How to Start Living a Slow Life -A Beginners Guide

A few years ago the idea of a slow life sounded pretty bizarre to most people, flash forward to after 2020’s insanity and the idea of living a slow life no longer seemed to be such a strange choice. Slowing down doesn’t mean being lazy or less productive and contrary to your Instagram feed, you don’t need to be rich to enjoy a slow living lifestyle. Although slow living looks different for everyone, the benefits are well worth the lifestyle change.

Understanding the Slow Life Philosophy

I’ve always described the slow life philosophy, in its most basic form, as the idea of quality over quantity. Its about prioritizing what you value most, being intentional and having gratitude for what already exists in your life. A slow life isn’t necessarily about doing everything slow but more so about being present in everything you do.

Benefits of a Slow Life

• Reduced Stress: Motherhood is stressful enough all by itself, quit rushing and grant yourself the time to complete tasks without feeling like a chicken with its head cut off.
• Improved Mental Health: Mindfulness and presence can lead to feeling less anxious.
• Stronger Connections: Having time and energy to explore your relationships more deeply and learn to be fully present.
• Environmental Impact: Often, a slow life aligns with sustainable living, reducing your carbon footprint.

A Slow Life for Momma’s

Picture this.
The tv’s to loud.
The toddlers toy is singing a muffled version of “If your happy and you know it” from the bottom of the toy bin.
The toddler himself refuses a nap and is zooming his bus down the hall way honking the horn that sound resembles bozo the clowns nose.
My shirts to tight in all the wrong places.
My to-do-list gets longer as the hours tick by too quick to catch up.
Pan the camera to find me sobbing into the sink as I wash the overflowing pile of dirty dishes.

If any of that sounds familiar or like me, that is just a normal Tuesday for you, then listen up Momma i’m here to share the love.

When your a mom the idea of slowing down during the day could sound like the initiation of your worlds version of WWIII. As everyone knows, and if you didn’t then now you do, Moms make the world go round and without them the wheels would fall off.

You Momma, need to be the first priority. Grant yourself permission to slow down and enjoy life as much as you provide enjoyment for all those around you. You are worthy of love from yourself and others not for what you do but for just being you. You are worthy of feeling peace, calm and presence everyday.

Slow living offers you a lifestyle that focus’s on what truly matters to you and finding the appreciation for all the things you are already blessed with even when things aren’t at their brightest. A slow living lifestyle offers you a chance to enjoy motherhood in its entirety so you don’t look back one day and have regrets you weren’t more present and connected with those who matter most to you.

Steps to Live a Slow Life

1. Prioritize and Simplify

• Identify Core Values: Determine what is most important to you—whether it’s family, health, creativity, everyone’s are different, no shame in yours.
• Declutter Your Life: Remove physical and mental clutter. This includes decluttering your home and reducing commitments that don’t align with your values.Obviously be practical, this isn’t me telling you to up and quit your job (unfortunately), we’ve all got bills to pay.

2. Practice Mindfulness

• Meditate Daily: Spend a few minutes each day meditating to enhance mindfulness and connect to yourself.
• Mindful Eating: Take time to enjoy your meals without distractions. Cooking meals at home can help you feel present in a task and gives you control on what ingredients your putting in you and your families body. BONUS: Let the little one help with the prep, work smarter not harder toddler mommas. (Pro tip- Bath towels over the counter and the floor make clean up a breeze.) Here’s our Favorite toddler friendly utensils.

3. Limit Technology Use

• Digital Detox: Set specific time limits for scrolling social media to avoid inadvertently getting stuck in the same spot on your couch for hours after putting the kids to bed.(Guilty here)
• Unplug Regularly: Spend time away from screens to reconnect with yourself and the real world around you.

4. Cultivate Hobbies and Passions

• Engage in Creative Activities: Whether it’s painting, gardening, or writing, find activities that bring you joy and relaxation.
• Learn New Skills: Take up something you’ve always wanted to try, like playing the guitar or tackling sourdough. Remind yourself, progress not perfection, you got it Momma.

5. Connect with Nature

• Spend Time Outdoors: Regularly spend time in nature, whether it’s a daily walk around the block or even your yard, not to mention nature’s like a giant reset button for little ones.
• Gardening: Connect to nature, cut your grocery bill, know where your foods coming from and learn a very handy skill? A giant win on all fronts. Besides, I have a black thumb and I can still grow potatoes, onions, garlic and ginger, start simple.

6. Build Meaningful Relationships

• Quality Time with Loved Ones: Prioritize relationships by spending meaningful time with family and friends.
• Community Involvement: Engage in local events or volunteer work to strengthen your sense of community.

Overcoming Challenges

Transitioning to a slow life may indeed seem forced and unnatural as most of us have spent years subscribed to the hustle culture. Here are a few tips to help:

• Set Realistic Goals: Start with small changes and gradually incorporate more aspects of slow living into your routine. Resist that urge for immediate gratification and change, you and I both know it ends bad. Start slow.
• Seek Support: Connect with others who are also interested in slow living for encouragement and ideas. [Hello, Welcome to Roots and Cradle we’ll be your tour guide for this trip.]
• Be Patient: Understand that change takes time and be gentle with yourself as you retrain those ingrained habits.

By taking the leap into a slow life you can cultivate a lifestyle that aligns with your values and fosters a deeper sense of satisfaction and peace. Embracing the slow life is a personal journey, and it’s about finding what works best for you and your family.

Remember,

Ready to jump in? Start here with our 5 tips to start living a slow life today.