Moderation for Success 101: The Great Benefits of Embracing the Slow Living Movement
Sometimes, the busiest of professional workers tend to forget that they have lives outside of their careers and thus, end up getting so stressed from work as a result of focusing too much on their jobs. Not only that, but such individuals also have the tendency to rely on a lot of fast-paced conveniences—from the food they eat to the information they absorb—that they are unknowingly contributing even more stressors to their already hectic lives. If you can relate to such unfortunate situations, then maybe it’s high time for you to take a step back and rethink how you should lead your life.
The trend of “slow living” has gradually gained traction in recent years owing to the fact that adopting this particular lifestyle has helped so many overworked and over-stressed business executives and entrepreneurs recharge and reclaim their lives for the better. In fact, people who converted to slow living are able to perform much better at work without the presence of stress and anxiety, as well as having the capacity to enjoy the good things in life that they’ve missed when they were still so wrapped up in all of the chaos.
Indeed, the word “slow” in this positive movement is shorthand representing four key aspects: sustainable (no harmful environmental impact), local (supporting nearby livelihoods), organic (eschewing mass-produced goods), and whole (avoiding processed edible products). Just some of the essential elements that comprise slow living include the practice of consuming slow food (i.e. eating healthy and homecooked meals rather than fast food) and making a habit of doing meditation and breathing exercises.
However, just because one is embracing slow living doesn’t mean that they’ve refused the usage of modern conveniences such as the internet or consumer electronics; it’s all a matter of applying a considerable degree of temperance and consciously trying to live life at a leisurely or relaxed pace. If you need further convincing as to why living a slow lifestyle is better for your personal and profesional lives, then consider the benefits listed below to ensure that you will be able to let go of everything fast and say hello to all that is slow.
Benefit #01: Going slow develops patience
Have you noticed that when you’re stressed at work or at home, you tend to be very impatient with others? This is something that you can easiily rectify by making sure that you take things slow and focus on doing your tasks one at a time rather than completing them at the same time. This might sound strange given how most people are wired to multi-task whenever possible to save time, but the truth is that too much multi-tasking can potentially spark a negative chain reaction of poor results that will lead to dissatisfaction and impatience.
You’d be much better off doing work that emphasizes quality over quantity since this will prompt you to develop a higher sense of patience. Not rushing things is crucial to getting things done right, and when you get the results you want and need, you’ll feel significantly less stressed while also heightening your level of patience in the process. When in doubt, take a step back to reassess any situation and try to go for a careful and measured approach rather than quickly resolving the problem in order for you to move on to the next one.
Benefit #02: Going slow nurtures gratitude
Because of the advancements of technology towards modern society, our lives are much easier to manage, but this actually comes at a cost to our way of thinking. A lot of people actually take the everyday conveniences we have for granted that they unfortunately develop this sense of self-entitlement without even realizing it. Thus, the side effect of this lamentable attribute is that people sometimes exhibit ingratitude, especially when living a fast-paced life doesn’t always deliver their expectations.
Don’t be a victim to this kind of behavior and instead make a genuine effort to hold back on instant gratification since the goal here is to strengthen your sense of gratitude. Practitioners of the slow living movement tend to be more thankful for the everyday things that might seem inconsequential to others, but to them means the difference between happiness and despair. So if you’re aiming to be less selfish and be more grateful with your life, then all you need to do is to slow down.
Benefit #03: Going slow inspires humility
When you are used to living life in the fast lane, you often run the risk of feeling like you’re better than everyone else around you. Bear in mind that this isn’t a good look on anyone because being arrogant can lead to bad friction between others. Embodying the slow life can actually help you foster a sense of humility, and people who are humble are more likely to succeed in life compared to those who have an attitude of arrogance.
Admittedly, practicing a modicum of modesty may be hard for some people since it’s natural for humans to be proud of their personal achievements. But if you are firmly committed to living a life without the hustle and bustle, then you’ll be able to shed the layers of self-importance surrounding your aura. Humble individuals are unashamed to admit their flaws in the same way that they know what their personal stregnths are.
Benefit #04: Going slow encourages growth
Oftentimes, when we live our lives at a rushed pace, we miss the important milestones that make our lives more meaningful. There are countless instances when workaholics who work round the clock don’t have the time to step back and enjoy personal moments such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, or any other social gatherings that are spent with family, friends, and co-workers. But when you’re taking things easy and consciously allowing your lifestyle to slow down, you’ll benefit from experiencing personal growth which could strengthen your emotional connections with the people who matter to you most.
People often underestimate or underappreciate the value of emotional growth. They don’t realize that being in touch with one’s emotions and that of others can greatly help them navigate the treacherous social pitfalls that come with advancing personal and professional life. You’ll be doomed to be emotionally stunted if you stubbornly insist on sticking to a fast-paced yet stressful life. However, if you are willing to change your life for the better, then the path to emotional progress begins when you take the foot off the pedal and allow yourself to slow down.
