What is the reason behind our inclination to desire everything at once? To satisfy the needs of others, we aspire to become supercomputers that can work around the clock, endangering our social and mental health. Indeed, by consistently adhering to the metro-work-sleep schedule and ultimately finding yourself in “Damn, I’m really useless” mode… Another way to put it is that you work as a web developer and are always exposed to new technologies. You see people on LinkedIn saying things like, “My friend, if you’re not using this, then you’re really useless.” Yes, it’s quite straightforward, but I’ve encountered others who had similar conversations.

Imagine living a life where you’re always on the go, under continual pressure, and dealing with the ridiculousness of our superiors. Then, when you finally get a chance to unwind, you’re gone. You’re done, we pack up, it’s over, it’s the end. Although it’s unfortunate, when I hear someone say, “My company is important, I’m constantly on the move,” However, do you stop for 30 seconds to think about the environment around you? And what if you came to the realization that life is about appreciating the small things, taking care of yourself, and looking at the world that surrounds you? Thus, let’s discuss Slow Life over a cup of tea.

What is Slow Life?

Carlo Petrini developed the concept of “Slow” through Slow Food in 1986, largely due to his critique of food. It served as a counterbalance, an appeal to choose simple foods over fast food, to take the time to appreciate what we eat, and to become conscious of its effects. I think you recall the last burger you had at MacD and the salmon lasagna your mom made and that you adore. The first thing you observed was that your parents’ work was produced with time, simplicity, and love.

You know, the piece will get a little something from its association with Slow Food. Recall that the first Slow Food protest against the negative effects of fast food was held in Paris in 1989. Slow cities, slow travel, slow fashion, and especially slow living are concepts that are slowly gaining traction worldwide.

In his book “In Praise of Slowness,” journalist Carl Honoré highlighted the idea of slowing down, emphasizing the importance of “taking the time to do things well” and appreciating each moment. His work will be translated into many languages and broadcast as radio programs, for example on BBC Radio 4, as well as on television.

« The constant pressure to do everything faster means we race through life instead of actually living it. When you use the SLOW gear, everything falls into place. You connect more, create more, focus more and achieve more. You become more. »

Carl Honore – In Praise of Slowness

Its concept

The Slow Life philosophy encourages us to slow down, focused on the important things, live intentionally, and appreciate every moment. It’s a calm and particularly considered reaction to the craziness of everyday life, to unbridled capitalist production, and to limitless, excessive spending.

Naturally, it’s not about “doing everything slowly,” but rather choosing things based on the appropriate pace and adding a specific element to your social life, business, etc. There are a few key elements in slow life.

🧩 1. Do less, but better

« Lighten up to better appreciate. »

In this age of “Faster, quicker, always more,” living a quiet life invites you to reverse the notion that you are doing too much. We’re not talking about limiting your behavior, but rather about making really deliberate decisions:

Minimize the quantity of items while giving each one consideration and purpose. Minimalist philosophy - Fewer activities but “Damn, that was fun” moments that you will remember. As mentioned in the last post, there are fewer people in friendships but more genuine ties. Minimalism in society.

You refocus your attention on what is actually important to you and get rid of anything that might be dangerous or disrupt your surroundings.

🧘‍♀️ 2. Presence

« Be here, now. »

Your best defense against mental disturbance is presence.

It’s stepping off autopilot like a machine that goes “metro, work, sleep” and getting back to the here and now, saving time. Example: *I focus entirely on the task at hand while eating, allowing no negative thoughts to distract me.

Although it may sound straightforward, did you know how many times we experience life without truly living it to the fullest? Making better judgments, living more fully, feeling more intensely, and listening more intently are all components of presence. Instead of always being hurried and trying to get everything done, it’s choosing to live a simple life. For example, “step by step.”

🧺 3. Simplicity

« Outer space reflects inner space. »

Let’s face it, you value simplicity and you act without even recognizing it. This is admirable since simplicity is about emancipating yourself rather than being constrained.

For example, it’s about deciding what is essential, helpful, and educational for you and putting the rest in the recycling bin.

Decluttering and collecting items we don’t know what to do with in our living area. One day, I’ll mention Marie Kondo, and I don’t forget the Kondomaniac followers.

• Indeed, it’s not about placing a lot of pressure on oneself with our calendar, such as “Okay, I have 30 meetings, let’s move forward.” You are not a machine, I assure you. Additionally, our ideas have the potential to become a complete jumble.I know what it is because I’ve been thinking about it all the time, and those who have anxiety understand what it is.

🧭 4. Alignment

« Be true to yourself. »

Keep your behaviors, your tempo, and your choices that genuinely represent your values all in line with who you are.

You can reject things that drain you or take you off your own path, and you can embrace what makes you happy and what it means to you.

You definitely need to practice self-listening, being real, and most importantly, having a lot of guts. You can keep some coherence and give me peace of mind in this way.

⏳ 5. Long time

« Some things take time. And that’s good news. »

Yes, spoiler alert: whether it’s building, understanding, enjoying, or making… It’s better that it takes some time. Rome wasn’t created overnight, and we are not machines! The slow life movement urges us to abandon our fixation with the here and now and rediscover the value of perseverance, travel, and gradual development. It’s like making sourdough, which doesn’t rise immediately.

Time is needed for all of these things: designing, loving, caring, grasping.

We can break out from the current culture of everything and rediscover the value of patience, process, and gradual development by adopting the slow life philosophy.

Think of your relationships as the leaves on a tree. It’s amazing, but it takes time to grow.

If you want to live a lot simpler life, you must adhere to these five key concepts, which also work well in the workplace. For instance, in order to avoid mental collapse, I highly advise sluggish business. Instead of acting hastily and superficially, it’s important to have a long-term vision. Above all, it’s about honoring human tempo and prioritizing meaning above rote execution. We’ll get a chance to talk about this.

Why I put Slow Life into practice.

I applied it, but why? Because, well, I just didn’t recognize myself anymore. chasing projects nonstop, having to put up with a “fast” lifestyle that didn’t work for me, and having bland social relationships. or looking at news and social media sites that make you feel compelled to take immediate action. The issue is that I had severe emotional despair, sadness, and a lack of confidence as a result. And that’s when you say: “I don’t want to run, I don’t want to suffer, but I want to do things that please me and move forward progressively.”

Carl’s speeches and my studies into Slow Life led me to the realization that “But this is made for me.” It became clear to me that I could say “no,” break off a toxic relationship, and say “stop, I’m stopping here and good luck little cat.” I learned to turn down low-paying jobs in favor of ones that take more time but have significant psychological value. the power to guide your life and maintain control. And it did me good, to be honest. Respect makes me more receptive and gave me greater motivation. I’ve stopped worrying about a lot of unimportant stuff and have gone back to being a human, which includes paying attention to my needs and seeing things from other perspectives.

Along with my religion, the slowing down attitude gives me a different way to think about life and, most importantly, my role in it. Just easy things that make me feel good, without feeling rushed or the need to do everything at once.

Being the turtle isn’t so bad…

Do you know the story of the turtle and the hare? Like the turtle, which goes at its natural speed, the hare aims to win the race as fast as possible without employing any guile. This is how our lives should actually be. Let’s quit hurrying and living in a hurry to appease transient individuals who will replace us like a used tissue. Instead, let’s look inward, listen to our own voices, give ourselves credit, and, most importantly, strive for our own personal fulfillment. Living at full speed is not the same as living fully. According to the quote by Tony Robbins, “Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.” Are you prepared to live outside of this never-ending craze and listen to yourself? In the comments, I’ll be waiting for you.

Sources:

https://www.decitre.fr/livres/in-praise-of-slow-9780752865263.html → To buy Carl’s book

https://www.carlhonore.com/ → Carl’s website

https://www.ted.com/talks/carl_honore_in_praise_of_slowness?subtitle=fr → Carl Honore’s TED Talk