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What is Slow Living, Voluntary Simplicity, Downshifting, Simple Living??
What is Slow Living all about? Close your eyes. What do you picture when you hear those phrases? Pastoral country roads? Tiny houses? Empty rooms with only the bare essentials? Austerity? A return to simpler times? Or a return to a life of unnecessary hard work?
The Roots of the Slow Movement
The Slow Movement began during the 1980’s in Italy with Slow Food.
McDonald’s put a restaurant at the Spanish Steps in Rome and the Italians weren’t having any of that shit. Carlo Petrini, author of Slow Food Nation and the founder of the Slow Food Movement saw the negative effects of industrialized fast food systems on food, health, social justice and culture. Slow Food was his cure for this modern illness.
Carl Honore, who wrote In Praise of Slow, which many consider the manifesto of the Slow Movement, explained it this way:
“It is a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savouring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting.”
Since then, we have applied Slow Values to everything from work to fashion to technology.
Why is Slow Living so attractive?
In recent years Slow + Simple living has seen a huge bump in popularity. It makes sense, right? We’re all running round like chickens without heads, exhausted and overwhelmed and feeling like something’s missing.
Meanwhile, while we try to fill that hole, we rack up debt and wreak havoc on our environment.
We know we can’t go on this way. A simple, slow life seems like a lovely change of pace from the frantic lives most of us are living, doesn’t it? One with less worry, less stress, less debt, less stuff. We’re running out of credit, and the earth is running out of time.
Intuitively it makes sense that choosing to live a Slower Life could help.
So What IS the Slow Life All About?
1) SLOW LIVING REJECTS THE MODERN BELIEF THAT FASTER IS ALWAYS BETTER
Sometimes it’s fun to go fast. Sometimes it’s necessary. And that is TOTALLY OK.
Slow Living doesn’t mean you have to practice intentionally slow micro-movements while making your coffee. (Yes, apparently that’s a thing. And no, I don’t have time for that, either.)
What Slow Living is, is a deep belief that faster isn’t ALWAYS better.
Slow Living is about living at the PROPER pace. It’s the difference between cramming down a burger and fries in the car between appointments and sitting down to dinner with your family.
Efficiency has it’s place, but far too often efficiency and speed rob our lives of purpose and joy. Choosing to live an intentionally Slow Life gives us a chance to evaluate what is important, make decisions consciously instead of out of habit, and actually experience the moment we find ourselves in.
2) SLOW LIVING VALUES QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
More, bigger, faster is a pretty common modern mantra.
Trouble is, our undisciplined pursuit of More is making us unhappy, unhealthy and indebted. It’s also not been so hot for Mother Earth.
Instead, Slow Living celebrates LESS but BETTER. Whether it’s the Slow Meat Movement that advocates eating less meat of better quality or Slow Fashion that emphasizes owning less pieces that are made to last, the Slow Movement always puts quality before quantity.
3) A SLOW LIFESTYLE MAKES TIME AND SPACE FOR WHAT MATTERS
Intentionally Slow Living eliminates the non-essential in order to make room for what really matters. Rather than viewing Slow Living as something to add to your to-do list, think of Slow Living as a NOT to-do list.
When I lost my Mum to cancer at only 64, my passion for the Slow and Simple Life increased tenfold. I learned the hard way through that terrible time that most of the shit we think is important, isn’t. PERIOD.
When my Mum died I used my grief as fuel to simplify my life even further. I finally got my house completely in order, took garbage after garbage bag of STUFF to donation, slashed my “should-do” list and tossed a laundry list of toxic beliefs. And I didn’t feel a drop of guilt. Because I knew, more clearly than ever, what actually mattered.
Getting rid of everything that didn’t matter freed up time, energy and focus for the very few things that do; my kids, my husband, service to my community and my work.
4) SLOW LIVING IS ABOUT BEING INTENTIONAL WITH OUR ATTENTION
Your attention is your most valuable resource. Why else do you think Facebook and all the rest are willing to pay such big bucks to get it and keep it?
So, fun fact about me: I read obsessively. Voraciously. One of my favourite genres is about human excellence. Learning how our brain works, how we form habits, how we think and how we can influence all that stuff is absolutely fascinating to me.
One thing you’ll find in common in all those books is that where we focus our attention, so goes our life.
As someone who suffered from clinical depression and anxiety, learning to manage my attention completely changed my life. Whether it is practicing gratitude, being present in the moment, or learning to calm my heart rate, changing what I pay attention to transformed my life. I dug myself out from major postpartum depression and kicked anxiety to the curb.
Slow Living teaches us to be fiercely, unapologetically protective of our attention.
For me, that’s meant quitting Facebook, using automation to post on social media for my business and saying NO. A lot.
Thoughts are magical things. The ones we feed are the ones that grow. But we have to choose. Most of us who are living a fast, frenetic life aren’t choosing. Someone else (who is probably profiting from it) is choosing for us.
Slowing down allows us the time and focus to be intentional about how we spend out attention, our most valuable resource.
5) SLOW LIVING IS ABOUT EMBRACING IMPERFECTION
Some of the most “perfect” moments of my life have been the ones that weren’t planned for, the ones that aren’t worth Instagramming. They’re messy and imperfect and sometimes full of pain.
I certainly didn’t plan on my Mum dying of cancer. Pretty sure that one wasn’t on her TO-DO list either. But it happened. And you know what, in all that pain, because I was present, because I had the courage to experience the grief, I was given some of the most valuable moments of my life.
For me, Slow Living has been about learning to lean into the pain as well as the joy. Farming is full of heartbreak. It can be gut-wrenchingly awful. But all the pain, that’s good too. If I refused to be open to experience the fullness of my grief, I’d also miss out on the fullness of joy. You can’t turn off one without turning off the other.
The Slow Life allows us the time and space for both.
Here’s the thing. SLOW LIVING ISN’T ABOUT PERFECTION. And there is no ONE way to do it.
Slow Living isn’t about going at a going at a snail’s pace, despite the fact that Slow Food’s logo is . . . wait for it . . . a snail.
Slow Living is about Le Tempo Giusto. The PROPER pace. YOU get to choose that pace. Not me or some perfectly styled woman on Instagram.
- No one else gets to decide if your life is Slow enough.
- There are no rules.
- You can’t do it wrong.
5 Things Slow Living is NOT :
1) A COMPETITION
Stop comparing your Slow Lifestyle to anyone else’s.
Comparison truly is the thief of joy. So just stop. Right now.
2) A SET OF STRICT RULES TO FOLLOW
Slow Living is NOT about following some strict (often completely arbitrary) set of rules. We see this all over the place, all the time, especially on social media.
Whether it’s zero-wasters shaming others in their community for eating somewhere or something they shouldn’t, or vegans gatekeeping and passing judgement on who’s vegan enough to be part of the club . . . None of it is in the spirit of the movement and none of it is helpful.
Listen, it’s handy to have guidelines when you’re first starting any major lifestyle change BUT the moment those “guidelines” start becoming little angry dictators in your life, it’s time to chuck ’em.
Living a Slow Lifestyle is supposed to make your life MORE enjoyable, not less. If someone else’s made-up-rules don’t serve you or are stressing you out, show ’em the door.
3) ABOUT PERFECTION
Especially as women, we have a habit of taking lifestyle movements that are meant to make our lives better and turning them from a beautiful journey of self-exploration into a knock-down, drag-out demolition derby in pursuit of perfection.
None of us get where we’re going, and we all end up in the dirt covered in mud.
Slow Living is about enjoying and savouring your journey, whatever that looks like for you. Learning to embrace the ordinary, imperfect moments of my life has been one of the greatest gifts Slow Living has given me.
4) A HOME DECOR MOVEMENT
Gads. I don’t know why we do it, but boy do we ladies know how to lay the pressure on thick!
Good grief. Slow and Simple Living isn’t about having a perfectly styled home with all the right thrift store finds, exotic houseplants and the perfect muted colour scheme.
Neither you nor your home have to look a certain way to live a slower, simpler life.
5) ONLY FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE TIME TO SLOW DOWN
Show me a person who feels like they have extra time and I’ll show you someone who’s probably already done a lot of hard work to intentionally slow down.
Look. You can’t wait till you’re ready. If you keep saying “when x happens, I’ll have more time, then I’ll try Slow Living”. (Lemme tell you a secret . . . Your life isn’t going to Slow Down on it’s own. You have to MAKE IT SLOW DOWN.)
My life in on the farm looks from the outside like the cliche simple life; a tiny old farmhouse, chickens in the fields, a big garden, little kids and farm animals . . . But let me tell you, farming as a general rule is NOT the slowest life out there. The work never stops. No matter the weather or how you’re feeling or what else is on your to-do list, the chickens will still lay eggs, piglets and lambs will be born, the weather will do what it will.
I am a full-time Mama, farmer, business owner and wife. My life is Slow because I made an effort to make it that way.
If you let go of perfection, stop comparing your Slow Life to anyone else’s and give yourself lots of grace, you’ll find the true spirit of Slow and Simple Living.
You deserve a beautiful, abundant, joyful life.
Now go and get it!
The Comments
Judy Katzman
This was a great read Stacey, thanks so much! My life greatly changed when my Mother passed in 2014 and so much was just not important anymore. Through slowing down I met new people and started doing what I enjoy. Slowing down makes the things that have to be done and with a timeline so much easier to accomplish. The stress is pretty much gone.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> Judy KatzmanHey Judy, glad you enjoyed! So sorry to hear about you Mum. It’s amazing how loss can provide such clarity, isn’t it? For me that clarity and insight has been one of my Mum’s greatest parting gifts. Feeling gratitude for that has made the grief much easier (if anything about it can be called easy) to move through.
Janelle Esker
Excellent post! We have a lot in common and I agree about how loss can change the way we live.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> Janelle EskerThanks Janelle. Absolutely. We were living the Slow Life long before my Mum got sick, but boy did her passing ever give me the confidence to kick any remaining doubt to the curb. Life really is too short!
Lindsay
Hi Stacey, This is a great post. I feel like you’ve read my mind. I am working to slowdown my life to fully enjoy it and feel like I can take a breath. It can be easy to get caught up in the rush from one event to the next that I always say when things slow down I will finally be able to relax but that is never going to happen! It’s a learning process! 🙂
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> LindsayYou are so right – it is a process, and one that will look different depending on what season of life you’re in. Goodness knows slowness sure looked different with two toddlers than it does now with two kids in school! Be gentle with yourself, you’ll find your groove as long as you’re brave enough to start. 🙂
Wisal
Hi Stacey, I really enjoyed this post, I never heard of the slow living life style before but it blew my mind . It makes so much sense, I lost my mother 11 years ago it was sudden death and she was only 55 yo. I agree with you on how much we grow from our grief.
It was so painful losing my mother and best friend but today I’m a better person because of that experience.
I love this concept, slow living , it is great to be more present and less distracted by all things that do not matter in this life.
I really appreciate you sharing these words of wisdom with the world, I’m so grateful to come across this post today.
Thank you.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> WisalI’m so sorry for your loss. Learning how to find the kernel of light in that dark time was the only thing that got me through it – I’m actually working on a post at the moment specifically about how grief and slowness that you might enjoy.
So glad I could introduce you to the idea of Slowness! Thank you so much for joining me.
Caroline Rogers
Brilliant beautifully written post! Cheers to the slow life🙌🏻😊
Cassie
I lost my dad last week to cancer he was also 64 and this past week I’ve been searching how to live a fuller life at a slower pace and through a series of clicks landed on this article and it really helped me make sense of this sudden overwhelming need to live more intentionally. Thank you for helping me realize that this is how I’m processing the grief.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> CassieCassie, I’m so sorry to hear about your Dad. It’s been almost four years now since we lost my Mum and I can’t say it gets easier, but I think we get stronger as we learn to carry the weight of that grief. Using that loss as a touchstone has helped me continue to focus, say no to what doesn’t matter and yes to what does. I think there is also something soothing about setting order to you life in a simple, intentional way when the sky literally falls around you. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my post on grief https://www.simplicityfromscratch.com/how-grief-helped-me-simplify/ Again, I’m so sorry. You can’t really understand that type of grief until you’ve lived it. All I can say is don’t be afraid to feel it, and be gentle with yourself.
Jessi
I love this read. I totally agree. It is becoming more and clear to me. I left my job about one and a half years ago. It was literally killing me. I started up a grass based organic farm that is very small and I am constantly slowing down to learn from nature and work with it. All the farmers I know think I am crazy because I only produce a few lambs a year and it takes almost a year to grow them to a perfect butcher size.
They pump out as many as they can afford to feed and pump them full of grain and plump them up. They look to come out ahead until you realize my expenses aren’t even a fraction of theirs per head. The meat is like it’s not even the same species. My meat only needs a dash of salt and pepper and is perfect. Not to mention the health benefits to my family. Plus I know my animals and they are as happy and healthy as if they were just pets. In the end slow and steady wins the race.
I have been slowly learning this is the case all must all the time.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> JessiFellow grass-farmer here! We raise Icelandic sheep along with our heritage breed pigs, chickens, ducks and whatever else my husband sneaks home from the livestock auction … We’ve been farming this way for nearly 8 years now and it is such a joy. Hard, backbreaking, heartbreaking work at times, but I always say I’d rather shovel shit than work in an office full of lawyers again!! 😉 Best of luck on your adventure!
Sandra
Love this. Beautiful article. It popped up in my Pinterest feed and so glad it did! Perfect timing as I am taking an early retirement in a few months. It will cost me financially, but the pace of my job is killing me. What good is more money five years from now if I am sick or dead? So looking forward to getting off the fast food and fast fashion bandwagon and having more time to give of myself to the causes and people close to my heart.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> SandraGood for you! It takes a lot of courage to say NO to the undisciplined pursuit of more. When I left my government career my hubby and I were pretty panicked about how we would make ends meet financially – but it’s funny how little you need when you’re not spending a fortune on clothes and commuting and lunches out and all the other things that add up. At the end of the day I ended up being able to stay home full-time with our two young kids, and by working part-time was able to bring home the same amount we would have had if we’d had to cover daycare. So there you go. Best of luck on your adventure!
Sandra
> Stacey | Simplicity From ScratchThank you! 🙂
Erica
What an amazing post! Brought tears to my eyes! First time I ever post for any post! I have overlooked for years to leave the city for a dream farm style life. I have de clutter the materialistic expensive items that don’t matter. Making steps to this life change!
Kimberly
Dear Stacey, This is the first post I have read on your blog and it will definitely not be the last! I enjoy your writing, tone and spirit so much! Thank you for sharing, can’t wait to dig in further.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> KimberlyThanks that’s so kind of you to say!
Ana
Thanks Stacey for a wonderful post. I’m a true believer that things come to you at the right time, not any sooner, even if we don’t see it that way at first. Your post has come to me at the perfect time in my life, like a message from the Universe. Unconsciously I think I have been preparing for this moment, through small changes I’ve been making. Now I feel better prepared to put this new plan in action.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> AnaWe’re at a unique point in history that’s ripe for more people to try on slow values. I’m glad this found you at the right time for you!
JAnn
This has inspired me to live my life the way I would like to. Ever since my father died, it has got into my head that materials are not as important as living. They are just accessories that you can buy, donate or sell and improve life but it is not living itself. Thanks for recalling it. Also, I have this mindset that I am running towards goals that I do not see the progress I’m making. Just finishing the goal/s is what’s on my head. I don’t even remember the journey of going through all of that. I Will read more of your posts. More power to you.
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> JAnnSorry to hear about your Dad. I think many of us here have shared your experience. Take good care. S
Daniel
Wow, what a great read. As someone who is currently discovering spirituality, slowing down will definitely become a tool that helps me be more present. Love that concept, and love how you’ve explained it! Thank you!
Sina
Dear Stacey, I hope this email finds you well. I am Sina the owner and co-Founder of OFF GRID HIDEAWAYS and soon becoming a new business with slow down. I would love to hear more about your blogs and maybe we can work together. Do you have time to chat on the phone next week? I am not sure where you are based, but I am from Zurich Switzerland.
my nr. 0041 78 7149007. I have whats app.
my instagram: offgridhideaways
website: http://www.offgridhideaways.com
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Sunny regards from the Swiss Alps where I enjoy the slow pace.
Sina
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> SinaSina! Oh my goodness – what amazing places you have in your collection. Yes please let’s chat. Destination retreats for my simplicity kinfolk are in my long-term (post covid) plans. Would love to hear more about what you do. You can reach me directly at hello@simplicityfromscratch. Best, Stacey
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
Hi Glenna, I designed it myself using a system that I don’t recommend for folks new to web design. If you are just starting out the best bet is to find a theme you like that comes ready-to-go, as you can make a big mess in a hurry.
What I am For: A Poem – Love Is Stronger
[…] the way, this is a related post I recently enjoyed reading the other […]
Diane
Hey! Great post I really enjoyed it. Just wanted to reach out and mention someone you may not of heard of, her name is Alice Waters. She started the slow food movement in the United States in the 70’s. To the best of my knowledge she is considered the founder 😉 If you don’t know about her check her out. She’s an amazing woman!
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> DianeHi Diane! Yes, as a farmer and foodie I’m very familiar with Alice Waters. The founder of the movement is Carlo Petrini of Italy, but Alice has been the greatest force of nature for Slow Food stateside. She has been instrumental in creating the farm to table movement, which farmers like me absolutely rely on in order to produce Slow Food in a sustainable way. We’re very lucky to work with restaurants here in Vancouver, Canada, that have followed in the footsteps of Chez Panisse, her restaurant. Dinner there is on my bucket list!
Edwina
love the end quote “IF YOU LET GO OF PERFECTION, STOP COMPARING YOUR SLOW LIFE TO ANYONE ELSE’S AND GIVE YOURSELF LOTS OF GRACE, YOU’LL FIND THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SLOW AND SIMPLE LIVING.” – saving it!
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> EdwinaGlad it helped!
Krissy
Love this post!
Slow living has been apart of my life for a few years now, but I am still learning and growing so much in this journey. I love how you mention it’s not about perfection (something I struggle with at times-lol) as well as how you stress the importance of what we give our attention to.
Thanks so much for sharing! Appreciate you and your blog!
Stacey | Simplicity From Scratch
> KrissyHi Krissy – your post on Slow Living is great and so comprehensive!
The most important thing for me when thinking about Slow Living in regards to battling perfection is to view Slowness as a tool, not a destination.
There are lots of tricks we can use to outsmart perfection:
– We can choose what to suck at ahead of time – For example during lambing season, laundry, housework and scratch meals move waaaaay down the priority list. But I plan ahead of time to suck at those things in order to ensure new life comes into the world safely, so I don’t beat myself up when the house is a bomb – because I PLANNED it that way.
– We can set ridiculously (embarrassingly) small goals. Teeny tiny goals allow us to accomplish them with little effort, increasing our chances of developing a habit. So if we want to include mindful movement as part of our slow life, rather than saying – I’m going to do an hour long yoga class every morning – we can say – My goal is to get out my yoga mat every day at 7:30 am.
Jon Acuff’s book Finish has a lot of great insight on perfection, for all us recovering perfectionists working to slow the heck down!
chwynyn
I’m not sure if I hit submit the first time. so I’d like to say it again that this is lovely. Thank you.
So
Thanks so much for those beautiful words, Stacey. Love from France.