A slow lifestyle lived around a balance of mindfulness
A slow lifestyle guide
Life had become a race I hadn’t signed up for. I was running from one task to another, always behind and completely exhausted.
Each moment seemed to be a stepping stone to the next, with no room for peace, joy or rest. I was under constant pressure to do more and be more successful.
One day I suddenly stopped. I thought about my life, ‘What if I slow myself down?’ The idea of a slow life began to stumble and it felt like a puzzle. I share what I discovered and how it changed my life.
The slow lifestyle is a lifestyle lived around intentionality, mindfulness and balance, about enjoying every moment, simplifying life and focusing more on quality. Of course, that doesn’t mean doing everything at a snail’s pace, but moving at a rhythm that feels right to us.
The slow lifestyle began in Italy in the 1980s with the Slow Food movement, which opposed the onset of fast food and promoted traditional and nutritious foods. Today this matter is associated with many aspects of life – slow fashion, slow travel, slow health – and the essence is the same, live on purpose, not fast.
For someone who always felt like I was rushing through life, the thought of slowing down seemed liberating and terrifying. It challenges my inner belief that being busy is success.
However, I realized that life is not a constant rush. It is sometimes necessary to sit still, spend the whole day without doing anything ‘productive’ to feel relaxed. One of the first things I did to slow down my lifestyle was my clothes.
Like many people, I got caught up in the cycle of fast fashion – buying cheap, trendy clothes that could barely last a season. Slow fashion changed how I thought about clothes. I started preferring quality over quantity.
I love investing in timeless pieces. Like handloom sarees, investing in Banarasi, Kanjivaram or Chanderi sarees are heirlooms that last for generations.
Then there’s durability, opting for clothes made from traditional Indian fabrics like khadi, organic cotton or linen, which are eco-friendly and breathable for the Indian climate.
Buy from cooperatives, which empower rural artisans and promote fair trade. This change felt good knowing that my choices were supporting a more sustainable world. For years I had practiced exercise – an educational method designed to achieve a goal.
However, slow fitness has pushed me to move in a way that feels kind and sustainable. Instead of high-intensity workouts to ease my pain, I practiced. such as Yoga and Pilates for strength and flexibility.
A quiet walk allowed me to connect with nature. Slow weight training that focuses on controlled, deliberate movements. As a result I felt stronger and calmer.
My workouts became a form of self-care rather than another task on my to-do list. The slow lifestyle taught me that life doesn’t have to be dull. When I slowed down, I began to notice the small, beautiful things. Which was once separated from me.
The sunlight on the walls of my house, my rhythmic breathing, sharing the taste of home cooking with relatives. Some days I rush back into old habits too much.
But the slow lifestyle has given me tools for recovery – a reminder to stop, breathe, and savor life as it unfolds. You don’t have to uproot life or move to a forest to embrace slow living.
Not where you live, but how. It is about starting small. Enjoy your morning tea, take a morning walk or do nothing in the evening without your cellphone.
Slow living isn’t about shirking responsibilities or chasing perfection, it’s about making room for what really matters.
By practicing intentionality, mindfulness, and balance, I have found joy and fulfillment. Slowing down has taught me that life is not a race, but a journey to be enjoyed.
So take a breath, pause and remember: Life is worth living at your own pace. Slow living is not a one-size-fits-all solution; It is an invitation to find your own pace and live with intention. It’s a big change – a path to joy and peace in a world that often feels rushed.
So has to slow down and do more self-discovery in the process.
