The Art of Slow Living
When we went to Europe for the very first time- my husband and I noticed that there was a very different feeling in the way time seemed to flow there. That first morning, we were up before dawn ready to go get coffee and start exploring- but Paris was ready to sleep in for a few more hours. We spent the first few days in Paris learning to slow ourselves down a bit. And I say learning– because it was learning. It was a new thing to not just jump out of bed and hit the ground running- and instead treat each morning with a pace more like a cozy weekend. So we slept in a bit, lingered over our coffee and nibbled on breakfast while in jammies a little longer. And I realized that a slow living way of life was full of so much more.
When you slow down a bit and ‘simmer’ a bit in the moment- you notice more. I have noticed this on photo shoots many times. If I slow my pace down and let what I am working on ‘speak’ to me more- I find a connection. I find the perfect angle, the idiosyncrasies in the lighting and the details that make the shot. This trip was one of the first times I understood what a slower living movement was all about. The quieter more intentional start to the day created a day filled with more. More Energy. More beauty and magic. More connection & detail.
And you know, as someone who I describe as a spinning ‘Tasmanian devil’ type who thrives on busy- that slower approach may seem like it won’t be a fit. But it does. Maybe some things won’t resonate with you- but others will. But that is what it is all about. Finding your balance in your work & hobbies that you love and the best ‘you’.
As we are getting ready to kick off the summer season soon – I thought why not revisit the Art of Slow Living and the tips my daughter shared for embracing a slow living lifestyle.
Embracing a Slow Living Lifestyle
Always moving and keeping a chock full busy pace from morning until night seems to spur the average person today. With a belief in society that the busier you are the better chances you have at being successful- the pace can be overwhelming. Working hard at your job, your dreams and your goals is a good thing, of course. It brings fulfillment, purpose and happiness and dreams coming true. It gets tricky through, when trying to keep up with the hustle culture of today without making room for adequate rest. That frenzied, stop until you drop pace is leaving many people in a constant state of stress. Slow living is a lifestyle designed to help us live a life at a slower pace with a deeper purpose. A lifestyle focused on living in the moment that ultimately aims to help us create a more meaningful routine that we will thrive in.
1. A Slow Living Morning Cup
The first way to start inviting slow living into your life is to start with the small things. Something as simple as your morning cup of coffee or tea. You can do this simply by taking time while you sip to sit and be present. Aka- without watching TV, surfing the web, or talking on the phone.
This may seem simple- but it can help to teach our fast-paced brains to focus only on what we are doing in the present moment. And help us realize it’s okay to enjoy our leisure moments peacefully without the need to always accomplish something in them. It can also highlight the joys of the little things in everyday life to be grateful for. Things often overlooked, such as the gift of peace & quiet with a cozy morning drink.
2. Make time every day for the things you love
Another way to welcome this lifestyle is to start making more time for the things you love. We can all be guilty of pushing off hobbies or rushing through in order to keep up with daily tasks. And it can be hard to tell our brain not to do that and to shift and simply enjoy when we have a break.
Try dedicating some ‘you’ time in your day-to-day schedule from now on and prioritize yourself without rushing. Get up a little bit earlier and take some time to journal, garden and arrange flowers or work on creating something that brings you joy- without feeling the need to rush.
3. Spend Time out in Nature
A great way to start embracing slower living is to spend some time with nature each day. Whether that is going on a walk, sitting outside with a cup of tea, or indulging in the warmth of the sun through an open window, nature has a beautiful way of slowing us down and can help us to better see the bigger picture and remind us how beautiful the world around us is.
4. Meditate
It is no secret that meditation is a go-to when it comes to quieting your mind and finding inner peace. And it is also another way to embrace slower living. You don’t need to dedicate an hour or 30 minutes to meditation every day for it to be effective. Just setting aside 1 minute a day to do some deep breathing exercises is a perfect place to start. A few moments of dedicated quietness each day can help ease a busy mind and reset our focus.
5. Balance
Scrolling social media or watching TV, people are spending more time in front of their screens than ever before. Tech gadgets can help us stay caught up with people & get work done but they can also take up a lot of useful time and affect our overall well-being. How many times do you see people out at restaurants or with others and yet, they are staring at their phones? Taking some time to unplug each day and focus on life and people happening around you now and being more present helps to bring that back into more balance.
Get your work done, stay in contact with far away friends and family, find inspiration, etc. and enjoy all of that- and then also be mindful of turning off and being present to allow plenty of time for more in the moment soul-food activities.
A slower way of life may seem to sound so simple and well, slow, at first, but it actually can bring much more to our lives. It encourages us to start putting in effort to seize and embrace the moment, enjoy some quiet and reflective time and to prioritize ourselves and be more present each day.
What do you think of the more intentional, slow way of living? Is it something that you can see yourself embracing or that you already do?
Coming your Way
The next posts in our series are about creating a home that inspires you. From more intentional decor to editing your rooms to how to create spaces that rejuvenate you. I am currently working on a couple simple changes in our bedroom- and decluttering. I will share my summer slow living retreat bedroom design soon. You can read more about summer slow living ideas Here and 5 Ways to live more Intentionally Here
Looking forward to the new intentional decor. I already feel a bit more calm just reading about being more intent and slower in the moment. I try but like you Courtney I feel I need to seize the day..up and running…good to hear it’s a good thing to slow down.
I bought some new oil for my dry skin and it smells so good…helps to create that calm I need.
Love the posts and the flowers! Looking forward to your roses this summer.
I so enjoy your articles. It many ways reflectS my own way of living life and enjoying ever minute of it. I look foward To all your posting as it gives Me inspiration. Thank you.
I ABSOLUTELY love that bedroom! Would you share what color the walls are painted? Thank you For the inspiration!
Suggesting 1 minute of meditation and breathing is a good way. It seems like it wouldn’t be enough but the trick is making time to do it!
Lovely article.
June
My gorgeous son gave me a years calm recordings and storytellings for my mobile. He told me he thought it would give me some ‘calmness’ in my hectic life as a disability support worker.
His good vibes have certainly calmed me between shifts as i ponder how my cottage will look after i’ve renovated it in a french country way….your blog is so inspirational …
This post is wonderful. I love the tips to slow down and reap all the benefits it will offer. I am a person that doesn’t often know how to sit still. However, I’ve been working on slowing down for the past 4 years. I’m happy to read a post that will assist with tips on achieving this slowing down.
Karen B.
I have always been a high anxiety person. Always doing something inside or outside house. I’ve missed alot of sleep at night just trying to keep my anxiety low by doing things. Well, body finally said I’ll slow you down by having a nervous breakdown…??? swallowing phobia. I almost died. That was a few years ago. Thank God I have slowed down a little!! Slow living is important!!
Itoo Found ‘slow’ in paRis. I think tHats why we keep going back.
Thank you so much courtney for this wonderful post. IN this new year, i think it is a great idea to slow down a bit. I will follow your post with much pleasure.
you re the best!
Where is the apartment in Paris that the photo is ttaken? Is it rentable?
Yes, you can read more in my blog post about it. https://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2019/05/the-most-charming-apartment-to-stay-in.html
Yes, you can find it here: https://www.frenchcountrycottage.net/2019/05/the-most-charming-apartment-to-stay-in.html
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful Thoughts with us today. Peaceful and inspiring thoughts are good for the heart aNd our soul!
It’s so refreshing to see more and more written about the benefits of slowing down and living with intention. I’ve been living a slow Lifestyle for many years now and love it. When I was younger, I tried to live a fast paced, multi tasking life because I thought that was how life was supposed to be. I found I myself feeling drained and anxious… And also feeling guilty that I was having such a difficult time being the “super mom”, “always on the go” person I thought I needed to be. I’m so much happier since leaving those high expectations for myself behind! I look forward to following along on your Art of Intentional living series.
Now this is a bloody good post
Love, Love,Love this post. This is my goal for 2022. I had to really ask myself if this is why I miss home (germany) so much. I love the fact that stores are closed on sunday, and we would spend the day after a wonderful meal taking walks and just relaxing. i rarely do that anymore. everything moves so fast in this country. we are always moving, or working. lol. if covid has taught me anything, slowing down really has some beautiful moments.
I read in bed every night. i enjoy historical fiction. i was a newspaper copy editor with a husband and 3 boys in the ’70s and ’80s. I didn’t get to read in bed and I didn’t have time to tend to plants or flowers. the only time I had to myself was my 45-minute commute each way to work. now, in retirement, i’ve struggled because of the expectations of, “Well, you’re retired now so you can …..” (Someone else’s needs). I moved a twin bed into the den because the husband is a stroke survivor and we have different sleep schedules. my den looks like an attic. and that’s the way i want it–littered with books and walls covered in art. life only gets better if you make it better. life is always a work in
progress. (I’m a hoosier gal living in florida, not by choice.)
Before the Pandemic, it seemed like the world was spinning out of control. Slowing down has been a welcome pleasure of reconnection. Although unsettling, these uncertain times have helped us discover the Simple joys in life, self-reflection, and healing. Loved your post.
I noticed that this year I was more intentional with my Christmas decor, especially with my tree. It took me at least 4 days to finish the tree and consequently, my tree looked the best it ever has, coordinated and beautiful. I also added less over the top decor. O used some prim dolls in my office and one or two Santas, bottle brush trees. Overall, less than 1/3 of my “stuff”. Less to put away, too. And it felt great!
Thank you so much for this wonderful post. I need this reminder. I truly appreciate you.
I am going to Paris next summer July 2023. What hotel did you stay in?
I was wanting yo have a Eiffel Tower veiw. It look like you had great veiw!
Hi Cindy! We stayed with Paris Perfect- they have a lot of apartments you can stay in that have an Eiffel Tower view.