How to Embrace a Slow Living Lifestyle in 6 Simple Steps

How to Embrace a Slow Living Lifestyle in 6 Simple Steps

This is what slow living has taught me since January… Life’s too short to rush through every moment.

I remember what slow living used to feel like. Back when I first moved out on my own, I was working multiple jobs, juggling bills, learning how to cook rice without burning it—but somehow, I still found time for the things that lit me up. Evening walks, books I actually finished, slow mornings that didn’t begin with a screen in my face.

But somewhere along the way—life picked up speed. And it hasn’t really slowed down since. Honestly? It’s been a total blur.

If you feel like life is just happening to you while you’re sprinting to keep up, you’re not alone. I see it in my friends, in the conversations I overhear, and even in my own reflection when I realize I’ve barely exhaled all day. So this year, I made a change.

Not a massive life overhaul. Just… a shift. A choice to stop living in fast-forward. That’s what slow living has become for me—not a trend, but a lifestyle that feels like exhaling after holding my breath for years.

Here’s what I’ve learned—and how you can start embracing slow living, too.

How to Embrace a Slow Living Lifestyle

1. Define What “Slow” Means to You

Let’s get one thing straight: slow living doesn’t look the same for everyone. And it shouldn’t. This lifestyle is personal. It’s flexible. And it starts by asking yourself a few honest questions:

• Why do I want to slow down?

• What areas of my life feel like they’re running me instead of the other way around?

• What do I crave more time, space, or energy for?

I had to admit to myself that I’d been living on autopilot. And that realization stung. But it also cracked something open in me. Once you name what’s not working, you get to redefine how you want to move through your days.

Maybe your “slow” means not scheduling back-to-back plans every weekend. Maybe it’s swapping your frantic morning routine for one that gives you time to breathe. Whatever it is, let it be yours.

2. Simplify Your Daily Routine

If your mornings feel like a mad dash and your evenings are just a countdown to bedtime, I know the feeling. I lived like that for years. But slow living nudges you to ask: Does it really need to be this intense?

Start small. I began by banning my phone from the first 30 minutes of my morning. That alone changed everything. I had time to just… wake up. Not scroll. Not react. Just exist.

I also started creating white space in my schedule—on purpose. Saying no to things that felt draining instead of fulfilling. Choosing one or two things to focus on each day instead of ten. Multitasking used to make me feel efficient, but honestly? It just left me scattered.

The thing is:

You don’t have to “do it all.” Your to-do list is not the boss of you. If something can wait, let it.

3. Declutter More Than Just Your Closet

We often think of clutter as physical stuff—junk drawers, overstuffed closets, kitchen counters. But slow living taught me that clutter shows up everywhere. In our minds. Our digital lives. Our emotional spaces.

I started small. Tidying my space gave me literal breathing room. But then I moved deeper. I cleared out apps that drained me. Unfollowed accounts that made me feel “less than.” Wrote in my journal when my thoughts felt tangled.

And here’s the wild part: boredom—something we’ve been taught to avoid—is kind of amazing. When I gave myself space to just be, my creativity came back. My clarity returned. I remembered what it felt like to hear my own thoughts again.

Decluttering isn’t about minimalism. It’s about mental peace.

4. Embrace Free Time (and Actually Enjoy It)

Slow living helped me realize how uncomfortable I’d become with stillness. I’d reach for my phone during every gap. Fill silence with noise. Avoid any moment that felt “unproductive.”

But now? I’ve started leaving space to just be. I eat without distractions. I take slow walks where I let my mind wander. I listen fully when I’m talking with someone instead of mentally drafting my next reply.

And it’s so freeing.

You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t need a reason to enjoy free time. Slow living invites you to stop measuring your worth by your output—and to start noticing the beauty in being present.

5. Reconnect With the Things That Make You Feel Alive

When was the last time you did something simply because it brought you joy?

For me, slow living started with something simple—stepping outside in the morning, coffee in hand, just to listen to the birds. No rush, no phone, no plan. Just presence. It’s been learning to run again, even with chronic pain—moving slowly, listening to my body, and honouring the effort. It’s sitting with my guitar or at the piano, letting music guide the moment. Not scrolling. Not overthinking. Just… being.

It reminded me that joy doesn’t have to be big or expensive. It can be a walk around the block. A plant you’re nurturing. A homemade meal you actually slow down to savour.

Nature, in particular, has this beautiful way of slowing us down. When you align with the rhythm of the seasons, or spend a few minutes grounded in the real world (hello bare feet in grass), your nervous system thanks you. Making you feel like a kid again.

Slow living isn’t about doing less for the sake of it—it’s about doing more of what matters.

6. Live With Intention (Even in the Little Things)

Slow living has taught me that intention is everything. And it shows up in the most ordinary moments.

Now I shop more consciously—fewer impulse buys, more things I truly love. I cook more at home, even if it’s just something simple like roasted veggies or a cozy pasta bowl. I check in with myself and my calendar before I commit to anything: Does this align with the life I want to create?

Sometimes the answer is no. And that’s okay.

When you live intentionally, your days start to feel more like yours. Less like a treadmill. More like a garden you’re tending with care.

You Deserve to Slow Down

You don’t need to burn out to justify a slower life.

Slow living isn’t about getting it “right” or creating some perfect aesthetic. It’s about being present. About waking up to your life and remembering: this is it. These are your days. You get to decide how they feel.

Start small. Light a candle and drink your tea without multitasking. Sit in the sun for five minutes. Choose one thing to let go of this week.

You’re allowed to stop running.

You’re allowed to breathe.

And you’re allowed to create a life that feels simple, rich, and fully yours.

cover photo made on canva.