Hustle culture is everywhere. It’s in the headlines, it’s on our social media feeds, and it even infiltrates our everyday life. The idea that if you are not working hard enough you are somehow failing has become the norm in society today. Slowly, people are catching on that it’s not worth the effects it has on our mental and physical health. The solution? Normalize slow living by changing your perspective about what success means to you and living at a slower pace.
The downside of hustle culture
Hustle culture often leaves people feeling like they are not doing enough or doing things properly. They feel guilty for taking a break, they feel like they are falling behind, and they feel anxious about the future. All of this is because they can’t keep up with the “right speed.” This can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, and even health problems.
Once the health problems kick in, it becomes even more difficult to break away from the hustle culture mindset. People feel like they are a failure if they aren’t in go mode or can’t physically hustle all the time.
I’ve certainly been there. I worked like crazy in my mid-twenties and definitely suffered from burnout because of the rat race. Now, I enjoy much more of a slow philosophy.
What exactly is slow living?
Slow living is all about taking things slow. It’s about being mindful of your time and how you are spending it. It isn’t about doing nothing, it’s about doing what matters to you and not letting society dictate what that should be. It’s about prioritizing simple living.
Some people might think slow living means sitting on the beach with a drink in hand all day, but that’s not the case. It’s taking a step back to allow time to check in with yourself on a regular basis. We often forget to do this, which results in our mental health suffering.
According to a recent study by a team of psychologists at Queens University in Canada, we have around 6,200 thoughts per day. With that many thoughts floating around, it’s no wonder we need to practice mindfulness.
How to break away from hustle culture and start living slowly
To break away from hustle culture in today’s world, start by changing your perspective on what success means to you. Success doesn’t have to be defined by how much money you make or how many things you can check off your to-do list. It’s about finding balance in all areas of your life and enjoying the moment.
You can also take a step back and evaluate how you are spending your time. Are you working because you want to or because society tells you that you should? If it’s the latter, it might be time to rethink things to enjoy a more relaxed pace.
Finally, slow living isn’t about doing nothing in life
It’s about doing what matters to you and not letting society dictate what that should be for your own well-being. For some people, this means taking a slower approach like a break from social media. For others, slow life looks like not being the one to reply right away when their friends message them about plans for that night.
Slow living tips to call out:
- Change your perspective on what success means to you
- Evaluate how you are spending your time
- Do what matters to you and don’t let society dictate what that should be
- Take a step back and evaluate your thoughts throughout the day
- Slow down, enjoy the moment, and find balance in all areas of your life
- Listen to slow living podcasts like How to Live Slow by Rachelle Glendon
- Cook healthy meals for yourself instead of getting fast food – it’s about slow food
Changing your perspective on slow living
Slow living doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. It can be about taking the time to do what’s important to you and finding a balance that works for you that leads to greater happiness in life. For me, that means spending time with my family, cooking healthy meals, writing, reading, and practicing yoga.
Nature wins for slow movement
I also like to go for walks and spend time in nature in my free time. I can’t believe how much switching to slow food has helped my health overall. All of this really helps create a better mood. I also like to challenge myself when I go on trips to enjoy slow travel. Praise of slowness has really become a central tenet in my life.
Society tells us that we should be doing more, working harder, and being productive 24/7 but it’s not a sustainable pace of life. Slow living is about finding what works for you and sticking to it. It’s about breaking away from the hustle culture mindset and embracing a more relaxed way of life.
The benefits of a slower pace
Slow living has many benefits for your life. When you slow down, you have more time for self-care and you can take a step back to check in with your thoughts and feelings. You also have more time for the things that matter most to you, which often leads to happiness, quiet time, and wellbeing for a better pace of life.
Moving away from hustle culture doesn’t mean giving up on work entirely, it just means providing more balance for your life. Slow living can help you find that balance and allow you to live a more fulfilled life. Gemma Hayes at the Art of Healthy Living shares that appreciating time, increasing productivity, having family time, and noticing the little things are all benefits of slow living.
Additional benefits of slow living include:
- More time for self-care in your daily life
- Checking in with your thoughts and feelings
- More inspiration and time for the things that matter most to you
- Happiness and wellbeing in a simpler life
- More quality time for friends and less in a busy world
- The ability to focus on eating mindfully and avoiding fast food
- Having more money
- Less screen time
How slow and simple living can help you live a more fulfilling life
Having a slow living lifestyle means finding the balance between work and play in modern life. You can slow down by doing things like taking time to appreciate each day instead of rushing through your morning routine, increasing productivity at work (by checking social media less often), having more family time, staying in the present moment, and prioritizing self-care.
Having a slow life is not a new concept, but it’s something that we’ve been neglecting in our fast-paced world. When we practice a slower lifestyle, we’re more productive and happier because we’re taking the time to appreciate having a meaningful life and challenging the cult of speed.
The takeaway for everyday life – are you ready for slow and simple living?
It’s time to get away from hustle culture and start living slow. Changing your perspective on slow living and what it means to you is the first step in a slow movement. From there, start evaluating how you are spending your time and see where you can make changes to move at a slower pace in life.
Summary – Normalize Slow Living: How to Break Away from Hustle Culture
In a world where we are constantly connected and feel guilty if we aren’t working all day long, slow living and intentional living are more important than ever before. As I mentioned earlier, the hustle culture mindset isn’t doing us any good. It’s time to break away, be in the present moment, and start a slow living movement. What are you going to do to make a change in your life? Start today!
Have you considered slow living? What’s holding you back?
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