Slowing Down to Create a LIFE You LOVE!!

Slowing Down to Create a Life You Love will help you make small changes in your daily routine that will benefit you mentally, spiritually, and physically. The first step is eliminating old patterns of a rushed lifestyle and adding new habits to help slow your pace.

If you’re looking for more ideas on living a simple life, If You Read One Article on Simple Living, Read This, and Old Fashioned Simple Habits to Start Today will help you on your journey.

A red dirt road near my house leads to a patch of homes nestled in the woods. I like to travel that road at different times of the day to experience the various elements the same path offers.

On a crisp fall day, I headed out for my walk with my dog Paddington, not realizing the magic I was about to encounter.

The squirrels ran from tree to tree, rustling the branches as they went about their business. Acorns made light crashing sounds as they dropped from the oak trees onto the forest floor.

We turned a corner and passed a little yellow cottage tucked in the woods with the front porch lit up with fairy lights on the way home. A woman played guitar under the lights and sang “Dancing in the Moonlight.”

To say it was an enchanting experience is an understatement. Paddington and I stood silently in the dark across the street, watching her sing her heart out.

The person I am today would rather stumble upon someone singing from their front porch than go to a concert and listen to a song from a professional singer.

What is Slow Living?

Slow Living is all about savoring life’s big and small experiences. It’s about being present in the moment and recognizing that you’ll never get this time back.

For some people, slowing down means taking a break from the rat race and enjoying a simpler lifestyle. For others, slow means taking more time for their mental and physical health and less time spent doing activities that don’t benefit their life.

In the modern world, we have a more extensive to-do list and insufficient time to finish the tasks. Slowing down the fast pace of our lives will take conscious effort, but the rewards will be numerous both in body and soul.

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this article on Slowing Down and Live a Life You Love, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group, Creating a Cozy Life, with over 126,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cottage.

“I fall in love every day. With new songs, dogs, scents, pieces of art, illustrations, five-minute conversations, a sunset in my rearview mirror, a story. A written note. A daydream. What a pleasure it is. To know gravity.”

Victoria Erickson

Ideas on Slowing Down and Live a Life You Love

1. Present Moment

One way to slow down is to practice mindfulness. The past is gone, and the future hasn’t happened yet. All we have is the present.

So much of our precious time and energy is wasted dwelling on past mistakes or missed opportunities. The future also occupies our minds with how many things we have to do and how we will do them.

We can put our total energy into this time and place by living in the present moment. By slowing down and putting our cell phones away and simply taking deep breaths, we can immediately help lower our blood pressure.

Healthy people know that the less stress we let into our lives, the better we’ll feel. Focusing on spending time in the “now” is one of the best ways to adopt a slower pace in life.

2. Take Short Breaks

One of the most significant changes on slowing down I’ve made to my life recently was adding short breaks throughout my day. Most of the week, I’m typing on a computer, so sitting down is something I do a lot.

I set my phone alarm regularly throughout the day to remind myself to take a break. Short breaks allow your mind to rest so you can return to work focused and refreshed.

Once you take small breaks throughout the day, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel. Use your break time to do something you enjoy, like taking a 5-minute walk, reading, and listening to music.

I find that when I allow short breaks throughout the day, I accomplish more than on days I don’t.

3. Morning Routine

How you start your day can influence how the rest of your day goes. If you typically start your day hurriedly, rushing to get everything done and everyone out the door, you can still feel the stress from the morning lingering throughout the rest of the day.

If you set your day with intention and calm, you’re more likely to have a peaceful day. Setting your alarm a little earlier each morning is an easy way to add a little time to your day.

Waking up before the rest of your family and spending some time journaling, planning your day, or simply sitting on your front porch to the birds singing will become a part of your day you’ll come to treasure.

In the book, The 5 AM Club, the author Robin Sharma suggests slowing down and setting aside an hour each morning for yourself. He suggests dividing that hour into 20 minutes for physical fitness, 20 minutes for meditation or journaling, and 20 minutes for personal growth.

For more ideas on creating a morning routine, Cozy Hygge Morning Rituals to Try Today will help you create a plan.

4. End of the Day Routine

I wrote a popular article on How to Create Evening Routine Rituals.

Your body needs time to decompress at the end of the day to ensure quality sleep during the night. Finding ways to add quiet rituals to your evening will have a ripple effect on slowing down and creating a happy life.

One of the ideas in my nightly routine article is to go outside with your children. Bundle up the kids and say goodnight to the moon and the stars.

So many parents have written to me thanking me for that suggestion. Their children treasure spending the evening with their parents unwinding at the end of the day and marveling at the beauty of the universe.

5. Slowing Down with New Experiences

Life is about more than just checking things off our to-do lists. It’s also about taking the time to experience new things and enjoy your life.

Trying new things can help you see the world in a new light and create lasting memories. So go ahead and sign up for that cooking class, take a short trip to explore a neighboring town, or take a picnic to watch a sunset.

Life is about more than just checking things off our to-do lists. It’s also about taking the time to experience new things and enjoy your life.

6. Embrace the Beauty that Surrounds Us

Part of slowing down is appreciating the things that make this world beautiful. The noise of the world wants you to focus on the chaos. Instead, look for the beauty in everyday life.

Turn off the news in the evening and walk after dinner. I love to look at the shadow of the trees in the night sky. Marvel at the glow of the light coming from your neighbor’s windows.

7. Nourishing Food

How many of us rush through life, too busy to know what is in all the food we eat to nourish our bodies? Making our food from scratch is one of the ways slowing down your life can benefit you in so many ways.

Your health will improve by only including whole foods in your diet. Sitting down and enjoying your food will help your digestion, and creating ambiance at your family meals can assist in making happy memories.

Making your own spice mixes, like homemade fajita seasoning mix or Nashville hot chicken seasoning is one way to get started on making delicious meals. Homemade soups and salad dressings with fresh ingredients are also a good way to start making food at home.

Taking the time to eat your food slowly is something that the Italians have mastered. While most of us don’t have the time for long meals, we can slow down and savor every bite.

Setting a beautiful table, eating candlelight meals, dining alfresco on warm days, and having a table centerpiece are ideas for creating ambiance during your family meals. The Best Hygge Dinner Traditions to Try Tonight and Themed Family Dinner Ideas will help you construct meals you’ll come to treasure.

8. Seasonal Lifestyle

Slowing down your life isn’t a trend. It’s a lifestyle choice. Seasonal living has many benefits, including improved physical and mental health.

One way you can live in harmony with the seasons is to change your diet to consume fruits and vegetables at their peak of freshness, plan activities to compliment each season, and take walks throughout to experience the gifts every season has to offer.

9. Simple Pleasures

When we live a life that recognizes simple pleasures as blessings, our lives become much richer.

Instead of engaging in an endless journey for bigger adventures or things, we are grateful for the small moments and things around us. Simple pleasures are those little moments that make us feel happy and alive. Small things become big things when we weave them together.

What are simple pleasures? For me, it’s the sound of raindrops against my living room windows, my hot Earl Grey tea with my favorite creamer every morning, and playing with my puppies every day.

The next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to savor one of your simple pleasures. It just might be the thing that gets you through a difficult day.

10. Community

When we create a community, we come together with other like-minded people to achieve something we couldn’t do on our own. We pool our resources and talents to support the way of living we believe in.

Here are some ideas on how to create a community:

• You can volunteer for your favorite cause. It will allow you to connect with others with similar passions and interests. It is also a way to give back to your community.
• Join a club or organization that aligns with your interests. I joined a writing club with ten members, and we would gather together every month for dinner and reading samples of our writing projects.
• How about getting involved in keeping the charm of your town intact? Whether preserving old houses or historic buildings, establishing nature preserves, or helping start community centers – you’ll be happy to take part in leaving the place you live in a better place for the next generation.

Whatever method you choose, creating community is a meaningful way to improve your life and the lives of those around you.

11. Spend Time Alone

If you’re used to spending most of your time around other people, giving yourself time to be alone can sometimes feel uncomfortable. However, there are many benefits to spending some time alone every day.

When you’re alone, it will allow you to clear your head and gather your thoughts. Spending your time filled with activities doesn’t allow you to center yourself and get in touch with how you feel.

Being alone allow you to reflect on the day and plan your future. In general, intentional pauses can help you feel happier and more content in a fast-paced world.

Slowing down and listening to where your heart is can help guide you on the path you were meant to live.

12. Spend Time Reading

Spending time reading is one of the easiest ways to embrace slowing down the pace of your life. Reading will help you relax and escape from the stresses of everyday life. It’s also a fantastic way to learn new things and gain new perspectives.

Find a cozy spot in your home where you can curl up and read a good book. I just bought two beautiful antique poetry books that I have displayed on my side table. The faded red velvet covers contain beautiful poems that, when read, can transform an ordinary moment into a space of time with a touch of magic.

13. Learn New Skillsets

Have you ever been so involved in a project that time flew by? Finding things you love to do is part of slowing down and learning to enjoy life. How many things do we do daily that we don’t enjoy doing? Adding more enjoyable activities to our schedule will help balance our days.

Learning a new skill will also help create more confidence, become more well-rounded, and better your life. If you’re looking for hobby ideas, I made a list of cozy ideas.

Instead of using social media to try and find things to entertain me, I look for people to follow that have experience in something I want to learn. Instead of feeling like I’ve just wasted my free time, I learn something new every day. If spending time on social media is a weakness, giving yourself time limits may help.

14. Natural Lifestyle

Natural living is about interacting with the natural world in a way that benefits both the environment and the individual. What natural living means to you is a personal choice based on your beliefs.

Participating in gardening or hiking, only using natural cleaners, buying or growing organic food, and living in harmony with nature are just some ideas you can incorporate.

As more people seek natural options, more eco-friendly options are becoming available. You can also easily make your products at home, which will help you save money.

We’ve reached the end of Ideas on Slowing Down in Life. I hope you enjoyed it!

Don’t forget to join the Creating a Cozy Life Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is!

I created a pin on the Slowing Down article, so you can refer back to the post.

You can follow me here on PINTEREST. If you try any of these ideas and take a photo, be sure to tag me here on INSTAGRAM.

Thanks for dropping by. I’m so happy you found us!

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