Why slow living is not what you think

On a different kind of slowness (and hello 2025!)

Photo by Valeriia Miller on Unsplash

Happy new (calendar) year, wild ones! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, and whether you embrace the renewal of your cycle here in January or during a different month, we hope this first post of 2025 finds you warm and well, and that you are finding plenty of glimmers in the midwinter dark.

In a recent episode of the podcast we talked about the word slow and discussed what it means to adopt a ‘slow’ philosophy. Here amid the hustle and bustle of January’s societal fresh start, we thought it would be a helpful word to return to as a gentle guide to help you map out your own path and pace for the journey ahead…

You will likely have heard of slow living: in recent years it’s become something of a cliché, synonymous with linen dresses, woven baskets and perfectly-curated Instagram feeds - but its roots can be traced back to 1980s Italy, where the Slow Movement began as a cultural rejection of fast food and its associated way of life. At its heart, the kind of ‘slowness’ originally advocated by the Slow Movement was not necessarily about reducing speed, but about preserving the quality, meaning and emotional value of products, services and social interactions.

The slow approach to food calls for organic growing methods, the championing of seasonal and local produce, cooking meals from scratch, and sharing dishes over conversation with friends and family. Slow fashion prioritises craftsmanship, sustainability and longevity over changing trends. Slow travel involves soaking up the journey and spending time exploring individual places. Slow journalism favours in-depth research and views writing as an art form, rather than succumbing to click-bait headlines and throwaway gossip.

None of these activities technically require a physical slowing of pace; they simply ask us to engage with them fully and wholeheartedly. One of the best introductions to the slow philosophy can be found in Canadian writer Carl Honoré’s 2004 book, In Praise of Slow, which states:

“[Slowness] is not about doing everything at a snail’s pace. It’s about seeking to do everything at the right speed. Savoring the hours and minutes rather than just counting them. Doing everything as well as possible, instead of as fast as possible. It’s about quality over quantity in everything from work to food to parenting.”

On the surface, it may seem somewhat counterintuitive: if we want to make headway with our to-do lists and move forward with our plans, we tend to feel the need to move more quickly rather than slow things down. But this belief stems from an ego-centric narrative, the attitude shaped by the metaphor of the machine, and the relentless drive of industry. We can choose to counter this perspective with a slower approach that prioritises meaning, purpose, health, contentment and fulfilment over productivity for productivity’s sake.

Aoife McElwain, a coach and multi-passionate creative, touches on this in her book, Slow at Work:

“For me, slow means calm and considered yet flexible and fluid...It means stepping outside the cult of busyness to gain some perspective”

This emphasis on consideration and choice reminds us of intention, showing how adopting a slow mentality (rather than necessarily a slower pace) makes it possible to live in authentic alignment with our values. At this moment, as we edge gently into a new calendar year, choosing a slow approach that embraces flexibility and fluidity is key, establishing rhythms and frameworks that suit our individual needs rather than those dictated by society.

So we invite you to consider: What is it you are seeking in the year ahead? And how might you approach 2025 from a place of rooted intention?

---

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts - what does living slowly mean to you?

---