WANT TO TRY SLOW LIVING? HERE ARE 3 EASY THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY
No matter how busy you are, you can practice Slow Living.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not easy. Slow living is a mindset. You need to be consistent for you to form the habit. And even if you’ve succeed in making habits, you still need to be mindful that you are “present” as you go about it. Why?
Because it’s not what you do that counts, it’s how you do it. The goal of slow living is for you to experience life. Doing activities for the sake of ticking an imaginary box of things to do defeats the purpose. You have to experience it, live it.
But can you start practicing Slow Living right away? Definitely!
Hear are three simple activities you can do to kick-off your journey to Slow Living.
SLOW LIVING ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO TODAY
1. Put down your phone and enjoy your coffee/ tea break.
And when I say enjoy, I don’t just mean to take one. Whether it’s 5 or 10 minutes, stop all other activities and just drink your coffee/ tea.
Do not read mails. Do not multi-task by thinking of things you still need to get done. Do not pass Go. 😊
You will find your mind wandering as it always does in the quiet moments. But instead of letting yourself think about work-related things, try the following:
- Take a deep breathe and clear your mind. Relax your body, make an effort to just be in the moment. Savor that freshly brewed cup.
- If where you are has a view, then stare at the horizon and appreciate the respite, no matter how short.
- Reflect on your day so far, and try to think of your Pockets of Happiness. Things you are grateful for, things that made you smile. Take the moment to recognize and appreciate them for what they are.
2. Take a walk and breathe.
No matter how busy you are, taking a 5 to 10 minute walk will not make the house fall down. And when you do walk, clear your mind and appreciate your surroundings. Be thankful for the small respite. Enjoy the moment. DO NOT think about work. (Just saying 😏)
No time due to back-to-back meetings? Shorten your lunch hour and take a walk.
Still not possible due to a lunch meeting? Tell whoever you are meeting with next that you’ll be 10 minutes late and take your walk.
People will demand more from you… all of you, if you let them. It’s okay to take a breather. It’s okay to say no.
The only way you will be able to get a moment to yourself on your busy schedule is if you carve out “Me’ time. No one will do it for you.
3. Take a bath/ hot shower when you get home and clear your mind.
Taking a shower/ bath after a long day is relaxing for a reason. If you have the time, indulge. If not, and you only have 10 minutes to clean-up, that is still 10 minutes for yourself. So make the most of it.
Clear your mind and consciously relax your muscles. Imagine all the stress being washed away together with day’s grime. Enjoy your 10 minutes of respite from the outside world
MAKE IT A HABIT
Slow living is a mindset. You can start small, but it won’t stick unless you make it a habit. And unless it becomes a habit, you won’t be reaping the long term benefits of it.
So do so. Put it in your calendar if you must until it becomes part of your routine.
3 simple activities. Only 15 to 30 minutes in total each day. Are you up for it?
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