In a world that glorifies hustle and hurrying, there’s something quietly revolutionary about choosing to slow down, live deliberately, and let your life unfold with intention instead of inertia.
So much of our modern life is lived at a frantic pace — scrolling through headlines and trivial posts, multitasking during meals, checking notifications on our phone instead of paying attention to the people in front of us. We become so accustomed to racing forward that we forget to ask, “are these choices even taking me where I want to go?”
The slow living movement is something I’ve been very interested in the last few years as my sons come closer to leaving the nest, and I really how precious every moment they are still home is. Slow living invites us to pause and live in the moment, because they are passing way, way too quickly. To tune out the noise and come home to what matters. It’s not about laziness or stagnation; it’s about alignment. Living slowly means intentionally living with more care for what matters, with more depth in each moment, and with awareness of all that I’m blessed to have.
One of the simplest ways to begin is by stepping outside.
Let the Earth Reintroduce You to Peace
Literally, go outside and touch grass. Lately I go out to water my small saucer magnolia tree and budding plants by hand instead of waiting for the rain. I’ve been spending time outside each day doing nothing but sitting on my front stoop, and feeling the warmth of the sun on my face. I walk through my neighborhood and the local park without earbuds or distractions, even though I love podcasts. I now listen to the birds, the wind, the murmur of trees. I try to notice which flowers are blooming and consider if I can add similar flowers to my own garden. I might watch ants at work or squirrels chasing each other up a tree, and we have some cute wild bunnies running through our fences. These small encounters can ground us and pull us gently back to the present moment, instead of always harping on the past or worrying about the future.
Even bringing a bit of nature indoors can shift energy. A vase of fresh flowers, a bowl of farmers’ market peaches, or the earthy smell of potted herbs in my kitchen — these are luxuries in my world. Inhaling the scent of basil and seeing colorful blossoms are happy-making. They are also a way of saying “my home and space matters enough to make it beautiful”.
Another sacred place for slow living?
Wander Where Stories Breathe
There is something holy about libraries and bookstores. Shelves upon shelves of human thought, imagination, and experience, all waiting quietly for a reader. I love to go and wander about, and let myself be drawn to titles I never saw before. I can crack open the spine of a book and lose track of time while learning about something new or getting lost in a funny story or elegant historical tale. As a bibliophile, I read for no reason other than to enjoy entering new worlds and losing myself in them, and this has brought me back to my childhood when nothing made a day better than reading an incredible story.
Books slow us down in a way nothing else does. They require our full attention. They pull us out of the noise and into deep focus, often being exposed to ideas that linger. That’s what slow living is about… not just slowing the pace of my day, but expanding the depth of my attention.
No one has to move a cabin in the woods to live more slowly (though you certainly can!). You just need to shift your gaze away from the trivial and frivolous time wasters that are designed (by psychologists) to capture our attention and make us completely absorbed in things we can’t control, usually don’t matter, and add nothing of value to your lives. Instead, we should pivot and focus on what actually adds happiness to our days, and value to our lives and relationships.
More ideas for slow living
Cook something from scratch
Write a letter by hand and mail it via snail mail
Light a candle with your morning coffee and keep your smart phone in another room
In face, put your phone in a drawer for hours on end and just sit and enjoy the view, talk to a friend, watch a great movie, or enjoy a new craft of creative hobby that uses your hands
Look into your child’s or spouse’s eyes when they speak and don’t interrupt, just listen for as long as they want to talk
Slow living is about reclaiming your time and your presence, and choosing to live a life that feels like yours. A life you are excited to wake up, not wondering where the time went and why nothing seems to get done. A life that is not one dictated by trends or algorithms or productivity quotas, but only by what matters in your own heart and mind and soul. The richest parts of life don’t come from doing more or having more, but from noticing more and appreciating more. There is no reward for getting the most chores done in a day, or knowing the latest tiktok trends, or being up to date on what is happening with every celebrity or stock or news station.
Turn off the noise to the rest of the world stealing your attention, and just begin with one gentle choice:
Step outside.
Pick up a book.
Breathe slowly.
Sit quietly.
Be.