5 Tips to Start Living Slow Now

Bottom line Momma, you deserve to live a life free of disassociation and over-stimulation. Living slow is a gift to yourself, from yourself. Let me help you take those first steps of living an intentional life. Here are five tips to start living slow now.

1. Prioritize Your Time

Moms have 100 things to do everyday, it doesn’t matter if you are a SAHM or a working mom, your plates almost always full. Your time is valuable, and wasting any on things that do not benefit you, bring you joy or growth should not have a place at the table. *Insert mean girls “you can’t sit with us” meme here.*

Now obviously and unfortunately we can’t all quit our jobs or have the luxury of a chef and a maid, and yes I’m sad about it too. However, what we can do is take a step back and evaluate how you spend your time each day and take your first steps towards living slow.

• Pick a day, grab a journal and write down everything you do
• On a separate page, write down what a day in the life would look like for the you that you aspire to be.
• Compare the 2 lists and choose 1 item to add or remove from your current list to take a step towards your aspiring self. This is your slow living starting point.

2. Embracing Mindfulness

Whether you’re playing with your little one, cooking dinner or chatting with your spouse we’re all guilty of mentally checking out mid-task. Practicing mindfulness and living in the moment is much easier said than done. And after living in a world that prioritizes the amount you can get done over the mental cost of getting it all done, no one can blame you.
Participating in activities that encourage you to be fully present in the moment are always uncomfortable at first but the more you do it the more you’ll see why a slow life is a more peaceful life.

• Journal: Start small, I challenge you to write down 20 words a day for a month. It doesn’t matter what you write about and it doesn’t need to be profound or deep. Just put the pen to paper and write.

• Yoga: Feeling connected with your body is hard, finding the time to move your body is hard. Yoga gives you both and the effect that 10 minutes a day has on you will have you befuddled.

• Meditate: Who knew sitting quietly just breathing would be so hard. Our minds are constantly moving and quieting that chatter is a bigger feat than most would assume. Start with 5 minutes of meditation right before bed to help calm your mind and close all your the open tabs in your brain.

3. Simplify Your Surroundings

Most people who live a slow life also tend to follow a more minimalistic approach to life. I on the other hand am a woman who loves her stuff and my amazon prime dearly. The trick for me has always been the balance of it all. These tricks help keep my clutter anxiety at bay and my house from looking as feral as my toddler acts.

• Recycle: Monthly trips to the thrift store to donate or shop are great at reducing waste and de-clutter all in one go. Also who doesn’t like saving money in this economy.
• Donate: There are people less fortunate everywhere, social media platforms make it easy to find places and ways to give around your community.
• Wicker baskets: Probably not one you were expecting but I swear by them for my mental sanity.They’re cute, come with lids and can hide a multitude of toys, blankets, shoes, etc. You name it and I probably have a wicker basket for it. Check out my favorite ones here!

4. Limit Technology Use

Most of us are guilty of using technology to avoid life and stress, doom scrolling and midnight deep dives have my name written all over them . From the palm of our hands, social media platforms have given us all a glimpse into strangers lives, creating communities from the comfort of our couches. As a mom, the ability to access information and knowledge so readily at your finger tips is both a blessing and a curse. Living slow seeks to help find a balance in your life, to reduce the negative effects technology can have on your mental, emotional and physical health.

• Break time: Taking a break from social media platforms for 30 days can be an necessary reset for your mental health. Dry January but make it social media. Better yet, Your a Bad-Ass, do both!
• Time limits: Set a time limit when you pick up the phone, controller or iPad. *Mom life hack- Start doing 30 minutes of cardio a day and let yourself doom scroll to your hearts content.*
• Music over TV: Switches like keeping the record player or Alexa playing in the background instead of the TV are easy and you’ll see the effects in everyone’s mood.

5. Embrace Nature

The effects of nature and the connection between nature and us has long since amazed me. Maybe it was the era I grew up in, the lack of technology or my Mamaw’s influence but as a kid you couldn’t pay me money to stay inside. Now as a mom the best advice I ever received was “if you can’t get your little ones calmed down take them outside or put them in water” and my goodness what a life changer. No matter your age spending time in nature can significantly enhance your mental well being and encourage living

• Take daily walks: Good for your physical health, your mental health and your kiddos. For us nothing beats our morning walks in our blanket hoodies and coffee in my hand.
• Embrace outdoor hobbies: Learning to garden, landscaping your yard or even an outdoor yoga session work wonders at clearing the mind.
• Morning Sunshine: Taking 2 minutes in the morning to walk outside, stand in the sun and take 3 deep breathes is a great habit to start your day with. Check out our post all about ways to utilize sunshine!

Remember living slow is supposed to bring you less stress, less need for perfectionism. It calls you to fill your time with things that matter to you, that bring you joy and happiness. We all get the same 24 hours in a day, the same 365 days a year, the only difference between you and the person you aspire to be is the way you choose to spend your time. Don’t spend another day living a life full of chronic stress. You deserve a peaceful life, a life that feeds your soul instead of draining it. You’ve got this, Momma.