Slow Life, another way to be happy

How many times have we found ourselves caught in the whirlwind created by how fast the world moves? I would say many more than almost all of us would like. Living at a dizzying pace causes us to miss moments, nuances, sensations, details… Details that often make the difference.

In the 80s the s movement emergedlow living or live slow and more and more people have chosen to follow this philosophy of life. What does this movement consist of and what benefits can it bring us? Keep reading to learn more about this trend.

Unfortunately, in our culture, the word “slow” can have negative connotations, equating it to terms like lazy or lazy. Let’s try to break this association. Living slowly does not mean living badly or living irresponsibly, It means living paying attention to the present moment, enjoying every moment.

We live fast, very fast and we don’t realize it. It is no coincidence that 7.36% of the Spanish population suffers from chronic anxiety. 53% of people who suffer from stress end up developing emotional disorders such as anxiety or depression. This happens because when we want to realize how bad we are, it is already too late.

Living at a frenetic pace has consequences

As we grow, we learn what hurry is and to live with it as our flag. We learn to run to get to school and to run from the playground so as not to be late for class. To rush out to extracurricular activities and to rush out of these even faster to get home to do homework. Also running. Shower expressdinner on two wheels and off to bed, tomorrow it’s more of the same.

The same thing happens when we arrive at the University and when we enter the world of work. We prepare for life to become “what happens while we spend hours and hours at work”. A job that we rush to and leave in the same way because, surely, there is something waiting at home, whether it’s a family to take care of, some reports to finish, or a load of laundry to hang up.

Have you heard of boiled frog syndrome? It can help us explain why we consider it normal to have some stress. If we put a frog in a saucepan of boiling water, the frog would constantly jump in an attempt to escape.

However, if we put the frog in water at room temperature, gradually increasing the temperature, the frog will adapt its body temperature as the water heats up and will end up being boiled to death, but without realizing it.

It sounds harsh, but something similar happens to us. Since we were children we are immersed in a world and a society in which absolutely everything moves at an “unnaturally” fast pace. But we adapt, like the frog, over the years to something that ends up seeming normal to us.

The most worrying thing is that We may even consider that being stressed is positive, because without that stress we get bored.. Sounds familiar to you, right? When we realize how living in mode is affecting us sprintit’s late and we already have serious problems.

What does philosophy propose? slow life and what benefits does it bring?

Slow movement encompasses almost all areas of lifefrom food (slow foodorigin of everything) to sex or education, passing through aspects such as exercise, leisure, travel, fashion and, of course, work.

We are invited to eat natural products practicing mindful eatingto use technology in a rational and practical way, to favor small local businesses, to break the buy-use-throw away cycle of clothing (and break with what this implies in producing countries).

This way of life promotes living calmly. This allows you enjoy things and give them the attention they deserve. What is valued more? Do something quickly and regularly or dedicate more time to it, but putting all our awareness into it?

On a theoretical level it is easy, I know. That’s why the movement slow living gives a series of recommendations on how to start being a “slow lifer.” First thing: be patient. Nobody changes an entire system of life in one day.

Immerse yourself in the slow living

Get up a few minutes earlier. It’s going to make it up to you! Take a shower and have breakfast calmly, avoid arriving at work or a place of study drowned. And if you can, go walking, paying attention to the walk. If not, forget about your cell phone on public transport.

Live with less. Escape from consumerism, buy what you need. Surely, if you stop for a moment and look around, you will realize that you don’t need more, but less. You can put the 7-day rule into practice: when you want to buy something you think you need, wait this time and, once it’s over, if you still need it, buy it. This time will also have given you the opportunity to evaluate other options and compare prices to buy better.

Live and enjoy the present. We live tormented by a past that we cannot change. And we fear a future that we have no certainty will be as we imagine. Therefore, the present is the only thing we have and, therefore, we should not let it pass. This way of life invites meditation and the practice of yoga and other disciplines that promote the mind-body connection and whose motto is “here and now.”

Strive every day to do something good for someone. Contrary to what we may think, this fact can be even more positive for ourselves than for the person receiving the good gesture. Little by little it will become automatic.

Be part of a group or community. Volunteering, team sports, travel… We are social beings and, as Tajfel studied, social identity is determined by belonging to certain groups. Furthermore, self-concept is conditioned by the emotional significance and the value we make of belonging to certain groups.

Make a gratitude journal. Spend some time each day writing down three positive aspects of the day. They can be actions, thoughts, feelings or events. You may be surprised at first that you are not able to come up with three positive things. Little by little you will learn to appreciate the little things and be able to generate them yourself.

It seems like a small thing, but write it down. Thoughts end up displaced by others that we consider more important. Writing it is a way to make them present and even be able to turn to them one day when we see that the sun does not rise. This technique is used with patients with depressive symptoms and they are always surprised by how beneficial it is to change the chip. Trust and try it!

Disconnect. This is the most difficult. Put your phone on silent, go outside without it, turn it off if you are able. You can’t imagine how he feels not being a slave to technology.

How am I going to practice slow life in a city?

As you will see, it is quite easy to carry out the above guidelines almost anywhere. But the thing doesn’t stop there… As incredible and impossible as it may seem, there are cities slow (cittaslow) all over the planet.

They are cities where people enjoy walks, talks… In Spain specifically there are 10 municipalities in different cities that promote the movement slow:

Balmaseda (Vizcaya)Leikeito (Vizcaya)Mungía (Vizcaya)Begues (Barcelona)Begur (Gerona)Pals (Gerona)Bubión (Granada)La Orotava (Santa Cruz de Tenerife)Morella (Valencia)Rubielos de Mora (Aragón)

This cities promote slow, respectful tourism with low impact on the environment. Tourist activities that respect the natural, cultural and social environment, and the values ​​of a community are promoted.

Begur (Gerona)

How was this movement born?

This movement was born in 1986, in Italy, promoted by Carlo Petrini, for his horror at finding a McDonald’s in the Spanish Steps in Rome.

He led the movement against fast food and founded the philosophy slow food with which he sought to protect local culinary traditions, their products and gastronomic pleasure. From the movement slow food The rest were developed, until they had become a complete philosophy of life.

Personal reflection

I have been extremely lucky to visit some cities in Southeast Asia and one of the first things that caught my attention was the calmness with which they take life. There is no corner where you don’t see a person taking a snooze. On top of his motorcycle, on some street stairs, in a park or on top of a cow.

They start life very early, the majority live humbly and I would dare to say that you will never lack a smile from them or a gesture of help. Furthermore, especially in those countries of Buddhist religion, the practice of meditation is more than widespread. They are true experts in slow life. And what envy, right?

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