The Art of Slow Living

"We need more. But not more stuff or money, opportunities or challenges. We need more authenticity. We need more peace." ~ Meg Meeker

If nature had destined life to be fast, the Earth would probably have completed the revolution around the sun in a couple of days, and day and night would have never existed. The universe had silently conspired life on the Blue Planet. Still, it was always meant to be evenly paced – probably on the slower side so that living beings could celebrate every single moment of their lives and live life to the fullest.

But, what did the man of the twenty-first century do? He completely reversed the cosmos' plan! Today, we scurry and hurry around – always rushing up, with the daily grind, hardly ever stopping or halting on the track to breathe, to listen to nature's sounds, try to mingle with the biodiversity around with a completely blank mind, no questions asked, no answers given – simply slowing down! 

Do we need to slow down, you would ask? Well, embracing slow living will not start to fill your coffers or your bank balance, but it will surely fill your mind, body, and soul with much-needed solace, self-love, and tranquility. The art of slow living helps rejuvenate every cell in your body, filling them with fresh energy and vitality. Make life purposeful.

What is Slow Living?

The art of slow living started as a movement to help people live a more balanced and meaningful life. It is a practice wherein you slow down to understand and appreciate the world around you and arouse your sensitivity towards minute things that make a difference in your life.

In today's time, the art of slow living plays a significant role in balancing day-to-day challenges. It helps combat stress and anxiety, the two common yet major health concerns a huge chunk of the population faces. Additionally, as you practice mindful eating, your body begins to heal, keeping you at bay from various illnesses.

There is no stopping if you do not consciously decide to 'Stop,' let go, go slow!

1. Read your breath:
   You breathe & you live; simple! Hence, starting now, practice the art of reading each breath you take throughout the day. As simple as this may sound, the easier it is to forget. Put a reminder between your daily chores wherein you take out 5 minutes and take deep breaths. 
2. Embrace the philosophy of simplicity:
   The perfect example to understand this point is to look at monks' lifestyles. They live a simple life and appreciate the small, little, and simple things they are surrounded with. To help you get started, choose to remove what you have in excess around you.
3. Start a digital detox diet:
   You cannot ignore that digital media takes away a whopping amount of time from your life. It makes the necessity of getting a digital detox even more significant. But are we asking you to alienate from your mobiles and digital gadgets completely? 

Instead, let's make small beginnings - start with fighting that desire consciously to reach out to the gadgets first thing in the morning. Try to distance yourself from your phone for at least an hour after waking up. Instead, sit out, could be your balcony or garden, or the park, any place where you can mix with other creations of nature.

Learning the art of slow living in today's fast-paced life has become increasingly essential to maintain mental and physical wellness. Acing this art will improve your life quality to a great extent and help you think better. After all, as we believe in Vilasa, good things take consistent effort and time, and embracing slow gives you the strength to conquer everyday struggles and challenges with greater focus.

So, do you think you are ready to embrace slow living, practice digital detox, and choose minimalism vis-à-vis abundance and materialism? Are you prepared to listen to the silent demands and urges of your mind, soul, and body to go back to how it all started – slow, unhurried, and nature-inspired?