Slow living through the seasons
Learning about life in the slow lane in tune with nature’s calendar
The online world leads many of us to believe that slow living is reserved for the privileged few- requiring buckets of time and money to spend on various wellness retreats and potions. While some may live in this reality, most of us don’t.
In recent months, slow living has become a gradual learning to be more conscious about the actions I take in day to day life. I used to be awful in the mornings, barely leaving myself enough time to get ready for work before hurrying out the door. Nowadays, a slower, more intentional routine has taken place. I’m rising with the birds, getting out in nature, moving my body, writing, reading and drinking tea, in hopes this new approach will stick. Creating a little ritual around a part of the day I used to dread and simply ‘get through’ has brought a new sense of peace, helped bring clarity to my purpose, and how I can show up as part of a wider ecosystem.
For others, slow living may look a little different. Some friends have recently taken up gardening and are learning more about permaculture and self-sufficiency. Others are moving from cities to quieter corners of the country in search of community, contributing to the local economy and nurturing their environment. But the concept doesn’t have to be met with extreme change. Even taking your morning coffee out on a walk rather than grabbing a quick takeaway option on the rushed commute to work, reading rather than mindlessly binge-watching the next popular series, or starting a herb garden on your windowsill instead of reaching for store-bought options are small acts of rebellion in our otherwise fast-paced society. Ultimately, the clue is in the name, slow living is about taking slow, incremental steps towards a more conscious, peaceful life.
I’ve also realised that our slower life means living in tune with the seasons. We spend a lot of time complaining about British weather, but being more or less stationary over the past couple of years, converting our van deep in the English countryside has awakened an innate need to tune into nature’s rhythms. Emerging out of the blur of my early twenties in pursuit of calming an often anxious mind has led to a newfound gratitude for our little island, in how it is so clearly defined by the seasons.
Noticing the changes in the garden we lived in, the different plant species that die in the winter only to breathe new life into spring, has stoked both worry and calm surrounding the climate crisis. Being more closely connected to nature’s shifts has made me increasingly aware of scorching summer days, biblical rainfall and uncomfortably warm autumns. Yet, in paying attention to our changing world, I’ve found comfort in our planet's resilience and adaptability, and find inspiration in the people dedicating their lives to caring for it. This symbiotic nurturing is what slow living has become to me. It is both a remembrance and a reminder to lead with kindness, tread gently on our earth and contribute positively to our ecosystems.
I’m still learning about this new way of life and how we’ll embrace the change while we continue to explore the world in the slow lane, and I’ve found it looks different with every new person I meet on a similar journey. It’s about creating a way of life suited to you and your surroundings. If you’re interested in slow living but are unsure where to start, it might be useful to create a list or inspiration board to help you find what it is you want to get out of this shift in lifestyle.
Whether it’s more peace, time, escaping from the rat race, seeing more of the world, grounding, getting your hands in the earth or picking up a new skill along the way – find something that works for you and start small. You’ll likely find you naturally build in deliberate and intentional acts the more you practice them.