I want to embrace ‘slow living’ this year. Do you know any programmes/books/podcasts/resources to help me with this?

[NewNameFor2025]

I’m just knackered and frazzled and ready to curl up under a stone.

I’m going to obviously improve my physical and mental health blah blah blah, but it’s the slow living I want help with.

Not specifically slow living but I like the minimalists podcast- it covers everything, and not just possessions.

Thanks, I’ve just followed them on Spotify.

I’m also thinking to follow the Project333 system too.

Also, simple gardening, trying to keep new purchases to a minimum, anything else?

It feels like I’m actually adding things to my life, adding podcasts etc, adding hobbies, but I’m hoping as I do this then other things will fall away.

I want to do this in 2025 too. 2024 seemed full of big commitments and way too full on.

My first pledge to myself is to make fewer arrangements and only do the things I really genuinely want to do, rather than feel obliged to do. Say 'not sure yet' or 'no' rather than yes to everything.

I, too, always get overwhelmed by the garden - so perhaps a pledge to not buy any new plants until all the pending jobs are done. I might even make a start this weekend as it's still quite mild out there.

I'm going to stop offering help to people that don't really need it and only support our elderly relatives to improve their quality of life.

You tuber simple happy zen minimalist st and slow living avoiding burn out etc

I'm genuinely laughing at the idea of wanting to embrace slow living by.. watching you tube/ listening to podcasts.
Just get rid of the smart phone (or put it in a drawer)Then enjoy the mental peace. I'm planning to do this in January.

🤣 Well yes, it did occur to me that it’s laughable!

But what’s that you say? Put the smartphone away? 🤯 Noooooo……..

Great, I’ll get subscribed to these too, thanks.

These are things I definitely want to do too. I just kind of want a ?smaller? life, if that makes sense?

Seriously, don’t do books, podcasts, whatever.

Put down your phone. Write down with pencil and paper what this slow life looks like – what does each day look like? What does slow life mean to you? More time for what?

eg do you want more time to do the garden because that’s what you enjoy, or a garden that takes up less time so you can sit in it and read a book.

Then declutter all your stuff because it’s the tidying and washing and mending and moving around etc of all the stuff that takes time. Don’t pick up your phone again, it’s a time suck anyway and also the conduit to making plans and commitments you don’t really want, and you’ll be sucked back into “If I just get through this mad week/to-do list/minimalist podcast series, everything will be better at the other end”. Don’t wait for the other end! Just slow down now.

@pelargoniums “what does each day look like? What does slow life mean to you? More time for what?”

This is my problem really, I don’t know what it means for me. I just have this vague idea that things are too fast, too frantic, too much. So I want to change. But because I don’t know exactly what I want to change from or to, I am floundering a bit.

Gardening = people say it’s relaxing etc so I want get a control of my jungle, try to grow some tomatoes and maybe something else. I have a gardening friend who I can ask questions, and check I’m doing the right thing in the right month.

Project333 = less choice on a daily basis, just pull out some weather and work appropriate things from a limited choice and that’s it.

Decluttering = I made a huge start this year and want to continue that, except all the obvious things have gone already so it’ll be a more intentional thing this year.

Start sewing again = I really enjoy it. Like, really enjoy it. So I’m restarting that hobby.

Cooking and baking = same. I enjoy it but end up buying convenience foods because I didn’t organise myself to batch cook and freeze etc.

Praying 5 times a day has helped orientate my life

Most of the slow living videos I've seen on YouTube involve keeping the house clean - it's easier to potter, read and bake if your chores are generally up to date.
It is a lot about being organised so get all the household chores done,have a meal plan, put your phone away then you have time to sit, light a candle, make wholesome food and bake wonderful cakes, gardening, read all in a lovely, clean and calm environment.

First thing that come to my mind with Slow Living is to slow down.

As in not always rushing everywhere, leaving a bit earlier and arriving not rushed, even early.
Stopping to pack the day with activities and taking the time to do what you need to do, not what you’re expected to do (see pressures from society/keeping up etc….)
Simplifying - it’s amazing how we can make things more complicated than they need.

Oh this is my plan for the year too! I do think there is something in what the pp said about staying on top of chores, which is something I am spectacularly bad at. So I spent boxing day trying to create a little haven by cleaning my bedroom and making it a retreat.

I was thinking of trying to do 3 things a day. Something active (walking or tidying) as I get stuck in a holding pattern that stops me being able to relax, something restful (admiring something in nature, reading a chapter of a book) and something nourishing (eating it drinking something good. On bad days it might be a piece of self care like cleaning teeth or brushing hair)

I was inspired by the Nigel Slater Christmas Chronicles thread in the christmas section. It (and Nigel) is very good at appreciating good food, nature and generally more slow living. The great thing about the thread is you can get swamped by real life/overwhelm and come back to it. Christmas Chronicles goes on through to Feb so it's not about to close up so come and say hi!

You don’t need to do more eg podcasts, make lists. You need to look at what you currently do/think about, prioritise and remove things from that list.

I'm trying to do that in 2025 🥰

Read Wintering by Katherine May

I chant an ancient Buddhist mantra Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo for 5-10 minutes twice daily to put myself in harmony with the Universe. The idea is to draw out on your inner wisdom and courage to only do things that move your life in the right direction. In Buddhism it means happiness. This could actually be tackling a difficult exam or similar if your inner voice is telling you will be happier as a result. In Buddhism you are the one setting the goals whatever they might be. I do remember feeling very run down one Saturday morning. I still chanted for 20 minutes. I then called my friend and told her I couldn't face driving for 30 minutes to see her as planned. She was very annoyed at first. She called me later and offered to drive to mine which I was happy to accept. We had a very nice afternoon. You can find more on Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo pronunciation and meaning on our Buddhist website SGI-UK

I enjoyed this book.
I've made lots of changes this year, Ive come off social media stepped down to a less stressful position at work.
Sold my car so I'm no longer an unpaid taxi driver.
But I've mostly had to change my mindset, I get a shower and change into something comfy as soon as I get home from work it helps me switch me off from work. Not checking my phone all the time when bored was the hardest habit to break, I bought some jigsaws and cross stitch kits. It took me a while to be able to concentrate for longer than 20 minutes on these projects my mobile phone addiction had really affected my executive and I realised I was sometimes just picking my phone up without thinking.
Atomic Habits really helped me to build healthier habits.

I have made myself ill this year by having such an incredibly busy life so something absolutely has to give now. I agree with the poster above that the smart phone has to stop first and foremost and everything else can sort of fall into place. I'd love to do more yoga, more walking and sleep better.

www.thesimplethings.com

Website as above, magazine subscription and also a podcast

Try to live seasonally. An Almanac will help. I always have seasonal poetry books beside my chair to read when I have a cuppa.

Eat seasonally. River Cottage Original Cookbook got me started. Seasonal drinks.

I still do a Nature Table even though DC are 12 and 10.

I like The Simple Things magazine for recipes and playlists.

I love this. I struggle to see what I can cut back on (a lot of immovable responsibilities and then social stuff which cheers me up from the pressure of the responsibilities!).

I do think smartphone cut down would help.

I’d love to be able to do a country walk every day (we’re rural with countryside out our back gate), yet somehow seems impossible to fit in. That is something I’m mulling over trying next year.

I have a book called 'wintering' which is just the ticket for this.

I enjoyed A Year of Living Simply by Kate Humble