Slow living mission

number_23

Hello

For years I have said, this year we are not running round and doing lots over Christmas and New Year, before then proceeding to run around, meet up with lots of people we don’t see all year and then returning to work exhausted! For the first time ever, this year was the year that we hardly did anything, and what a difference that has made. I felt guilt that my DS didn’t see his friends, as we only saw a family members on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, but he had a sickness bug for a day of the holidays anyway, and I was totally bored for a few of the days too, but the slowness of Christmas has been a catalyst for what I think could be a much slower pace of life, and an incredibly productive year!

So far, I have removed all social media from my phone and all social media other than Facebook from my iPad, I’ve set up a ‘do not disturb’ setting on my phone so only certain people (very close family and DS’ school) can contact me during focus times and overnight, I read a full fiction book over the weekend and started a new informative book on slow productivity this week. I have allowed myself time during work hours to work on my own development, I have decluttered somewhat which has resulted in numerous trips to the recycling centre, I am up to date with general household chores, and I have taken more care of myself over the past week than I have for a very long time. I’m feeling good. 

I have joined some of the threads on MS that I believe will help me achieve the small goals I am setting myself, I.e I want to reduce the stock I have in my chest freezer but have never been a good cook so I have joined reverse meal planning (big shout out to @EssexHebridean and @rtandon27 for making me feel welcome and increasing my knowledge of all things frozen). 

I wanted to start this thread so that I can share what I’m up to, what things I’ve changed and how it’s going, in case anyone else is feeling that they too want to live life at a slower pace and would like to join in and share their progress and hints and tips too?

N23

Laurasiamos

I also hate that Christmas is a time to just run around. I wish we had had a slower paced Christmas. My husbands family live in England (we are in Wales), so it is always an overnight trip to visit them at Christmas. His parents are separated so we then have to do two separate get-together events whilst there, then a trip to see his Nan. This is crammed in to two days. Then we celebrate Christmas with my side of the family. Fit husbands work in to that and it feels family time for the 5 of us is just squeezed out. The kids have gone back to school and they still have unopened toys! We just haven't had the time to play with them. 

I too deleted social media (only ever had facebook), but I deleted it a couple of weeks before Christmas because I was sick of how much time I spent scrolling. It felt like such an ingrained habit. I only had it a couple of years (initially created an account to make use of marketplace), but I was shocked by how much time I wasted on it. 

However, even though we have been busy with the kids in the day my evenings are so much more productive. I've made huge progress on a cross stitch I started and abandoned three years ago and I've read two books. All in the space of about a week. 

I also have a full chest freezer. It is mainly full of food from the local community fridge and from New Years Eve yellow stickers I found in Tesco, but I want to eat through a good amount before I buy more. I just really struggle with feeling like we constantly need to go to the shop. I had to pop to the shop again yesterday for bread, milk, yoghurt and peanut butter. I am so frugal in so many ways but somehow have managed to spend £150 already this month on food. It's ludicrous. I do have three young children (9,7 and 3) and they do eat a lot but surely not this much. £500 is my food limit each month and even with frequent trips to the community fridge and buying reduced items I still manage to regularly go over. And, horror, I've run out of tea bags. I am refusing to go to the shop because I hate spending more money on food stuff but I am not sure how much longer I can cope without a cuppa. The herbal stuff doesn't quite hit the spot does it?! 

Sorry for the long rant. Loved your post though and think its a great idea for a thread. 

Laurasia

number_23

Oh @laurasia, I sympathise - that is usually us each year. Do you time this weekend to shut the door and enjoy time with your children? It looks like the weather is going to be cold and dull anyway. I’m sure they would love that. 

How are you finding not being on Facebook, I have ‘found’ so much time and currently on book 4 of the year (two fiction and two non fiction). So annoyed that I wasted so many years on the apps. 

What is your cross stitch theme? How long will it take you to complete?

Tea bags are a necessity (as is the kettle that I purchased last night as ours broke, we had had it for many years). Sometimes items bring peace, and sanity xx

number_23

I’ve been in the office today for the first time in weeks as I WFH the majority of the time. I have settled into a bedtime routine of shower, teeth, skincare and bed for no later than 9pm, reading, then asleep to a meditation by 10pm.  I woke naturally, before my alarm, at 5.48am and read my book again until half 6. 

I always wash and dry my hair on an office day but this morning I opted to shower and put my hair up for work. Time and faff saved = 30 minutes.  I took my time getting ready, spent more time with DS before he was picked up by my FIL, and arrived at the office at 7.50. I even managed to park at the front end of the car park so there wasn’t far to walk on the icy paths. As I was early I made a coffee and listened to an ebook for 40 minutes. I was much calmer than I usually am, instead of feeling rushed. 

I’ve just started a new role at work and I was given all my tasks and priorities for the next few weeks.  Usually I would panic a little but I feel so much more in control just from the few things I’ve put in place so far. 

I read a few pages from a debt free diary yesterday, Foxgloves, and have opted to look at my finances before the end of the week (monthly pay day is early next week) as that’s another area of anxiety and stress.  Like Foxgloves, we do spent too much each month but I truly believe that is because I haven’t been as organised as I could be and there run around buying what I think we need. All that will stop now that I have more time, and plan to put in budgets to allocate this months pay. 

I can’t believe the difference, I’m loving it!!

has anyone else adopted slow living, or is thinking of doing so? How have you benefitted? If you haven’t but want to, what’s stopping or worrying you about trying it? 

Sending slow vibes,
N23

number_23

This week has been busy in terms of work, usually I would panic but I’ve calmly worked out a plan of action and assigned tasks to each of the days this week, and next, with sufficient contingencies so I’m not working too fast to get things done. I feel that I am working much more effectively with my new way of working. 

Now I’m not running around panicked so much, I have found I am in my own head a lot (as I was before anyway) but I am dealing with the thoughts of inadequacy and overthinking life in general. I’ve definitely overspoken at work about random things, my thoughts etc but as I’m aware of it I will address this, and won’t beat myself up about it. I’m more aware of my teeth clenching through the day and the humming I find myself doing almost continuously, and I am addressing it (whilst being kind to myself). I didn’t realise that I was so anxious / tense until I had time to recognise this in myself. I’ve always, deep down, believed I am on the autistic spectrum (siblings show signs too, one with a clinical diagnosis) but as I’m getting older this belief is stronger. I won’t be getting assessed but I will be being kinder to myself and continue to put coping strategies in place. It would be great if I could silence the chatter in my head, and stop constantly thinking about things when I am trying to relax but this has certainly eased over the last few days in particular. I guess I’m sharing in case my experiences are shared with anyone else…the impact just the few changes I’ve made have been astounding, I would hope that others may also benefit by sharing.

Wow, it feels good to get that out of my head and down on ‘paper’. 

In other news, I have completed two non fiction books so far this year, and currently have a non fiction book on the go with another lined up. Trips to the library and charity shop are needed this weekend. 

I hope everyone is having a fantastic Friday. I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend, enjoying my mortgage as some may say, reading and spending time with loved ones (for whom I am much more present for). 

Much love
N23

sunshineli

Hi just found your thread. I too am trying to embrace slow living and have made my own thread to document this (alongside money saving and mortgage overpaying). 

I deleted social media a few days before Christmas. I just couldn’t be bothered spending my Christmas break pointlessly scrolling and looking at people who I don’t know flaunting their materialistic lifestyle. I find that not having social media has helped my anxiety. I still have Pinterest as I use this to look at recipes. 

I love the phrase enjoying my mortgage. My home is my favourite place to be so this justifies me staying home! 

I look forward to following along with your slow living journey.