Slow Living V Hustle Culture

Slow Living versus Hustle Culture

As we emerge out of the hibernation imposed by the global pandemic, one thing has become clear: the world is speeding up again.

In the midst of our isolation, some silver linings could be dug out of the darkness: more time living due to less commuting; more peace, and less bustle.

As a global community, we were in an unprecedented way forced to hit the brakes on our busy lives. While many of us assumed the ‘Lessons of the Lockdown’ would stick, this appears to not be the case. Traffic has suddenly picked up; offices are filling back up and our collective breathe has become a little more shallow again.

Yet some are swimming against this riptide leading us back into Hustle Culture. And it those who are quietly embracing Slow Living.

Slow Living in History

In 1986, Carlo Petrini and a group of Italian activists protested the opening of McDonald's location at the Spanish Steps in Rome and this sparked the slow food movement in Italy.

They also produced a manifesto, which later served as the basis for the Slow Living movement. However, despite its increasing appeal, Slow Living is sometimes misinterpreted.

Here is what slow living simply entails: A slow approach to daily living and work.

“It is not shortage of time that should worry us, but the tendency for the majority of time to be spent in low-quality ways.”

― Richard Koch, The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

The trap of ‘busy-ness’

Today, ‘being busy’ is equated with ‘being important’ in our culture and the term is occasionally used with a sense of pride.

Your value in society is based primarily on what you can produce and consume. Slowing down is a ‘guilty pleasure’ in a world of status symbols, branded t-shirts, and unending WhatsApp chatter.

The grind culture, which glorifies being busy, comes next. It asserts that staying up late and sleeping with one eye on your emails demonstrates your dedication, enthusiasm and drive.

Rejecting a fast-paced lifestyle that glorifies a mindless frenzy is what Slow Living is all about.

It's not necessary to have a busy schedule to lead a full life. Productivity is not achieved by rushing through your schedule. It involves realizing that happiness is journey that we can choose to take each day, rather than the destination of hitting a career goal; sum of money in the bank, or a prestigious home address.

How do you practice Slow Living?

The word "slow" tends to have negative connotations for many people. But as we know, faster isn't necessarily better. If you move more slowly, you'll inevitably fall behind, right? In reality, that’s not necessarily the case.

At the same time, Slow Living is not a luxury reserved for those without jobs, family or obligations. And it’s certainly not just for people who can afford country cottages.

Slow Living is in actual fact all about efficiency - finishing our most important tasks and delegating or rescheduling the remainder thus leaving time to enjoy life to the fullest in today's fast-paced environment

The Pareto Principle, commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the effect comes from 20% of causes. Or, in terms of work and time management, 20% of your efforts will account for 80% of your results. So if we were to truly adopt this age old mantra into our lives, in theory - we could have the same results, with a lot less effort. So would it not be worth a try?

Yes we all need to have output to earn money. Yes we need to get children out the door to school on time. But Slow Living is basically about finding balance - moving through life at the tempo that gives you enough space to discover some joy in your everyday.

Using technology for you - not against you

Slow Living is not at all about rejecting the benefits that modern life brings such as the time-saving use of technology. Instead, it uses these advantages to free up more time for leisure.

We have been exposed to the must-dos and must-haves of society since we were young, but since no two people are alike, why should the opinions of others determine how we should live our lives? This relates to what we consume — what we eat, watch, read and buy — as well as our lifestyle. What we choose to learn, do for a living, or whom we choose to spend time with.

Understand the meaning of Slow Living

Living slowly entails planning out your free time and learning the importance of saying ‘no’.. It's not about jam-packing your schedule with social engagements out of obligation.

It's about developing the ability to firmly decline invitations and fiercely guard your free time. And it's about using your free time to pursue your own interests. But surely this is just selfish? Some may argue that in fact, you are simply setting a good example of a well-lived life.

Limiting non-productive screen time

It has been said that we will spend 7 years of our life scrolling on screens mindlessly. Some things must simply be eliminated if you want more time.

Where does your time actually go, though? Even though we frequently say we "don't have time," we watch hours of TV and use our smartphones.

Setting a screen time limit helps you make more time for activities that truly make you happy. Even after a long day, you'll discover that engaging activities will help you sleep better than dozing off on the couch.

Slow Tourism

As you are now aware, slow living represents a societal shift away from the idea that speed always wins. Doing everything at a glacial pace is not slow living. The key is to try to move through each task at a pace comfortable for you. Everything from work to eating to parenting should emphasize quality over quantity.

In order to sample the experience of Slow Living before deciding if it is for you, book a stay at Powerscourt Springs. Here we encourage guests to slow down and immerse yourself in nature and wellness experiences to switch off the hustle. Our services include Spa, Yoga, Forest Bathing, and Guided Meditation sessions conducted by skilled wellness coaches.

Immerse yourself in our surroundings and witness the magic of Slow Living firsthand at Powerscourt Springs: www.powerscourtsprings.ie