14 Realistic Slow Living Tips For Everyday Life

If you’re looking for a way to embrace slow living without quitting your job or moving to a remote English cottage, you’re in the right place.

A lot of Pinterest photos show you what slow living looks like. But I’m here to tell you how it actually works in a busy, realistic life.

Because life often feels like an endless onslaught of notifications and urgent emails. You stare at a to-do list that only grows longer, feeling the pressure of a culture that glamorizes busyness.

You’re worried that if you slow down, you’ll fall behind and miss whatever next great thing your WhatsApp group is planning.

But I’ve been practicing a slower lifestyle for years and I can tell you: slowing down actually makes you more productive.

Habits like working in time blocks and intentional morning and evening routines have completely overhauled my days. I’m living and no longer chasing inboxes and screens.

These slow living tips aren’t for people who live on a strawberry farm with slow internet.

They’re for you: the real human being navigating their calendars and dreams.

Because I know how unrealistic slow living feels when you’re gulping coffee on an empty stomach and racing to a meeting across town.

But I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to change your zip code to slow down your life.

So what exactly is slow living?

Slow living is an intentional approach to everyday life that cuts out busyness to focus on what really matters.
Slow living includes everything from eating mindfully to planning less packed vacation itineraries.
It’s knowing that faster doesn’t always mean better – and busier doesn’t always mean more productive.
Slow living is all about mindset, grounding routines and an unhurried approach to everyday life.

How can you embrace a slow living lifestyle in a realistic way that doesn’t include a cottage in the countryside?

Here’s my ultimate guide.

1. Practice slow living at work

The constant meetings, buzzing notifications and emails that fill so many workplaces are the worst environments for focused work.

If you ever arrived early at the office and got a day’s worth of work done in a few hours, then you know the power of undistracted focus.

And even though you can’t turn off your emails, there are simple changes you can make to eliminate busywork.

How to slow down at work:

Set a few specific times of the day to reply to your emails. Devote the rest of your day to focused work without constantly checking your inbox every few minutes.
Resolve ongoing issues with colleagues with real-life conversations instead of back-and-forth messages.
Have an honest talk with your boss about how you can improve your productivity and focus on tasks that move the needle.

2. Pick up a slow living hobby

Be more intentional with your leisure time and start a mindful hobby that will actually bring you real satisfaction and rest.

Stop filling every moment of your free time with TV and scrolling.

Take a slow approach to leisure time and pursue what really brings you joy. Learn to say no to everything you’re not looking forward to.

Turn off your phone and TV for an evening and dive into a slow living hobby that brings you real rest.

Some slow living hobbies to try:

Start an art journal for doodles and collages.
Plant an herb garden.
Flip through a print magazine or newspaper.
Do the crosswords.
Start a jigsaw puzzle.
Take a walk in the park.

Push through your initial exhaustion in the evening and set aside 20 minutes to do something you really love. You’ll be amazed at how much better-rested you’ll feel afterwards.

It seems counter-intuitive, but your mind is actually more refreshed after you tackle a challenging task.

3. Control your screentime

Where does all your time really go?

Studies show that mobile users reach for the phones about 150 times a day – and spend more than 3 hours a day on their phones.

And the effects of that screen time are alarming.

You might not realize how much time you spend online in apps designed to get you addicted. Because it’s that dopamine high you get from new notifications that gets you returning for more validation.

You might think you don’t really have time – but you’re likely spending hours watching TV and scrolling social media.

Limit your screentime and you’ll be amazed at the hours that suddenly free up in your day.

A little digital detox goes a long way towards making more time for the things (and people) that really matter.

Set aside your smartphone in the evening even for a few hours and you’ll be amazed at how calmer you feel.

4. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is proven to lower stress, anxiety and depression.

Be present in your everyday life and cultivate habits like journaling and meditation that ground you into the present moment.

These habits help you escape that endless internal dialogue of worrying about the future and ruminating about the past.

When you’re more connected to the present, you appreciate life’s small pleasures and gain perspective on your problems.

Mindfulness helps you manage stress, lowers your blood pressure, reduces chronic pain and improves your sleep.

If you rush through your day and hardly remember what you ate for lunch, then mindfulness helps you savor the moments.

5. Connect to your community

Slow living means knowing how your lifestyle impacts the environment and the global community.

It’s an antidote to constantly living online and being disconnected from real people, with real communication reduced to online comments.

Slow living means nurturing your local community and spending time on the relationships that bring value to your life.

When you mistake social media for real communication, you’re left lonely and drained.

Slow living is about valuing real relationships and knowing that we’re all interconnected.

How to find deeper connections:

Rediscover the art of conversation and try some analog hobbies like board games and phone-free dinners in the evening with loved ones.
Be a good listener. Cultivate friendships by making the effort to ask questions, get to know the person and put your phone away during meals.
Connect with locals on your vacations for more authentic travel experiences.

6. Focus on your purpose

Slow living means focusing on impactful work and intentional living.

It means crossing the shoulds off your calendar to focus on work that moves you forward. And it’s eliminating pointless tasks to make time for what’s really important.

Whatever choices you make should be intentional.

Don’t follow the crowd or go along with whatever’s popular. Slow living is about knowing your principles and letting them guide your decisions.

It means using technology for a specific purpose – and not just scrolling endlessly because you don’t want to miss out.

7. Know that faster isn’t always better

Countless tools and gadgets (from toasters to smartphone filters) promise better results than ever before.

Marketing slogans like “new” and “improved” have been used for generations to hook customers.

But faster isn’t always better. And whether we like it or not, the best things in life can’t be rushed.

We’re wired as humans to take pleasure in work that’s done with our hands, using skills that take years to develop into an art form.

We may be dazzled by a time lapse video of an easy watercolor sketch. But that sketch won’t be as satisfying as a masterful landscape done by practiced hands.

It takes time to hit deep insights, become skilled and make life-changing shifts.

Steve Jobs takes a “think week” off from work to absorb information and learn. George R. R. Martin disappears into a wooden cabin with bad WiFi to work on his novels.

And it’s not always about becoming a CEO or writing best-selling novels. It’s about the satisfaction that comes with honing your skills.

There are no shortcuts to producing satisfying work.

8. Consume less

Slow living is about anti-consumerism and knowing that material wealth doesn’t bring happiness.

It’s opting out of a rat race without a finish line.

A slow and intentional life doesn’t mean minimalism or monk-like austerity. It doesn’t mean a home filled with beige basics and a capsule wardrobe.

But the pursuit of status symbols and material possessions is endless by design. And it won’t ever bring you happiness.

Slow living means being grateful for what you already have.

It’s knowing that retail therapy only works for a while. And that people who are impressed with status symbols aren’t worth impressing.

Consuming less means being able to invest in more timeless and longer-lasting pieces because you’re conscious about every purchase.

It also means less crippling debt and more savings laid away.

And this gives you more freedom in the work you undertake. There’s no working overtime to pay off debts to pay for things you don’t really want.

Instead, your money can go towards what really matters.

9. Say no more often

The art of slow living is all about editing – and that means learning to say no with grace.

I’ve attempted to grow jasmine on my balcony for years. I also had a few plants that actually did well. And one day I asked myself: why waste space on plants that just aren’t working?

So I took the few thriving plants and propagated them. Then I filled my empty pots with their offspring. My balcony is now green and vibrant. And I don’t have any plants that don’t thrive in my climate.

And that’s what the art of slow living is all about. It’s being self-aware and critically examining what works in your life.

Slow living means anything from streamlining your work to cutting down on social media to create time for what really inspires you.

Though piling more slow living goals (like yoga or reading) into your packed calendar will only leave you frustrated. So start small and keep your expectations realistic.

Slow living means building your life around your priorities. This means ruthlessly editing and scheduling your time to make space for what matters.

10. Track how you spend your time

Track your activities in a calendar for a few days and record hour-by-hour what your everyday routines look like.

You often don’t realize how much time you spend watching TV or scrolling social media.

And when you’re faced with the statistics, you might be surprised.

Because these distractions are expertly designed to make you lose track of time.

Once you’re aware of where your time goes, you can take the next steps to curbing your screen time and exploring new hobbies.

11. Make time for simple pleasures

If you don’t spend much time doing what you love it’s because you haven’t made time for it.

So if you love to cook, schedule a night to try out a new recipe. And make it a weekly routine – even when you’re tired.

It might be difficult to get going, but indulging your passions will ultimately bring you real relaxation.

Make a dopamine menu of quick and easy things to do that bring you joy. Those could be anything from a warm shower with your favorite scented oils to a slow and stretchy yoga session in bed.

12. Keep your expectations realistic

You make plans to meditate or journal, but then real life happens and you get busy.

Then you get discouraged and give up. You tell yourself you don’t have enough time or discipline.

And you begin to believe your own stories.

But high expectations are often part of the problem.

It seems useless to write 3 lines a day. But writing a few lines is far better than doing nothing.

Set yourself a realistic minimum when you’re forming new habits.

If you want to start yoga, do 5 minutes of stretches a day for a month. You’ll fall in love with yoga and you’ll look forward to your sessions. Then build on that.

When you get tired and fall out of your slow living habits, return again to your initial realistic minimum. Start doing that 5 minutes of yoga again, even if you’d normally do an hour session.

Staying realistic keeps your habits going and that makes you far more likely to continue them.

13. Remember the benefits of a slow life

It’s not easy to slow down, but your little doses of slowness are incredible tools to boost your mental and physical health.

A rushed and stressful life has serious consequences, from depression and anxiety to heart attacks.

So whenever slow living seems too self-indulgent, remind yourself why you’re really doing it.

Some benefits of slow living:

Saved money: whether it’s decluttering or being more mindful with your purchases, living a slower-paced life is a great financial decision.
More happiness: slowing down makes you appreciate your blessings and the little things in your everyday life.
Better health: when you slow down, you’re better managing the anxiety and stress that comes with a packed schedule.
Improved relationships: spending more quality time with loved ones and putting your relationships above your work strengthens real communication.
Increased productivity: from letting go of multi-tasking to focusing on meaningful work, slowing down at work boosts your productivity.
More time: by cutting down on time-suckers like TV and social media, you’ll find yourself with hours on your hands.

14. Build consistent habits

Starting a slower lifestyle doesn’t have to mean a radical shift.

It’s often the small but consistent habits that bring the most impact.

Slow living habits you can start today:

Eat your meals mindfully: focus on the flavors and textures of your food – not on the TV or phone.
Use your commute to meditate, or listen to audio books and podcasts.
Work in time blocks and single-task.
Spend more time outdoors.
Declutter your closet and start building a capsule wardrobe.
Cook in bulk and plan your meals.

Slow living resources

Here are some incredible slow living resources to get you inspired.

Slow living magazines:

Kinfolk began as a magazine about intimate gatherings and slowing down. And now it’s a must-read on slow living and the tyranny of the ticking clock.
Breathe is about mindfulness, downtime and recharging for a calmer and more relaxed you. It includes stunning illustrations and covers topics from well-being to creativity.

Slow living on Instagram:

These slow living Instagram accounts all have gorgeous content. But they’re not just about aesthetics.

They’re also vulnerable, honest and thoughtful. And that means they’ll inspire you without making you feel inadequate.

Slow living quotes:

“A fast approach tends to be a superficial one. But when you slow down you begin to engage more deeply with whatever it is you’re doing. Speed becomes a form of denial. It’s a way of running away from those deeper, tangled problems.” — Carl Honoré
“Busyness is, at its core, about misplaced priorities.” — Joshua Becker
“I frequently worry that being productive is the surest way to lull ourselves into a trance of passivity. And busyness the greatest distraction from living.” — Maria Popova

Slow living books

Here are some of my favorite books on slow living for a deeper dive into a more intentional lifestyle:

Destination: Simple by Brooke McAlary is a concise and practical introduction to slow living that offers 7 ways to reduce busyness and overwhelm. The book focuses on tactics like single-tasking, gratitude and unplugging from technology.
Seeking Slow by Melanie Barnes is a beautifully photographed guide to slow and seasonal living by the creator of the blog Geoffrey and Grace. Barnes takes a holistic approach and offers insights on everything from mindful travel to leisure time.

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