Table of ContentsTable of ContentsExpandSlowing Down in a Fast WorldShifting PrioritiesThe Revolution of the ResolutionFine-Tuning Your Vision of Slow LivingIs Slow Living Possible for All?Easing the PaceView All

Table of ContentsExpandSlowing Down in a Fast WorldShifting PrioritiesThe Revolution of the ResolutionFine-Tuning Your Vision of Slow LivingIs Slow Living Possible for All?Easing the PaceView All

Table of ContentsExpandSlowing Down in a Fast WorldShifting PrioritiesThe Revolution of the ResolutionFine-Tuning Your Vision of Slow LivingIs Slow Living Possible for All?Easing the Pace

Table of ContentsExpand

Expand

Slowing Down in a Fast World

Shifting Priorities

The Revolution of the Resolution

Fine-Tuning Your Vision of Slow Living

Is Slow Living Possible for All?

Easing the Pace

View All

Evidence shows that New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken…and people are no longer making them. This year, Verywell Mind andVerywell Fitare taking a joint stance against the resolution and providing readers with actionable, evidence-based ways to make lasting changes that will serve our readers’ minds, bodies, and spirits well beyond 2024. Join us to learn how to optimize your wellness, one small step at a time.In This Digital Issue:How to Manifest What You Really Want in Your LifeWhy We’re Still Conditioned to Uphold New Year’s ResolutionsThe Psychology Behind Why New Year’s Resolutions FailHow to Set SMART Goals in TherapyDry January: The Benefits of a Month Without AlcoholHow to Use a Vision Board to Achieve Your Goals

Evidence shows that New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken…and people are no longer making them. This year, Verywell Mind andVerywell Fitare taking a joint stance against the resolution and providing readers with actionable, evidence-based ways to make lasting changes that will serve our readers’ minds, bodies, and spirits well beyond 2024. Join us to learn how to optimize your wellness, one small step at a time.

In This Digital Issue:

While the concept and practice of slow, intentional, and mindful living has been around since ancient times and has roots in Buddhist, Confucian, and Daoist practices, slow living has been having a resurgence in recent years as trends like “quiet quitting” and the “soft girl era” turn hustle culture on its head.

Slow LivingSlow living is often described as the art of living life at a leisurely pace, deciding to engage with one’s sense of time in a deliberate manner.

Slow Living

Slow living is often described as the art of living life at a leisurely pace, deciding to engage with one’s sense of time in a deliberate manner.

The origins of the Western world’s exploration into the slow living movement started withSlow Food. In 1986, journalist Carlo Petrini gathered a group of activists to help him protest Italy’s first-ever McDonald’s. Drawing on a long-lost culture of sourcing local and sustainable foods that are cooked with intention, Slow Food became a global movement. Slow Food inevitably spurred the Western world’s interest in a slower pace of life, one that doesn’t require scarfing down low-nutrient meals in-between back-to-back meetings and instead honors the tradition and pleasure of intentionally using one’s time with presence.

When we consider the alternate lifestyle that leads tostressand burnout, it is a significant precursor to poor health, inflaming issues like headaches,sleep issues, digestive disorders,depression, andanxiety.With this in mind, slow living isn’t only more enjoyable; it is also a major boon for one’s overall health.

However, as one can imagine, it isn’t as simple as waking up one day and deciding it is time to do less. Challenged to understand this near-mythical lifestyle, we reached out toKathleen DeVos, LMFTto learn how this concept can be put into practice.

To me, slow living is as much about how we’re structuring our lives and spending our time as it is how we are relating to our time and the things in our life.—KATHLEEN DEVOS, LMFT

To me, slow living is as much about how we’re structuring our lives and spending our time as it is how we are relating to our time and the things in our life.

—KATHLEEN DEVOS, LMFT

Cautious of prescribing ways of being that simply aren’t accessible to many folks, it is refreshing to hear a very rational way of viewing this. “We can have a lot going on, but be present, findstillness, and be intentional in what we’re choosing,” she continued.

How Are Headaches and Stress Connected?

In 2020,Roxanne Morrisonwas working a busy job that she loved. She was exhausted but found her work fulfilling—she was overseeing operations, creative production, and marketing at a large company she felt very connected to. Yet, there was a part of her that knew she was burning the candle at both ends, understanding that the pace was not sustainable. Then, the summer rolled around, and she found herself unemployed thanks to a round of layoffs.

“Slow living is rooted in the embodiment ofpleasureas well,” she explained. “A day in the life is waking up and listening to [myself] to see what [I] need.”

A day in the life is waking up and listening to [myself] to see what [I] need.—ROXANNE MORRISON, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

A day in the life is waking up and listening to [myself] to see what [I] need.

—ROXANNE MORRISON, MULTIDISCIPLINARY ARTIST

In the slowness came the calling to pursue two of her long-term passions:astrologyandsculpting. She was able to start two businesses out of these passions, signaling a major reprioritizing of her desires. Yet, it isn’t without its concerns. Businesses can have highs and lows. “Figuring out how I am going to make things work financially can bepart of the stress. It would be a utopia if I didn’t have to deal with that,” she stated.

With the darkness of winter comesNew Year’s resolutions. It wouldn’t be uncommon to read this article and vow to dial your life back to a leisurely pace. While this is noble, it is essential to consider what may arise when you turn down the speed of your daily life. “Slow living can give youanxietyat times… Your brain starts to go, and you start to get fidgety and uncomfortable with the stillness,” Morrison admitted.

It turns out this is a common side effect of slow living. “When we slow down, and part of the reason I think there is a lot offeararound slowing down, we have to be prepared for encounters with what arises in the space we create,” shares DeVos. “This can be terrifying. We might meet self-judgment, unfamiliar emotions, fear of what will happen if we step back or away.” Such big feelings may prompt some to jump ship and avoid the lifestyle changes altogether.

We might meet self-judgment, unfamiliar emotions, fear of what will happen if we step back or away.—KATHLEEN DEVOS, LMFT

We might meet self-judgment, unfamiliar emotions, fear of what will happen if we step back or away.

The resolution to live a more thoughtful lifestyle is common. About 25% of Americans who made resolutions in 2022 focused on the intention to live a healthier life. Another 21% stated they were resolving to commit to their personal improvement or happiness.However, the idea of working towards a goal seems to be antithetical to the concept of slow living. After all, the point is to slow down, live more, and work less. Plus, many struggle to actually meet their resolutions.

In our2020 reader poll, 25% of respondents stated they rarely meet their New Year’s resolutions goals. Those who opted not to make a resolution shared reasoning like there is already enough stress in their life, or when they do commit to a resolution, they typically don’t follow through with it.

Does this mean we forgo resolutions altogether? Maybe not. Let’s turn to some research to see what shifts a resolution into lasting change.

A study on New Year’s resolutions published in 2020 found approach-oriented goals, or goals that focus on achieving the desired outcome, to be far more successful than avoidance-oriented goals, which focus on getting rid of unwanted outcomes. This same study also concluded thatsupportcan help achieve goals, and New Year’s resolutions can have positive long-term effects in the years that follow.

Keeping this research in mind, consider where you can begin to make gentle changes to call in a new experience. “For example, if one of my values iscreativity, how am I protecting time, resources, and a space for this to emerge?” DeVos states.

DeVos also acknowledged the inherent challenge that comes with moving towards slow living. “What are you willing to give up? Are you trying to negotiate with your vision of slow living… in order to avoid having to make toughchangesor come up against hard truths?”

Some of you may be hungry for a lifestyle that prioritizes family. “If family dinners are in your vision, what needs to happen daily to enable that? How might you need to sit down with your partner or family to restructure your weeks?” she explained, mentioning that this might require newboundarieswith yourself or at work.

Feel like you could benefit from some support in shifting to a slower lifestyle? See if any other friends are hoping to do the same and if you can support each other.

How to Achieve a State of Flow

Without a doubt, career demands and financial realities can outshine the possibility of slow living for many. If you’re finding yourself unmoored in a 9 to 5 that feels more like a 9 to 9, there is hope. First, you may need to free yourself from the illusion that constantly working equates to high productivity and more self-worth.

For those of you working in busy environments with urgent deadlines, there are ways to call in slowness into your daily life. Let’s take the Pomodoro Technique. This method invites folks to navigate time management a bit differently. You’ll set a timer for 25 minutes and work diligently, trying your best to avoid all distractions. When the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. Repeat three more times and then take a 30-minute break before starting the process over again.

This timing of this technique can be adapted to the unique challenges of your job. On your breaks, you might consider grabbing a coffee and taking a moment to enjoy it, walking outside to feel the sun on your face, or stretching at your desk for a few minutes.

A 2022 study found the Pomodoro Technique to enhance the learning and skills of students.

Unlinking Your Self-Worth From Your Work

Slow living is a conversation inherently steeped inprivilege. “So many systems are stacked against members of our society who are, in theory, desperate to slow down, but the structure of capitalism is built around burnout and scarcity,” explains DeVos. With this in mind, let’s consider some strategies for practicing slow living in your life:

Between my classes, I would take off my shoes, lie in the grass, and feel thesunon my face. I’d takedeep breathsand notice the sound of the wind in my ears, the itchy feeling of the grass on my bare feet. Sometimes, this would last for less than five minutes. Other times, I would fall asleep and wake up in a hurry to avoid getting docked points for tardiness. I was slowing down, even if it didn’t seem like it. Amidgrief, financial insecurity, and despair, I found a pocket of peace.

According to DeVos, these moments count as part of the movement. “Slow living doesn’t have to mean drastic change. Slow living doesn’t have to mean sacrifice. It can actually lead us to more freedom.”

On those days I rolled into class late, face still red from the sun and imprints of grass markings on my cheek, I relished in the moment of slowness I got, the liberation of allowing myself to simply breathe. Perhaps freedom is here. We just need to slow down and take it in.

6 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Parkins W.Out of time: fast subjects and slow living.Time Soc.. 2004;13(2-3):363-382. doi:10.1177/0961463X04045662Slow Food.Our History.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.YouGovAmerica.Americans who plan to make New Year’s resolutions are more optimistic about better things in 2022.Oscarsson M, Carlbring P, Andersson G, Rozental A.A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals.PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097Septiani WE, Sulistyaningsih S, Syakur A.The effectiveness of pomodoro technique on students’ descriptive text writing quality.Jurnal Basicedu. 2022;6(3):3384-3390. doi:10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2619

6 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Parkins W.Out of time: fast subjects and slow living.Time Soc.. 2004;13(2-3):363-382. doi:10.1177/0961463X04045662Slow Food.Our History.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.YouGovAmerica.Americans who plan to make New Year’s resolutions are more optimistic about better things in 2022.Oscarsson M, Carlbring P, Andersson G, Rozental A.A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals.PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097Septiani WE, Sulistyaningsih S, Syakur A.The effectiveness of pomodoro technique on students’ descriptive text writing quality.Jurnal Basicedu. 2022;6(3):3384-3390. doi:10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2619

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Parkins W.Out of time: fast subjects and slow living.Time Soc.. 2004;13(2-3):363-382. doi:10.1177/0961463X04045662Slow Food.Our History.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.YouGovAmerica.Americans who plan to make New Year’s resolutions are more optimistic about better things in 2022.Oscarsson M, Carlbring P, Andersson G, Rozental A.A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals.PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097Septiani WE, Sulistyaningsih S, Syakur A.The effectiveness of pomodoro technique on students’ descriptive text writing quality.Jurnal Basicedu. 2022;6(3):3384-3390. doi:10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2619

Parkins W.Out of time: fast subjects and slow living.Time Soc.. 2004;13(2-3):363-382. doi:10.1177/0961463X04045662

Slow Food.Our History.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Stress.

YouGovAmerica.Americans who plan to make New Year’s resolutions are more optimistic about better things in 2022.

Oscarsson M, Carlbring P, Andersson G, Rozental A.A large-scale experiment on New Year’s resolutions: Approach-oriented goals are more successful than avoidance-oriented goals.PLOS ONE. 2020;15(12):e0234097. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234097

Septiani WE, Sulistyaningsih S, Syakur A.The effectiveness of pomodoro technique on students’ descriptive text writing quality.Jurnal Basicedu. 2022;6(3):3384-3390. doi:10.31004/basicedu.v6i3.2619

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