Before I decided to start living a slower paced and intentional lifestyle, I've already heard of slow living. What I knew about it was living in the countryside, surrounded by the calm and quiet. I live in the city and my country is a city state, so I can't simply move to the countryside. Over the past year, I did more research and found out that slow living is a mindset, which means slow living in the city is possible.
There will be differences and limitations as to what can be done in the city versus the countryside. Embracing that, here's how I've been practicing slow living over the past year amidst the hustle and bustle of the city.
Work flexi jobs
To prevent another burnout from work, I was working only two days a week. I started working more recently, but I work flexi jobs which allows me to choose when I will work. That way I have the freedom to easily be off work without having to negotiate.
Monotasking
Living in a city where everything is fast paced sometimes requires me to multitask at work, but I try as much as possible to monotask when I'm not at work. By focusing on one thing at a time, my attention is not scattered and I will not be overwhelmed with thoughts of all the other things that needs to be done.
Stop rushing
I used to always rush through my morning routine to sleep in a little more and also get to work on time. I'm still training myself to get up earlier but I've managed to get up early enough with just the right amount of time I need to get ready for work at my normal speed. Although slow living isn't about doing things slowly, I still do it and enjoy the process if I have lots of time. Rushing is a cause of stress, so I try not to rush through anything.
Stop being on autopilot
To be intentional, things should not be done on autopilot. I switch the order of my routines every few days, to prevent from becoming autopilot, especially my night routine which I have more time to do. By not being on autopilot, I am conscious of my feelings, which allows me to enjoy the process of what I'm doing.
Prioritise rest
I used to never want to go to bed early, although I was exhausted. Since I only had the evenings for myself, I keep wanting to do something, although I end up in bed thinking about it. As mentioned above, I'm still training myself to get up earlier, and that means going to bed earlier, but I now prioritise having the right amount of sleep. For me, it's 9 hours of sleep.
So those are a few ways on how I've been practicing slow living in the city. The slower paced and intentional lifestyle has changed my thoughts about life. I now feel that my life has a purpose and I'm more certain about what I want to accomplish in this life.
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