Slow Living in 2024: Things I Don't Do (Anymore)

Slowing down and living a simple life can be challenging in this fast world. Everybody seems stressed and in a hurry all the time. Through self reflection and self improvement I identified some activities that I don't want in my life in order to live a happier, more fulfilled and relaxed and overall slower life.

Perhaps you will find an activity in this video that inspires you to change something for yourself :)

Chapters:
00:00 - Intro:
02:16 - Owning and watching TV
05:50 - Not buying new things all the time
08:39 - Not caring about expensinve brands
09:47 - Deleting social media
13:04 - Spending time in big cities
15:00 - Outro

[lindadorman]

I'm 63 and made changes to simplify my life this year. I deleted most of my social media, stopped watching news and opinion shows, changed my daily schedule to go to sleep early and get up early, declutter my home and focus on my health. Honestly, paying attention to politics and what's going on in the world was too depressing and overwhelming. I'm learning to appreciate stillness, quiet time and the joy of doing nothing.

[sheilaabrahams]

Here in the USA, people will judge you by what you own. Once you stop worrying about what people think, you can start living your own life, not theirs. It is very liberating. 😊

[tiandao]

I'm 60. I lost my job of 35 years in December. I ran screaming from the city and have been working on fixing up my grandparents house and four acres. Looking forward to planting a garden and fruit trees. I'm blessed by the quiet.

[Homehaven]

It's so good to see younger people embracing slower living. I'm a product of the 70's and 80's. All we knew was school, working and striving for that illusion of the American Dream. I'm nearing 50 and finally see the faults in our education system. Slower paced living is within our reach. It is attainable.

[michelangelo_]

Yeah I’ve realised in the last few weeks that I’m generally in too much of a rush when i do anything: showering, packing a bag, walking, driving, making a meal - and it feels like shit. I’m gonna put in a request tomorrow at work to go down to 4 days per week instead of 5. I want to create more time in my life for myself. Life is short, you can’t get time back.

[jeewanipitakotuwage]

Grew up in Germany, came back to Sri Lanka where I was born to live a slow paced lifestyle.Love to sit in my garden with a cup of coffee and watch the blessings all around me.

[deerhaven]

I like to say I "used" the city (Los Angeles, CA, USA) as a means to an end. In other words, I was able to make good money there so when I retired I was able to get the hell out of there. I plotted my escape for decades. Now I live somewhere in the middle of a forest outside of Olympia, WA, USA within walking distance to an inland sea (Puget Sound). I celebrate the joy of what I have every, single, day.

[Xxxxxx-pc]

I’m in southern Indiana, USA. I’m 56, my husband is 78. Our life was forcibly slowed down last September when he developed an aggressive cancer. He is beginning his comeback from the ravages of chemotherapy, which stole our attention the entire winter. Having our lives stripped down to the bare minimum of simple survival, we are now rejoining life on a more meaningful level. Although he hasn’t achieved remission, and radiation therapy looms in the foreground, life is good. Life is good because we have a greater appreciation for and awareness of God’s common graces: nature, health, life itself.

[manasikashyap]

My husband & I got rid of TV 20 years ago. We currently don’t even own a car. We grow our own veggies & 12 dwarf fruit trees in a suburban plot. We also don’t have kids. The money & time we save goes towards traveling, hiking & doing the things we love.

[theveryfirst]

Totally agree. I avoid cities too. I live in the swiss countryside too. I love going for a walk or just sitting in my garden. I really enjoy caring for my garden.

[lapoetachina]

I am 55 and now understand the peace my father must have felt when he simply sat in a chair in silence. I will now find myself sometimes simply sitting in my comfy armchair in total silence. No phone in hands. Maybe a cup of coffee or tea, and just being still. It is priceless. I still work in a structured job; however when I am home and not working, I look for moments of stillness to just “be.” This has helped reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. I am remembering my love of creating art and cooking good meals and enjoying nature. There was a time I didn’t own a TV (in my 20’s) and I had much more enriching life experiences those years. I have been considering deleting all of my social media even though I would miss seeing what my family and friends are doing. My close family and friends communicate with me outside of social media and those are more meaningful conversations and memories.

[karolinalul]

First slow living male channel i came across!! 💕💕💕

[obifey]

I'm 61 and have only about 2 decades left on Earth. Nothing I've ever pursued has amounted to anything. To live slow and minimally is KEY to having PEACE!
My only true pursuit is Inner Healing and Trauma Release Work: ridding my soul of all the accumulated trapped emotions and hellish thoughts.

I can only do this by SLOWING DOWN and turning inward. My lifestyle is like yours. To heal the Inner Madness we have to let go of the Outer Madness
imposed on us by this fucked up society with their "Societal Norms".

. . . can I come live with you in Switzerland? (he-he)

[cl]

There is a great documentary called "Happy" about a man who lives a simple life. It explores the idea that the less you are told you want (by ads, media and society), the happier you are.

[lukec]

I’m currently in a big transition stage of realising that simplicity is what I really want. I kind of knew that it was better before, but now I’m really feeling it. I’ve stopped all of my bad coping strategies; no partying, no social media, no alcohol, and I’m working towards this simpler yet better lifestyle. I currently live in Cologne, Germany, and I’m totally done with the consumerism and people’s inability to connect with each other in the city (I’m originally from the countryside in England). I hate the sound of cars, and I’m totally overstimulated by just a trip to the shop, and it makes you miserable very quick. I will leave the city within the next 1 to 1.5 years once I have a bit more money and a better idea of where I want to be. I know exactly what I want, and this video has actually been quite validating, so thanks 🙏🏼

[georgemcwilliams]

I like this new mindset that this generation has. It’s very grounded and makes me hopeful for the future.

[desertbluesplaylist]

Yes to all of these. I'm the same. Social media, TV, loud consumerism, etc is not for many of us. I'm literally allergic to cities it's like a buzzing radio frequency in my head when I visit...and I cannot wait to leave them! Nature is the best healer and being around like-minded friends is priceless. Just found you, and really enjoyed this video, thank you!

[bryanwittenburg]

Becoming debt free is a huge component of this idea of living. Can’t slow down if you’re swimming in debt.

[rainbowstarks]

I love these and relate to most of them :)
Some other things I do:
- I don't buy presents for people (even birthdays and Christmas) and of course I let people know I don't want any either. I'd rather spend time with them.
- I have never and will never work full time, and have adjusted and will continue to adjust my lifestyle to suit.
- I keep my phone on silent 24/7, so I don't get spooked by notifications.
- I don't keep up with the news and resist peer pressure to do so.
- I say no to most social events, unless it's something i really want to do.
I am a lot happier.

[zikhonamakala]

ignorance is bliss. At home we stopped watching tv in 2021. I recently deleted social media apps on my phone - best thing I ever done 🤞I feel less anxious and not comparing myself to anyone.