while to figure out what works for you but that's okay. There are no rules to slow living. Everyone is different and the key is to find what works best for you.
Is Slow Living Right for You?
If you're always stressed out, anxiety ridden and depressed it might be time to give slow living a try.
Try the slow living lifestyle for one month and journal everything to see what works best for you.
Let me know in the comments if you have embraced the slow living lifestyle and how you got started.
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