It seems that in a world that is all about meeting deadlines and going fast, the entire slow-living aesthetic feels like a backyard hack. Some of us are swimming in it as an escape of the never ending noise of the campuses. It is about taking a step back, getting your breath on and looking at the small things in your surroundings.
Slow living still calls us to experience the present with some deliberation, rather than hiking after those non-end-endless majors, grades and the next great internship. It is not merely an indolent I-am-bored plea; it is a calculated manner of getting rid of the burnout disguised by the hustle.
Slow living does make us reconsider our perception of time. I have this sense that time is just this massive enemy running forward but the reality is that we are the ones who make the time we desire. Such an attitude can help us to narrow down on the things that really matter and not to have a host of empty activities. It is all about not feeling guilty of taking care of ourselves.
The other major benefit of slow living is the fact that it completely transforms relationships. You tend to listen in a more intentional way, talk deliberately when you are not in a hurry and also connect at a deeper level. Most of the conflicts arise not because the people disagree but because they are not there. We tend to allow empathy guide our conversations by taking our time to respond. It is much easier to hear people correctly when we do not rush through the interaction process such as chores.
Slow living alters the experience of the outdoors. When we begin to hear birds, feel the sun rays give you a certain warmth, feel the breeze hit you, we make the walking more rich. Making what we seem to consider an ordinary experience just become colored. Even the most elementary things such as making a cup of coffee, potting some dorm plants or even sitting down takes on a new burden. These minor pauses bring us down to earth and make us relax the clutter that continues to smog our brains.
Opponents of the slow living movement believe that the slow life style is untenable in our busy society, except that it is not foregoing anything but making a selection on what is important. You do not have to leave your job and go to a town to begin living slow habits. These little actions such as reducing screen time or planning a deliberate break are the key. The transformation is very delicate yet it is strong enough to give a boost to your wellbeing in general.
Frankly, slow living is merely us pushing against a culture of glorifying burnout. It is about giving precedence to balance, being conscious and getting inner peace. Once we begin to have fun during those relaxed times we find that we are actually happier than we had been previously in that mad dash to the top. Slow living is simply a reminder of returning to being human.
