A Guide to Slow and Sustainable Living

It can feel tough to slow down these days. The list goes on between work, family, friends, hobbies, cleaning, and cooking. The list goes on. And when life gets too busy we can tend to cut corners and do things out of convenience like buying pre-cut veggies wrapped in plastic rather than taking the time to chop them yourself.

Slow very much equals sustainable. Slow fashion is more sustainable than fast fashion. Slow food is more sustainable than fast food. (Not just take out but pre-made, pre-cut, “convenience”e foods) When we take the time to slow down, we can do things more sustainably.

Don’t get me wrong. There are times we need to rely on convenience and there are times when we won’t be able to be slow and sustainable. As with everything in life, it’s all about doing the best you can.

A Guide to Slow and Sustainable Living:

1. Sustainable and non toxic swaps for your home

Living slowly has a lot to do with how we treat the planet and its inhabitants. Starting to make sustainable and non-toxic swaps in homes will help greatly. This can include switching to reusables, items made from natural and biodegradable materials and clean, chemical fee cleaning supplies. All of these are made more slowly and are more gentle on the earth.

Related:

DIY non-toxic cleaning recipe

50 zero waste swaps

2. Sustainable and non toxic swaps for you

Along with making better choices for your home, it’s time to make better choices for yourself! Make the switch to sustainable and non-toxic makeup and skincare. It only takes a few seconds for the products we apply topically to soak into our skin. And most conventional products aren’t healthy for us. Now imagine those same ingredients washing down the drain and thrown in our landfills.

Choosing healthier, sustainable items will lessen our impact on the planet and allow us to slow down.

Related:

Low waste makeup brands

Sustainable skincare brands

3. Making your own food

Making basic foods is a skill I believe everyone should know. It’s more affordable, reduces plastic waste and allows us to control the ingredients. It also allows us to slow the heck down. If you’ve ever made a loaf of bread you know what I’m talking about. It takes time. Allow yourself to enjoy the moment and be present.

4. Growing your own food

The same can be said for growing your own food. There really is nothing like eating the fruits of your labour. Again, it forces us to slow down and even learn patience. Along with that it also helps minimize our carbon footprint. Bonus points if you can learn to start preserving!

5. Making time for your hobbies and interests

One of the biggest faults in this rat race called life is being too busy for the things we love. Having a slower approach to life can really help us carve out time for the little things and hobbies that bring us joy.

6. Making routines for yourself

Routines can really help us to prioritize the things we love and the things we need to do. I thrive off of y routines. They ensure I have enough time for the things I want/need to get done.

Related:

How to create a slow morning routine

7. Learn how to disconnect

The world is pretty fast and it can be hard to slow down when we’re being told to hustle and chase the next big thing. Learning how to disconnect, step away from social media and put our phones down is huge when it comes to living a slow and sustainable life.

Thank you for reading this little guide to slow and sustainable living. I hope it encourages you to find peace and live a life gentle on the earth and your soul

Please don’t forget to share this post and follow me on Instagram for daily slow and sustainable living content.