Our lives are filled to the brim, overflowing with activities, obligations and goals. As a result, stress has crept into our daily lives, making it almost impossible for us to relax and perhaps even be fully happy. That’s why I’m sharing with you 10 tips for getting back to basics and adopting the slow life.

1 – Change the question to slow life

When we ask ourselves the question: “What should I do?” – and we ask ourselves this question all day long – we always come up with lots of answers.

After all, we have a lot to do in a day. The list of obligations is long. And yet…

Adopting a slow life means changing the question.

Instead of asking ourselves: what do I have to do, we can ask ourselves: what do I choose to do?

In fact, it’s all about making different choices on a daily basis. Rather than seeing only obligations, we’re going to see real decisions of the heart.

In the end, we’re not obliged to do anything. We just have to accept the consequences.

Indeed, if instead of doing the dishes, I choose to sit on the sofa and watch a movie, the dishes won’t do themselves and so, the next morning or the evening before going to bed, they’ll have to be done.

But it’s a choice! A choice we make day after day.

In fact, we do things – even the dishes – because we choose to do them, either because we like the result or because we don’t like the consequences.

Yes, life is full of obligations, and yet we can live them more serenely as soon as we change “I must” to “I choose to”.

2 – Remember that life is a miracle

Adopting a slow life means remembering that life is not to be taken seriously, that we’re here and that it’s a miracle.

So let’s lower our heart rate, let’s let stress go. Breathe calmly.

Now we’re calmer and can get on with our day…

Living more slowly means calming our movements and thoughts, remembering that nothing is serious and everything is a miracle.

Slow life is about remembering that we are not machines, but human beings.

Also, remember that your value is in the person you are, not in all the things you do.

Slow down! You don’t have to prove anything, not even to yourself. Just be you!

3 – Do one thing at a time to adopt the slow life

It’s not always easy to adopt slow life in practice. So here’s a little practical exercise to help you day by day.

When you decide to live more slowly, it’s essential to follow one rule: only do one thing at a time.

No more doing the dishes while making a phone call, no more watching a movie while checking your e-mails, and no more talking to someone while putting away your groceries.

Come back to what you’re doing and do it fully, intensely.

Slow life isn’t just a personal development tool, it’s a way of life in its own right, a more balanced, healthier way of life.

4 – Slow life means forgetting the To-Do list

The To-Do list is a vicious circle. The more things you cross off, the more satisfied you feel. In other words, the fewer things you cross off, the less satisfied you feel.

As a result, we tend to fill our To-Do lists to the brim and become slaves to them. In fact, it’s the list that decides whether or not we can feel proud of ourselves…

So, when we decide to adopt the slow life, it’s essential to let go of our To-Do List.

What’s the point? Because the aim here is to live more slowly, but better!

And if you need a To-Do List to remember what you’ve got to do, you’ve got too much to do! It’s as simple as that.

So do fewer things in your day, but do them better.

And how do you do that? By taking the time to do them, and by putting your heart and joy into them!

5 – Sort out your obligations and goals

Society urges us to have ever more things to do and goals to achieve. Indeed, the idealized model of life is such that we have to be perfect at everything, have a ton of ambition and, above all, show off.

Yet we realize that, firstly, it’s exhausting, and secondly, it’s not really realistic or achievable.

Yes, we’re not robots, we can’t get in everywhere, and besides, we can’t be good at everything, let alone perfect!

Adopting the slow life means sorting out, really sorting out, our daily activities and even our life goals.

What matters most to you? What’s really important?

Forget the idealized dream life, come back to yourself, to your desires and the sacrifices you’re ready to make to live this or that.

6 – Soothe your ego by getting back to basics

All too often, we get carried away because we think that’s what we have to do to be serious, even perfect people.

But what if your ego was leading you astray?

Do you think you’ve got something to prove? If you take the time to refocus on yourself, on what’s essential, to look at nature, see how much you’re already enough.

Adopting a slow life means recognizing all those moments when you feel the need to get restless, and preferring to get back to basics.

7 – Don’t compare yourself, listen to yourself and adopt slow life

In the age of social networking, when people post pictures and texts to show only the bright side of their lives, we end up believing that this is what life is all about. It’s all those beautiful, perfect photos.

To live more slowly, but better, is to stop feeling the need to be like everyone else, and instead listen to yourself.

What’s really important to you? What do you already have in your life that makes you happy?

So stop chasing happiness. Adopt the slow life, learn to slow down when everything in you wants to run.

8 – Take breaks between activities

We never stop, we’re always on the go, chaining and superimposing activities.

Yet we need to take a break, to come back to ourselves, to listen to our needs and desires.

Today, looking busy is synonymous with social success, but it’s an open door to stress.

So, it’s time to make a choice: do you want to live stressed or happy?

To do this, you need to slow down so you don’t lose yourself along the way. Do only what you need to do, no more, no less.

That’s why, to find your way around, learn to pause between each activity, to check whether it’s what you want and need to do, or whether it’s just something you think you should do.

Adopting a slow life means giving yourself breaks so you don’t get lost in too many activities.

9 – Make an appointment with yourself

We don’t always realize it, but our heads are going too fast too. In fact, we have too many thoughts running around in a loop that we don’t take care of.

Adopting a slow life means making regular appointments with yourself, to check in, to make peace with certain events that have taken place, or with certain thoughts and emotions that are blocked.

Take a breath!

Make an appointment with yourself and ask yourself: how do I feel right now? What can I do to feel better?

Living slowly, but better, means giving ourselves back priority over our time. Yes, spending time with yourself is essential.

10 – Disconnect regularly to adopt the slow life

Often, when we’re on a break or during an “off” moment in our day, we automatically pull out our phone and check social networks to make sure we haven’t missed anything.

What if we took advantage of these breaks, when there’s nothing to do but wait, to… wait! Stay in the present moment and calm down.

Adopting a slow life means no longer being afraid to be present to the passage of time. On the contrary, it’s about taking advantage of parentheses where there’s nothing to do, just to do nothing.

Find out more:

I invite you to read these 2 complementary articles:

Discover Zen to Done approach: 5 steps to greater productivity
Discover How to find time to be happy: 6 guidelines

I recommend this inspiring book:

In Praise of Slowness by Carl Honoré

In this book, Carl Honoré explores the benefits of adopting a slower pace of life in a world that often favors speed. Drawing on a variety of cultural examples and personal experiences, Carl Honoré makes a compelling case for the value of slowing down in various aspects of life, from work to interpersonal relationships. The book encourages us to re-evaluate our approach to time, emphasizing the importance of savoring moments and finding fulfillment in a more deliberate, less hurried existence.

The world really needs the message of this book. Slower but kinder, healthier and happier. I can’t wait to try these ideas.

Thank you very much for reading this article.

If you liked it, let me know in the comments.

Take care of yourself