Slow Living - Doing It Old Style!

sunshineli

May I also join? I have been interested in slow and mindful living for some years, and in 2024 I am looking to embrace frugal, simple and healthy living further.

I have been vegan for 8 years now and was very much into the plant-based and yoga lifestyle. In the last year or two I have really struggled with various chronic illnesses, and although I have done quite well with money saving, my healthy routines such as the yoga practice fell by the wayside, and I relied too much on vegan convenience foods.

This year I would like to implement some healthy routines again and focus on what matters to me. This will consist of more homemade frugal plant-based meals and doing this in a way that my health allows (such as batch cooking and simple meals) and getting back into very low impact yoga/stretching and some meditation and journaling. I would also like to read more. 

Long term I would like to reduce my hours at work (I currently work full time) which would best support my health, so it is very important to me that I continue with frugal living so I can afford to reach this goal in the future. (Firstly I need to pay down the mortgage!).

I’m looking forward to this thread helping me keep accountable, your posts are all very inspiring.

sunshineli

mrs_motivated said:

What a fantastic thread, I’ve just read all the posts and feel so inspired by you all and want to join in it that’s ok.

A bit about me, work full time (3 years and then I plan to finish),  only me, Mr M and the dogs at home now, kids have all grown up and flown the nest so in theory I should be able to slow down and make more me time.  I do grow some fruit and veg, love cooking.  Plans for 2024 are to make more use of the gym membership, lose a stone in weight, read more books and have a good wardrobe cull and get rid of what I don’t wear.

i also love to keep a journal and have kept a positivity journal for a number of years, I started my new one today ready for the new year and new habits include being more mindful and new challenge is starting a qigong class.

I love the idea of a positivity journal. I have kept a gratitude journal for several years although I have written in it just twice this year... I can tell the difference it has had on my outlook and mental health. Great idea to use it to help implement your new healthy habits.

Slowdown

Hi everyone,
@leftatthetrafficlights, thanks for starting this thread. A fantastic idea. 

As you can tell from my username I have tried to do this before. And mostly failed with some successes. But even before seeing this I had declared 2024 to be the year to slow down, practice some self-compassion and begin living for me instead of unhealthily allowing the needs of those around me to dominate. 

I am an anxious worrier of a person and having a fast paced life lived by the rule of “I should be..” really doesn’t help my anxiety. My new question is  “Is it the best decision for me?” and  I’m replacing “I should..” with “I could..”

Hearing how everyone else is slowing down will be useful and I’m hoping to pick up tips and ideas for healthier, slower 2024. 

Happy Slow Year everyone 🙂

boultdj

Those who want to grow but no garden, herbs and pepper/chilli plants do well on a window sill, bonus is the pepper/ chill plants will actually life 2 years and give you a bigger crop the 2nd year.
Tubs are great for growing veg if you have back problems and don't forget wall baskets.
I've had to slow down and stop paid work as I am now full time carer for other half, so I need to get back to growing food, I'm looking at fruit bushes and strawberry plants as well as veg.
I also need to find my baking mojo, he went AWOL about 6 months ago.

KajiKita

boultdj said:

Those who want to grow but no garden, herbs and pepper/chilli plants do well on a window sill, bonus is the pepper/ chill plants will actually life 2 years and give you a bigger crop the 2nd year.
Tubs are great for growing veg if you have back problems and don't forget wall baskets.
I've had to slow down and stop paid work as I am now full time carer for other half, so I need to get back to growing food, I'm looking at fruit bushes and strawberry plants as well as veg.
I also need to find my baking mojo, he went AWOL about 6 months ago.

All of this 😊 Sprouting is a good way of ‘growing’ food too and much cheaper than using them. 

What’s your favourite baked thing? Flapjacks, scones, something else? Maybe start with something simple that you love and then expand from there? 

KK

Brie

The 2 things I want to achieve in 2024 is a generally better healthier lifestyle for the household and spending more time on artwork which means less on the computer.  Both are going to be a struggle but the first is essential.

Florafauna

Hello all
I'm slowed down by a yukky virus today but have made a nice broccoli and cheese soup from Xmas leftovers which I am about to have for lunch. NYE plans cancelled due to virus also so having a quiet calm evening in tomorrow to gently welcome in 2024

boultdj

@KajiKita I'm rubbish at sprouting seeds, any tips?

As for baking I like quite a few things and I'm told I'm a good baker, it's the energy part of the mojo that seems to have beggered off. Still I am keeping my hand in with bread and the occasional meat pie.

Sun_Addict

For those wanting to eat more plant based I can highly recommend this website: https://www.thevegspace.co.uk/ you can even print off a 4 week meal plan. I’ve tried quite a few of the recipes and they are indeed delicious 😋 

sunshineli

Sun_Addict said:

For those wanting to eat more plant based I can highly recommend this website: https://www.thevegspace.co.uk/ you can even print off a 4 week meal plan. I’ve tried quite a few of the recipes and they are indeed delicious 😋 

The recipes look fantastic! I will definitely be trying some, thanks.