Lifestyle
6 ways to embrace the slow life (and why you deserve to!)
Why the rush? After a lifetime of striving, it’s time to settle into a gentler pace – and finally enjoy the time that’s all yours.
By Lana Hallowes
When you've lived most of your life rushing – to work/ to meet deadlines/ to juggle it ALL – it can feel almost indulgent, if not a tad lazy, to drift into the slow lane as you get older. And yet, this is exactly why you deserve to. Finally, more time is YOURS.
But how do you go from rush, rush, rush to a more relaxed pace? It’s a big life shift and one where a little mindfulness can help.
Here’s how to thoughtfully embrace slowing down.
Fast-forwarding time
Before we dive in, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we compress time.
While this is partly a necessity – because we’re genuinely in a rush – it’s also a habit. Think of things like driving a short distance instead of walking, texting instead of calling, or microwaving hours into minutes – always in an attempt to ‘save time’.
But when we allow our days to unfold naturally, something almost magical happens...
Take lamb shanks, for example. When left to simmer slowly, the meat turns melt-in-your-mouth tender and dinner is well worth the wait.
Likewise, a morning stroll when there is no time pressure on how long you take lends itself to daydreaming. And a long, meaningful conversation with a friend when neither of you has to dash off is deeply nourishing.
Previously, you may not have had the opportunity to enjoy too many of these ‘no-rush’ moments. Perhaps work and being ‘busy’ has always seen you trying to speed things up?
That is, until now.
6 ways to mindfully embrace slow
Here are some ways to lean into a more slow-cooked-style of living.
1. Practice slow breathing every morning
Slowing your breath and being conscious of it entering and leaving your body has been proven to have psychological benefits. Not only are you reducing stress while you take a moment to focus, in a way you’re also taking back control of your day.
Practicing deep breathing before you leave your house is a way of resetting your mindset. You are no longer in a rush, so don’t breathe like you are.
2. Start to view ‘busy’ as a choice
Society often glorifies being busy as a badge of honor - a sign of a productive and full life. We even tend to share how busy we are, rather than how happy we feel when asked how we are.
It’s like feeling rushed is more relatable and important than our level of contentment and life satisfaction.
While being busy isn't bad if it brings joy and fulfillment, feeling controlled by time isn’t ideal. Remember, at any stage in life you have the power to set your own pace, say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and choose how you spend your days.
3. Order a second coffee, just because you can
When you first ease up on work, people may mention the "transitional period” – such as when you find yourself waking up at your usual time, even though you didn’t set the alarm. But this period brings so many more pleasant, unhurried moments.
Ordering a second coffee (even if it’s decaf) at the café, because you don’t have to race back to work, is one of these.
Acknowledge the simple joy of having the freedom to stay put - whether it’s a morning lie-in, watching the sky turn pastel as the sun sets, or lingering to chat to someone you’ve bumped into. Just because you can.
Time isn’t pulling you away anymore.
4. Enjoy some tech time-out
Our phones constantly chirp at us with notifications. They are also our go-to when we don’t know what else to do with our time. This means we look at them A LOT.
Want to know just how much? On iPhone you can turn on Screen Time by going to Settings > Screen Time.
This little widget will then let you know how much time you spend on different apps, how often you pick up your phone and which apps are sending you the most notifications.
On Android, you can use the Digital Wellbeing feature (go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls) to check how much time you’re spending on various apps, and set goals and timers to help you spend less time on your phone.
A quick check will probably reveal that social media is the biggest culprit for sucking up your time – it hits fast and relentlessly; reels flash by, stories disappear before we’ve seen them and ads pop up before we can hit mute.
Taking a phone break, be it for an hour, a day, or even longer, or just turning off notifications for a time, can give you some peace from the digital ’noise’.
5. Walk more, drive less
Walking is one of the simplest ways to slow down and be mindful but it also lifts our energy levels. Skipping the car to enjoy the fresh air, birdsong and sunshine will give you a physical and mental boost, improving circulation and releasing some feel-good happy hormones.
Plus you'll avoid all the stressy-energy on the roads – impatient honking, aggressive drivers, parking woes and general traffic irritation… Taking the slow road by walking is an instant wellbeing boost.
6. Enjoy a slow-cooked meal
And of course … pull out your slow-cooker and prepare a meal that only gets better with time – just like us.
By mindfully slowing down, you’re giving both your meal and yourself the chance to gently absorb all the flavour of life.
The slow life helps you become more thoughtful, calmer and, hopefully, happier as you take back control of your time to focus on what truly matters to you.
Feature image: iStock/Louise Beaumont
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