Slow Living Isn’t Always Easy Living
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In a world that moves faster with every passing day, the concept of slow living has become increasingly appealing. It's romanticized in social media reels of morning routines with hand-ground coffee, homemade bread rising on a counter, and a wardrobe of carefully curated linen dresses. But slow living isn’t synonymous with homesteading or traditional domestic roles (sometimes labeled “trad wives”). Nor is it about achieving an aesthetic ideal. Slow living is about being intentional with your time, energy, and resources. And let’s be real—it’s not always easy, especially when juggling a full-time job, family responsibilities, or the demands of modern life.
What Is Slow Living?
At its core, slow living is about pausing in a fast-paced world to intentionally savor life. It’s the practice of living in alignment with your values and focusing on what truly brings joy and fulfillment. For some, this might look like growing their own food or sewing their clothes. For others, it might be as simple as taking a moment to breathe deeply between Zoom meetings or spending a Saturday reorganizing their space to reflect a sense of calm and order.
The challenge of slow living is finding ways to integrate it into the reality of modern life, where the workweek often stretches beyond 40 hours and free time feels fleeting.
Mindful Spending
One pillar of slow living is financial intentionality. This doesn’t mean cutting yourself off from every luxury but rather thinking carefully about how and why you spend.
Low or No-Spend Challenges: Commit to a month of buying only necessities, like groceries or gas, and see how it transforms your perspective. Use the time and money saved to reflect on what truly brings joy into your life.
Using What You Have: That pantry you keep meaning to organize? Or the forgotten art supplies collecting dust? Slow living encourages us to rediscover and use what we already own instead of constantly acquiring more.
But intentionality doesn’t mean never buying something new. Sometimes, investing in a well-made item that truly aligns with your needs or values is the best choice. For instance, if you’ve been considering something linked here from one of my affiliate recommendations, know that mindful purchases—ones that improve your life or reduce waste in the long run—can absolutely fit within the ethos of slow living. Just take a moment to ask yourself, Does this support the life I’m trying to build?
Mindful spending isn’t just about saving money—it’s about reducing the mental clutter that comes with overconsumption and ensuring your purchases add true value to your life.
If you are looking for some inspiration for simplifying and living with more intention The Year of Less by Cait Flanders is a great listen while cleaning, exercising or relaxing.
Taking Care of What You Own
Slow living thrives on the principle of care—caring for your belongings, your surroundings, and yourself. Instead of rushing out to replace broken items, invest time in repairing them. Tend to your home regularly, not as a chore but as an act of love for your space. Polishing a wood table, folding your clothes with care, or even cleaning your car can feel like meditative acts when done with intention.
This principle extends beyond the physical into the realm of health and spirit. Slow living asks you to tend to yourself—whether it’s through nourishing meals, time outside, meditation, or quiet reflection.
Reclaiming Fun Without Spending
The “slow” in slow living also applies to how we entertain ourselves. In a culture that often equates fun with shopping sprees, dining out, or expensive vacations, it can feel counterintuitive to prioritize free or low-cost activities.
Spend an afternoon hiking a local trail, reading a book from the library, or baking something from scratch.
Rediscover hobbies that don’t require frequent purchases—gardening, journaling, knitting, or painting.
Plan intentional time with friends, like potluck dinners or board game nights, where connection takes center stage over consumption.
The beauty of these activities is that they cultivate fulfillment without adding financial or mental clutter.
Slowing Down to Speed Up Fulfillment
It’s easy to mistake slow living for simplicity or laziness, but this lifestyle is often anything but. It takes effort to slow down in a culture that prioritizes productivity and instant gratification. It takes time to reflect on what truly matters and to live in a way that aligns with your values.
Slow living isn’t about being idle; it’s about creating a life you don’t feel the need to escape from. A life where you feel joy in the little things—a tidy corner of your home, a well-loved pair of shoes, the quiet moments you carve out for yourself.
The Reason for Slowing Down
Ultimately, slow living isn’t the goal itself—it’s a means to an end. The reason we slow down isn’t just to move more slowly but to create a life we love. It’s about feeling fulfilled, aligned, and connected to what matters most.
So yes, slow living isn’t always easy. But the rewards—inner peace, a stronger sense of purpose, and more room for joy—make the effort worthwhile.
What small step can you take today to begin slowing down? Maybe it’s a five-minute pause, a deep breath, or a commitment to repair instead of replace. Whatever it is, know that slow living is a practice, not a destination. One mindful moment at a time, you can create a life you love.
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Ostara for Self Care and Intentional Living
It’s hard to believe that Ostara and the spring equinox are just a few days away. I’m taking some advice from myself (or rather from the Ostara Self Care Course I wrote up last year) to spend some time planning for future goals. I’ve been thinking a lot about creative projects. I have many printables in the works, as well as a lot of notes and research on the Wheel of the Year and how to live more intentionally within the seasons. And I feel like there is something bigger here than just blog posts and stand alone printables. So, I’ve started sketching out a very rough outline of a book. Which feels scary and super exciting at the same time.
My imposter syndrome reared up slightly when I began thinking about this BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). I mean, many of you have been around long enough to see the number of typos that I make on a regular basis. I am not the world's best editor. But the thing is…what is life worth if you don’t try scary and exciting things? Yes, you might fail, but you might also fly.
With this book idea, I’m planting seeds of joy, anticipation and excitement for Ostara. And even if it takes a couple Wheel of the Years to see the final results, that’s okay with me. What about you? What seeds are you planting this spring? What joy are you cultivating? Do you have any BHAGS you’re ready to start on?
This week’s printable is also from the free Ostara Course and is one of my personal favorites. You can use it to set intentions, take inspired action and cultivate a life that you love.
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