15 'Slow Living' Practices That Changed My Life

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Slow living is about taking steps every day to remove stress from your life, avoid hustle culture, and slow things down. It ultimately makes you feel calm and relaxes your soul. In order to slow down time and live a more simple life, I practice many different things each day in my life.

In this video, I share "15 Slow Living Practices That Changed My Life."

1. Not trying to be #1

Hustle culture often makes people strive to be the best and be at the top positions; however, I believe that being number one leads to a lot of stress. In order to live a slow life, I do not strive to be the best.

2. Extremely Slow Walking

We often walk very quickly and it translates to feeling a bit more rushed and stressed out. Multiple times a week, I go for a walk, be mindful about my pace, and walk at an extremely slow place. It ultimately relaxes and calms me down.

3. Being extremely intentional the first hour of the day

The first hour of the day sets the stage on how the rest of your day is going to go. If you wake up in a hurry and stressed out, then the rest of your day you will be stressed out. However, if you wake up slow and be mindful in your first hour, the rest of the day will follow.

4. Embracing the joy of missing out

We often talk about the "fear of missing out;" however, it is impossible to live life without missing out on things. We have so many options of things to do each day and I believe in embracing what I am doing in the current moment.

5. Being less productive

Productivity is becoming extremely toxic and often when we seek productivity, we become less productive. I find it important to slow down and relax, which translates to being able to focus more.

6. Never getting a coffee to go

Coffee is a time to unwind and relax; however, often we get coffee when we are in a hurry. In order to slow down and enjoy the moment, I always choose to get coffee for here.

7. Embracing inconvenient human interactions

Technology often tries to remove the inconvenient human interactions we have on a daily basis; however, these often make time speed up because we are always wanting things quickly. To slow down, I embrace these interactions.

8. Listening to full albums

Now that we can stream music, we have every song at our fingertips. When we have so many options we often focus more on the next song, rather than the current song. In order to slow down, I listen to entire albums so I'm less focused on the next song.

9. Not filling every moment of my day with noise

At the same time, it is important to take time out of the day to embrace silence. We often try to fill every moment of the day with noise; however, in order to slow down, it is important to take moments of silence.

10. Leaving my phone behind

When I have my phone with me, I often become distracted because I am thinking about it. In order to slow down, when I am doing certain activities, I leave it behind so I can be fully present.

11. Taking the inconvenient route

We often seek what is easy and convenient, but when we do this we miss out on the beauty of the journey. When I have time, I try to walk and take less convenient routes to slow down time.

12. Stop obsessing over the clock

Often we base our days around what time it is and obsess over the clock. I find that the more focused I am on the time, the quicker times goes. In order to slow down, I try to focus less on what time it is.

13. Avoid scheduling things out in advance

When I schedule things too far in advance, I often base my life around the event. In order to live a slow life, I attempt to not schedule things too far in advance.

14. Stop watching the news

I believe that it is important to be informed on what is going on, but I do not believe that you get that from the news. I believe the news is mainly about making your panic and worry, which speeds up time. In order to slow down, I limit my news consumption and not stress over things I can't control.

15. Taking control over my finances

Personal finance is the glue that allows you to live life on your terms. When you have more control over your money, you have more control over your life.

[ElAgustin]

What's one practice that helps you live more slowly?

[j.m.b]

I'm a long haul truck driver. Sometimes I drive miles after miles without listening to anything or anybody and I love it.

[marjamesquire]

I’m a lawyer who works inside the courthouse. Usually, I race up and down the stairs for cardio. But this week, I’ve decided to practice slow moving. I’ve been walking everywhere in the courthouse one slow step at a time, like a bride walking down the aisle to the altar. It’s made such a difference being calmer at work!!

[cbcb]

I remind myself that if I died tomorrow my workplace won't close down and I will replaced next week. I then take a 5 minute mindfulness meditation.

[robertcurcio]

Love embracing the joy of missing out.

[mohammadsameer]

1. not trying to be no 1
2. extremely slow walking
3. being extremely intentional the first hour of the day
4. embrace the " joy of missing out "
5. being less productive
6. never getting the coffee to go
7. embracing inconvenient human interaction
8. listening to full albums
9. not filling every moment of the day with noise
10. leaving my phone behind
11. taking the inconvenient route
12. not obsessing over the clock
13. avoid scheduling thing out in advance
14. stop watching the news
15. taking control over my finances

[thursday]

As a teenager I used to listen to entire albums in order and walk outside. It was super therapeutic, and I’ve slowly been adding it back into my life

[melisand]

Slow walking is how I met my beautiful husband. I heard his slow measured step before I saw him and the little voice in my head told me to talk to him. I did. Such a good day😊😊

[tarajazdzewski]

Personally I think that not having a way to call for help while hiking is a bit foolish. You could leave it at the bottom of your backpack but with the number of people who go missing or get hurt hiking its not the safest choice to go without. Leaving your phone behind or turned off in a lot of instances is a great practice.

[leapheap]

You are so authentic and real. Very refreshing than the fake YouTubers out there.

[jazzispirit]

Hi Austin agreed with all 15..I’m a retired hospice nurse and active pianist and I am blessed as I am living way past the 4000 weeks you mentioned lol…I still hike.. (slowly) lol and look forward to your wonderful videos. They make so much sense! Blessings..😊

[iamjane]

" I strive to be no higher than #4. " I love it !! That is a great philosophy to live by.

[kssa]

Totally agree with stop watching the news. My husband and I stopped watching in early November of 2019 and we both say our lives are way better. We watch very little TV as a whole now because we don’t have the TV on and mindlessly watch anymore. If we turn it on it is for intentional watching.

[rlr]

This is so good! I recently retired at 57 (because I have always practiced #15) and for the first time in my life I’m doing every one of the other 14. I am enjoying life so much more and I feel calm and joy every day. Thanks for putting this all into one video

[chosenone]

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." Ferris Bueller

[tiddlywinks]

My folks both over 80 (4000 hrs) practice that slow walking every day with their walking sticks, they stop to chat to neighbours enroute and look at gardens with nice flowers, recently Halloween decorations and soon Christmas trees in windows and nature in general. I need to learn from them and the social aspect of that walk is brilliant for them, I drive places too much when I know I could walk but I don’t do take away coffee as a rule, if I’m having a coffee it’s always with a friend for a chat.

[Parel-pfnc]

Thank you for your inspiration and humor!
My way of slow living is to work part-time, walking (both easy to do in the Netherlands), have regular tea breaks and take the time to dream during the day.
Have a nice day!

[livetomanifest]

This info is what we need most in western society. It’s an emergency gauze and a profusely bleeding wound and that wound is depression, lack of presence, heart attacks etc

[robinborucki]

You are 💯 percent right on all 15. Most people today are always racing around in a hurry with everything they do. I make sure I do just the opposite. Im keeping as much stress out of my life as possible. Slow living let’s you value your time more. It’s well worth living this way! Thanks for ur video 😁 ❤️ it! 👍👌

[vivekpuri-]

Slow down n not rushing is my aim now
Commenting here so i get reminded of slowing down in life