What is Slow Living?

Updated September 26th, 2025 @03:01 p.m.

A Few Sources Wikipedia | Psychology Today - The Benefits of Living More Slowly | groov - Discover the Art of Living Slowly

Box #1 What is Slow Living?

Box #2 The Three Principles of Slow Living 

BOX #1

Slow living is a lifestyle focused on living intentionally and meaningfully by doing things at the "right speed" rather than striving for constant speed and productivity. Originating from the Italian slow food movement in the 1980s as a protest against fast food, it has expanded to encompass a mindful approach to many aspects of life, prioritizing self-care, meaningful connections, and a connection to one's values over the hurried pace of modern life.  

Core Principles

  • Intentionality:

    Approaching your daily activities with purpose and aligning them with your highest values. 

  • Mindfulness:

    Being present and fully engaged in the current moment, rather than being distracted by constant stimulation. 

  • Prioritization:

    Focusing on what truly matters and dedicating your time and attention to it, which often means doing less but better. 

  • Self-Care:

    Making time for rest, reflection, and activities that nurture your well-being. 

  • Connection:

    Cultivating deeper relationships with people, nature, and local communities. 

How to Embrace Slow Living

  • Slow down your pace:

    Intentionally walk slower or allow more time between activities to shift your mindset. 

  • Engage with your senses:

    Savor meals, notice small comforts, and spend time in nature to become more present. 

  • Curate technology use:

    Set boundaries with digital devices, and prioritize screen-free activities. 

  • Connect with local culture:

    Support local food producers, farmers markets, and community events. 

  • Embrace hobbies:

    Pursue activities that bring you joy and allow for mindful engagement, such as reading, cooking, or creative projects. 

  • Simplify your life:

    Let go of excess possessions and unproductive tasks that don't align with your values. 

BOX #2

The Principles of Slow Living 

(source for this section)

We have found three main principles that help shape a slow living lifestyle. These principles are: getting

  1. Closer to Source

  2. Turning Routines into Rituals

  3. Downshifting

Closer to Source 

Just as it states, this principle is about getting as close to the original state of something as we possibly can. This means getting closer to the true, natural source of our food, our interactions, and our environment. 

Getting 'Closer to Source' with our food:

  • Using whole food ingredients with little to no processing

  • Eating foods that are in season

  • Eating local or buying from a farmer's market when possible

  • Curating some slow living recipes instead of ‘instant’ meals

Getting 'Closer to Source' with our interactions:

  • Meeting in-person as opposed to texts or phone calls

  • Focusing on quality as opposed to quantity with your social circle

  • Cultivating inter-generational relationships and creating a ‘slow living community’

And lastly, getting 'Closer to Source' in our environments:

  • Taking  breaks from electronics, WiFi, artificial lighting, etc.

  • Spending more time in nature (especially in natural sunlight, which helps regulate your body's circadian rhythm).

  • Paying attention to what you wear, using less synthetics and more natural fibers. There are many slow living brands to choose from that sell natural (and fashionable) clothing.

  • Using natural materials for items in your home, especially those you come into contact with each day. Make the switch to glass food storage containers and upgrade to an eco-friendly mattress.

Turning Routines Into Rituals 

Turning a routine into a ritual is about bringing intention, awareness and engagement to the task. 

A ritual (or ceremony) is defined as emphasizing careful attention to form and detail. When parts of our routines are approached as rituals, we bring a sense of meaning and significance to the task, and begin to recognize them as the simple pleasures of life.

Any activity within your usual routine in which you find yourself daydreaming or 'checking out' is a great opportunity for creating a ritual. 

For instance, if you are typically half asleep while you prepare your coffee or breakfast in the morning, try getting yourself more involved in the process. Eliminate the background noise. Smell each ingredient. Avoid multitasking.

Routines are helpful for creating structure, but can become a hindrance when we are on auto pilot during the process. This is when we find ourselves fast-forwarding through our lives. Create rituals instead.

Downshifting 

Downshifting is at the heart of slow living. It is the intentional slowing of your overall pace in life. Downshifting is also a mindset shift, and a resetting of priorities. 

Adopting this mindset is about creating more freedom & fulfillment in your life by placing a greater value on your leisure time and meaningful relationships. 

It redirects efforts spent climbing the corporate ladder, taking on more overtime, or getting caught up in the rat race to pursue and live a life of simplicity and balance. 

Downshifting is not meant to be done overnight, and there are even different degrees of downshifting, depending upon how far you’d like to take it. Also keep in mind it is a gradual process, and isn’t meant to be a completely drastic overhaul overnight. 

It’s about making strides in that direction, taking it one small habit change at a time.