Slow Living at Home
Story Tamarisk McNalty-Stephens | Illustrations Sheila Britton
We live in a fast-paced world. Day after day, it can begin to feel unrelenting, chaotic and sometimes overwhelming.
We yearn to find more balance – but that seems to be an elusive ideal in the Western world where busyness is still worn as a badge of honour.
So, how can you find a little more peace and calm in the ebb and flow of everyday life?
Enter the idea of slow living, a movement that is being adopted by more and more people around the globe.
On the definition of slow living, Australian author and podcaster Brooke McAlary writes “There’s no one right way – the only way is the one that works for you… living in accordance with the important things in your life.”
Our homes are a respite from the clamour of the world. Home is often the one place we can truly rest and restore and are free to be ourselves. Our homes offer the opportunity to create a space that reflects what we value.
GET IN ALIGNMENT
As the saying goes, your values aren’t what you say they are, they are what you repeatedly do. Take some time to become aware. If how you spend your time, money and energy doesn’t align with your values, chart a different course. Take some time to evaluate your basic needs when it comes to your living space. For example, perhaps the big house is no longer relevant and downsizing would free up funds to pursue something you’ve always dreamed of.
EDIT YOUR SPACE
There’s a certain lightness that comes from living with less clutter (physical items but also obligations, projects, activities, etc.). The point of removing the excess is to make room for what matters most. As Leo Babauta, creator of the blog Zen Habits, says, “Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, and with what makes you happy.”
AVOID TRENDS
There’s a tendency in our culture to fall into the “want-buy-want-upgrade” mentality. Not only is it an unsustainable approach for the planet, but trends change every year and it’s impossible to stay on top. Take a slower approach to the design, furnishing and decorating of your home instead of rushing to have it all done at once. Allowing time when making decisions may even result in greater satisfaction and perhaps you don’t have to compromise on quality.
CREATE A RHYTHM
Integrating a daily rhythm, such as a morning routine and an evening routine, can help streamline the day, minimize stress and improve your mental health. It’s as easy as lighting a candle at mealtime – the glow of candlelight can shift the ambience and add calm. Once you’ve experimented with a daily rhythm that works for your family, adopt weekly, monthly and seasonal rhythms as well.
SET TECH BOUNDARIES
Disconnect to reconnect. It’s difficult to be in the moment when constantly tethered to a device. Although they have their place, it’s important to remember that our smartphones have been engineered to hold our attention. Try setting boundaries with technology, such as tech-free meal times, and reap the rewards of listening, relating and connecting with your partner or family – distraction-free.
MAKE YOUR OWN HOME YOUR OWN
Design your home in a way that reflects and supports how you would like life to unfold. If cooking and entertaining are important to you, incorporate comfortable seating in the kitchen so family members and guests can chat with you while food is being prepared. Or if you want to reduce screen time, relocate the television so it’s not in the primary gathering area. Integrate whatever is important to your family into your home.
TRY SINGLE-TASKING
Be completely immersed in the task at hand, whether that’s preparing a meal or reading a bedtime story to your kids. It’s surprisingly difficult to do, but being more mindful in the moment can help us to appreciate what is right in front of us. If you have a hard time focusing, take five minutes and empty all of your to-dos on a piece of paper. Sometimes getting the thoughts out of your head and down on paper can help. OH