Daily Slow Living Prompts to Help You Get Started
A large part of slow living is being intentional about how we spend our time. This requires acknowledging how we’ve planned our days in our personal and work life and making a series of small changes to better align with our priorities. While slowing down sounds easy, making the switch to a slower lifestyle doesn’t happen overnight. To encourage my own journey into a more meaningful life, I put together 31 days of ideas to practice my muscles for slow living. Every day, I will reflect on the previous day’s theme and journal a bit about my experience so I can reflect on my challenges and accomplishments during the month.
I was tempted to put this off and begin on the 1st of the next month, but after some thought why wait? Feel free to click through each day to see the full post. I hope these ideas will help you on your journey to slow living!
Day 1: Journal about your values
What do you absolutely require to live an intentional and fulfilled life?
Day 2: Unplug all day
Aside from your work duties for the day turn off all electronics and spend the day unplugged.
Day 3: Immerse yourself in nature
If you can’t physically be outdoors, open the windows and look out, tend to plants, or meditate while listening to forest or ocean sounds.
Day 4: Savor every moment
Slow down and be present.
Day 5: Say no to anything that is not your priority
Make room for the things that matter.
Day 6: Read a book
Yes, a real physical book.
Day 7: Schedule time to do absolutely nothing
Maybe prepare and sip a cup of tea, gaze the clouds, sit in a swing, the world is your oyster.
Day 8: Immerse yourself in a hobby
Get into your flow by doing something you love.
Day 9: Meditate
Take time to be present, ground, and connect with yourself and the world.
Day 10: Engross yourself in every meal
Turn off the phone, chew slowly, savor with all the senses.
Day 11: Daydream
Give yourself time to drift away, even if it’s only for 5 minutes.
Day 12: Practice gratitude
Feel and express gratitude for every part of your day.
Day 13: Consider the saying yes or saying no
Meditate on the consequences of saying yes, and saying no.
Day 14: Make something from scratch
Harness your creativity.
Day 15: Create a peaceful space where you can fully relax
Even if it’s just a little corner in a room that’s just for you, create an environment to slow down.
Day 16: Thank your body for all it does for you every day
Appreciate all that your body does for you by treating yourself to any form of self care. Rest? A foot rub? A face mask?
Day 17: Journal
Journal about what’s important to you, things and hobbies you love, a favorite pastime, a good book you read, your loved ones, or anything else that resonates with what brings meaning and joy to your life.
Day 18: Give your undivided attention
Put aside all distractions and be present when spending time with others.
Day 19: Do everything with joy
Find the small joys in even the most menial everyday tasks.
Day 20: Stop multitasking
Focus your efforts and attention on one thing at a time.
Day 21: Be patient
Savor the moments you have to wait.
Day 22: Limit your to-do list
Keep your day to day goals realistic, attainable, and reasonable. Be kind to yourself!
Day 23: Declutter your home
A wonderful quote from the film, Fight Club: “The things you own, end up owning you.” Things require space, time, and energy. Be mindful of your belongings.
Day 24: Do a digital declutter (emails, photos, documents, apps, subscriptions, notifications, etc.)
Lessen the number of distractions and mental space these take up in your day.
Day 25: Simplify
Whether it’s an over complicated skincare routine (unless this brings you joy, of course) or paper bills that could be made into automatic payments, there’s room to simplify.
Day 26: Prepare food and beverages from scratch
Take the time to nourish your body and soul.
Day 27: Give yourself a break
Don’t hold yourself to a standard that’s not attainable. We’re a work in progress.
Day 28: Do something kind for someone
Focus on another person’s wants and needs and do something to brighten their day.
Day 29: Try growing your own food
While this isn’t necessarily possible for everyone, most people can at least manage growing a few herbs and is rewarding and educational.
Day 30: Be resourceful
Use, make, mend, reuse, and be creative rather than buying something new. Slow down consumption.
Day 31: Try deep breathing
Aside from all the health benefits, it allows us to ground and be present.
Day 32: Reflect and Stargaze
For a frame of reference on just how small we are, and also to appreciate nature’s beauty.
The last one was a bonus (because I’m a selenophile, love the night sky, and thought you might too). I hope you enjoyed trying out all (or some) of these ideas. Hope your days are filled with the people and activities that delight you.
Read more about how to start your slow living practice here.
