Slow living refers to a lifestyle that encourages a slower approach to aspects of everyday life. It has been defined as movement or action at a relaxed or leisurely pace. It began in Italy with the slow food movement, which emphasises traditional food production techniques in response to the emergence of fast food during the 1980s and 1990s. Slow living also incorporates slow money and slow cities. Slow food and slow living are sometimes proposed as solutions to what the green movement sees as the negative consequences of materialistic and industrial lifestyles.
It is suggested that a fast-paced environment can resemble a chaotic nature, whilst the notion of ‘slowing down’ in slow living implies that people would be able to enjoy life more and be more aware or conscious of sensory cues. However, slow living does not prevent the adoption of certain technologies such as mobile phones, Internet, and access to goods and services. Here’s a collection of the best—and most straightforward—slow living definitions and descriptions.
“It is a cultural revolution against the notion that faster is always better. The Slow philosophy is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting.”
– Carl Honoré
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]1. “The Slow Living Vision is of an Earth where humankind, honoring and celebrating the profound connectedness of all people, places and living beings, gives back by co-creating mutually supportive communities, bioregions and economic systems — and where we combine the wisdom of the past with a vision for the future to ensure a balanced, fulfilling way of life for all generations to come.” — SlowLivingSummit.org
2. Slow Living means structuring your life around meaning and fulfillment. Similar to ‘voluntary simplicity‘ and ‘downshifting,’ it emphasizes a less-is-more approach, focusing on the quality of your life…Slow Living addresses the desire to lead a more balanced life and to pursue a more holistic sense of well-being in the fullest sense of the word. In addition to the personal advantages, there are potential environmental benefits as well. When we slow down, we often use fewer resources and produce less waste, both of which have a lighter impact on the earth.” — Beth Meredith and Eric Storm
3. Slow living isn’t just about slowing down, it’s about bringing more mindfulness and intention into our lives. It’s meant to encourage us to live more in the present moment and to follow what brings us joy, instead of following the crowd.
It’s also really about adapting our life to suit our individual energy needs, to live at a pace that suits us. Not all those who practice slow living operate at the same pace. Instead, the general theme of slow living is intention and mindfulness. It just so happens that slowing down a little can also allow us more space for intentional and mindful moments.
4. “Slow living is living in a more balanced, meaningful, and life-affirming way.” — Wikipedia Slow Life
5. “Slow living is a lifestyle choice.” — Wikipedia Slow Movement
6. “People every day are constantly living at a fast pace which is making them feel like their lives are chaotic – but with slow living they end up taking a step back and start enjoying life being conscious of sensory profusion.” — Wikipedia Slow Living
7. “Slow living is a lifestyle emphasizing slower approaches to aspects of everyday life.” — Wikipedia Slow Living
8. “Decelerating the pace of modern life.” — Wikipedia Slow Living
“The only thing for certain is that everything changes. The rate of change increases. If you want to hang on you better speed up. That is the message of today. It could however be useful to remind everyone that our basic needs never change. The need to be seen and appreciated! It is the need to belong. The need for nearness and care, and for a little love! This is given only through slowness in human relations. In order to master changes, we have to recover slowness, reflection and togetherness. There we will find real renewal.” – Guttorm Fløistad
Slow Living Art Prints
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