5 slow living lessons I learned in 2023
2023 was a big year for my slow living journey and I sure as heck didn’t anticipate that. You never know where life will take you, whether or not you’ll remain consistent, or if much change will actually occur. After producing this video for my 29th birthday, whew, did I notice results. Here’s five big lessons I learned.
You Can Get Very Basic
Social media can perceive slow living as something so indulgent, even unattainable, due to “needing” a remote environment, homesteading skills, etc. But that couldn’t be further from reality. Slow living starts and ends with mindset. If you’re able to simply shift your perspective and approach life in an intentional way, you’re already setting forth in your slow living journey.
You Will Have Hectic Periods (That Doesn’t Invalidate Your Journey)
It’s impossible to avoid busy moments in life. Guess what? You can still live slowly before, after, and amidst those moments. Again, slow living is rooted in mindset, so external outliers aren’t going to make or break your journey. What’s important during those hectic periods is to hold onto slow living practices, such as reflecting, expressing gratitude, and leaning on your toolkit (which I talk about below).
Boundary Setting Really is Necessary
There’s no avoiding this one (sorry, fellow people pleasers). 2023 was the year I finally set boundaries, actually stuck to them, and… it was an absolute game changer. Never have I felt more inner peace in my life, which not only opened up mental capacity to practice mindfulness and intention, but it also opened up time for me to incorporate routines that brought me individual joy.
When You Lose Momentum, Lean on Seasonality
Another reality check: Progress isn’t linear. You’re absolutely going to have dips and lows throughout your slow living journey. During times like this, it’s firstly most important to listen to your mind and body and do what’s best in order to heal. But, if you do have the capacity to keep going and need a little boost, lean on seasonal slow living. I talk all about it here.
Much Like Any Journey, You Need A Slow Living Toolkit
We need to stop pretending like we’re superhumans who can do any and all without proper tools. We could all use them, and I will argue that we all need them. What does a slow living toolkit look like? It can consist of productivity tools, experiences, routines, vision boards, etc. I’ll continue to share more about these toolkit items across social.
I hope these lessons are something you can also learn from. Best of luck to ya’ll in 2024! Here’s to more lessons learned.
