“What if we stopped celebrating ‘busy’ as a measurement of importance? What if instead, we celebrated how much time we had spent enjoying time with the most important people in our lives?”

Handpicked from her Instagram blog, Zina Harrington intends to reinforce the concept of a slow and simple life, sharing powerful yet gentle words of wisdom with the world. Although, it’s not all about handing in your resignation this very minute and retreating to a cabin in the mountains.

Slow living is a philosophy that allows you to create a more meaningful and conscious lifestyle that is in line with what you value the most in life. It embraces mindfulness, prioritises a rich inner world and emphasises a more balanced and intentional approach to life, acting as a counter-response to the stressful, fast-paced and consumer-driven culture that has rapidly become the norm in modern society.

Following the infamous quote, “Stop and smell the roses”, the goal is to be present in the moment, celebrate quality over quantity and entertain casual everyday delights.

Despite the hashtag #slowliving currently rounding up to more than 6 million posts on Instagram, this concept was never just a mere internet trend. It stems from the vast Slow Movement, dating back to the 1980s in Italy when Carlo Petrini and a group of activists came together to prevent the opening of McDonald’s in the heart of Rome. This pioneered Slow Food, which stood to defend local food traditions, promote fair pay for producers and encourage the enjoyment of good quality food and sustainability. 

In 2004, Carl Honoré, a leading voice and author of the slow movement, helped introduce the concept of slow living to the public with the release of his book, In Praise of Slowness. He provides an insight into how the slow movement has inspired aspects of our lives which have stirred a sense of urgency in the name of success, including at work and even with parenting. 

Honoré’s own slow living journey began when he realised he was rushing through his son’s bedtime books and seemed to favour stories that were a lot shorter. This urged him to reevaluate his mindset and set his priorities in a different direction, as he felt he was missing out on something more important. 

“The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquillity to make meaningful connections - with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds.” he shares.

Another face of slow-living inspiration today, is Brooke Mc Alary, a published author and host of a popular podcast named The Slow Home. On the outside, it looked like Mc Alary couldn’t have been any more successful, between a wonderful marriage, holidays with a lively family and a furnished home. However, behind the curtains, she found herself scrambling in the darkness of severe postnatal depression after the birth of her second child. She felt it was now time to pivot to a more simple and fulfilling existence and so, with the help of her family, began to gradually declutter and integrate a deeper purpose into her life, focusing on connection and experiences, thereby silencing materialism.

McAlary’s book, Slow, published in 2017 rose to be a memoir and guide to finding pleasure and valuing the simple joys that life has to offer. She shares practical tips and habits that have helped her transition from messy to mindful.

“You are allowed to make changes to the way you’re living. You’re allowed to look after yourself. You’re allowed to decide what is important to you. And you’re allowed to create a life with these things in the centre.” she advises, encouraging her audience to create their own sense of purpose and success and ultimately, find contentment.

Together with the media and these respected advocates, the awareness of the slow movement has seen a steady increase, leaving trails in travel, design, parenting, mindset and working. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the world froze to a sudden standstill, forcing people to slow down and simplify their lives, bearing the concern of limited amenities. This led people to show an interest in the slow movement as they had more time on their hands to reflect and reassess their priorities. Several communities shared their desire to reconnect with themselves and nature, discovering meaningful hobbies and enjoying the mundane joys of life as a way to battle the ever-bearing isolation. As a result, more and more people are now proud to claim that they are no longer surviving, but thriving.

The word “slow” may paint this philosophy in a negative light, directing it more towards an unproductive, irrational and lazy lifestyle but, the slow movement confirms it to be a common misconception. Carl Honoré explains that while speed can be exciting in the right situations, rushing through life, without ever sparing a moment to acknowledge where the time went, is a recipe for burnout. This is about slowing down to switch off the mindless state of autopilot we constantly find ourselves in, providing us with the headspace to prioritise and assign the right amount of time to each task and perform it diligently. Fast and efficient is not always 
better. 

Slow living also doesn’t mean shying away from technology altogether. It is ensuring that it serves us, instead of posing as a distraction until we realise that we’ve lost hours to doom scrolling. 

This lifestyle is more than living out a romanticised cottagecore dream. It isn’t a quick fix but rather, a slow shift in mindset, feasible to begin regardless of wherever you are. It is about moving to the rhythm of the ebb and flow of life and recognizing the need to take care of oneself. As McAlary says, “This isn’t a race with a start and finish line. This is slow, imperfect, intentional and evolving” and it is the epitome of raw and unapologetic human nature. 

Maryam 
I aspire to create an urban lifestyle but integrate it with slow living. I don’t mind living in a busy city but it doesn’t mean I want to give up all my hobbies and free time and totally assimilate with the hustle culture. Because we’re a developing country, most of us still have that mindset of wanting to succeed, to escape the cycle of poverty. So, slowing down might seem unreasonable and even irresponsible. Little do we know that it ensures a much healthier and happier well being for us, overall.

Rachel 
Relaxing when you’re free nowadays is a lost concept since we’re rarely free. It’s necessary to actually schedule time to relax and to prioritise and make space for what’s important in your life and for me, this means education and family. By embracing a slow life I’d like to incorporate more hobbies such as gardening and anything creative, like sewing. It definitely sounds appealing to me

Shantha
I was always a workaholic. I climbed the ladder fast shattering all glass ceilings. I hustled because I constantly wanted to prove myself. But this came at a price. I lost connections with family and friends. Felt isolated because I only hung out with work friends. And that was my world. Most importantly, the pressure of performing at the optimal made me sick. That’s when I realised I had to hit the pause button. I never really knew of the “slow living” concept or even that there was a term for it, but my life has been so much more fulfilling. I was lucky to have plenty of savings to be able to ride the wave until I found a footing freelancing. Reconnected with friends. Before, it felt like I was surviving, living life in a simulation. Now, I can happily say I’m LIVING life.