The world has been longing to slow down and it’s finally happening. Reusable water bottles are widely popular. Detergents’ containers can now be reused and refilled at specially designed points in stores. Fast food outlets are launching vegan menus. And there are countless apps like Headspace or Calm to help us meditate and reduce our online time. It seems people are becoming more conscious and strive for a simpler and more meaningful life<\/a>. The push is towards simplicity, whether that\u2019s decluttering<\/a> or avoiding tourist traps.\u00a0 The joy of presence<\/a> has been long practiced by ancient cultures of Japan and other Asian countries. Now, this philosophy is taking off mainstream. There are thousands of Instagram photos of people sharing their way of #slowliving. They are proud of their\u00a0imperfections<\/a> and embrace everything which stands against senseless busyness. The pictures depict ruffled linen sheets and steaming cups of tea<\/a>. Pleasures to be savoured and enjoyed slowly. Inspiration to put down our phones and be present in the moment.<\/p>\n “From tree changes to urban living, tiny homes to ethical consumption, self-sustainability to slow food \u2013 there is no one right way of describing the external indicators of slow living because there is no one way to live a slower, simpler life. At its heart, slow living is a curious mix of being prepared and being prepared to let go. Caring more and caring less. Saying yes and saying no. Being present and walking away. Doing the important things and forgetting those that aren\u2019t. Grounded and free. Heavy and light. Organised and flexible. Complex and simple. It\u2019s about letting go of the excess stuff in our homes, learning how to live mindfully, getting in touch with our personal values and choosing to put them at the centre of all that we do.” It can be difficult amid the hype to know what slow living really means. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics and lose any deeper meaning. Here\u2019s a collection of the other definitions of slow living<\/em> (we put key elements in bold <\/strong>for emphasis):<\/p>\n “Slow Living means structuring your life around meaning and\u00a0fulfilment. Similar to \u2018voluntary simplicity\u2018 and \u2018downshifting,\u2019 it emphasizes a\u00a0less-is-more approach, focusing on the quality of your life\u2026Slow Living addresses the desire to lead a more balanced life and to pursue a\u00a0more holistic sense of well-being\u00a0in the fullest sense of the word. In addition to the personal advantages, there are potential\u00a0environmental benefits as well. When we slow down, we often use fewer resources and produce less waste, both of which have a lighter impact on the earth.” We all agree that knife blocks can add a professional look to a kitchen. However, they take up way too much needed countertop space. This is why we suggest you switch to a magnetic knife rack<\/a>. Not only do they look professional and allow you to display your beautiful knives and kitchen utensils. They also save up space as they are simply mounted on your kitchen wall. For ideas of where to hang them check out our blog<\/a> and if you are in search of a beautiful magnetic knife rack of your own check out Oishya\u2019s<\/a>.<\/p>\n As I was doing my research, I began seeing themes emerge in all the interesting ways people describe their own versions:<\/p>\n Technology has made our world connected and fast-paced as ever, impacting our quality and speed of life. Conversations, information, and news travels faster than ever before. People are expected to be connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Working after leaving the office has become the norm. “Hustle culture” has caused many people to experience extreme points of burnout. Our fast-paced lifestyles take their toll on our mind, body, and spirit. Everything, from our health and diet to our relationships, families, communities, and schools is suffering from busyness and it’s also hurting our ability to think, link, innovate, create work, be productive, and be creative.\u00a0 But the faster things become, the more our subconsciousness rebels wanting to slow us down. Carl Honor\u00e9, author of\u00a0In Praise of Slowness: How A Worldwide Movement Is Challenging the Cult of Speed says that:\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n “I think of slow [living] as more of a mindset than anything else, it’s quality over quantity. It’s doing things with presence, being in the moment. Ultimately, it’s about doing everything as well as possible instead of as fast as possible.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The movement resonates with so many because people are sick of fast-forwarding through their lives\u2014and the consequences that go along with that lifestyle. “We’re racing through our lives instead of actually living them,” says Honor\u00e9. “Turning every moment of the day into a dash takes a toll, and it’s hurting us in so many ways.”. Watch Carl’s TED talk on praise of slowness:<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Brooke McAlary<\/p><\/blockquote>\nEveryone has its own definition<\/h2>\n
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\n\u2014 Beth Meredith and Eric Storm<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"nature](\"https:\/\/cdn.oishya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/06215913\/casey-horner-4rDCa5hBlCs-unsplash-scaled.jpg\")
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What the Slow Living Lifestyle Really Means<\/h2>\n
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![\"an](\"https:\/\/cdn.oishya.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/06215914\/colton-duke-QRU0i5AqEJA-unsplash.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe lifestyle of Slow Living<\/h2>\n
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In praise of slowness<\/h2>\n