30 Days of Slow Living Challenge

The older I get the more I realize that a minimalist lifestyle is one that I enjoy the most. In fact, one that I truly crave. I know that might sound silly, but the idea of slow living really speaks to me. I also enjoy the theory of lagom and hygge. However, unlike hygge and lagom, slow living is something I need to work on. Therefore I've decided to challenge myself with thirty days of slow living... I meant to start this at the beginning of November but it's never too late to start right?

30 DAYS OF SLOW LIVING CHALLENGE

1. Start and stick to a morning ritual.
2. Meditate for ten minutes, or more.
3. De-clutter your digital life.
4. Don't complain for a day, say something positive instead.
5. Identify your top priorities.
6. Maximize time spent alone.
7. Clean out your closets - donate what you can.
8. Examine your daily habits - find what brings you happiness.
9. Learn a new skill.
10. Stay offline for a whole day.
11. No social media until after lunch.
12. Don't buy anything for three days.
13. Practice single-tasking.
14. Define your goals for the following year.
15. Go for a walk and practice mindfulness.
16. Don't watch TV all day, read or write instead.
17. Journal for ten minutes about what you're grateful for.
18. Create a relaxing bedtime routine.
19. Make some homemade bread or seasonal recipe.
20. Practice gratitude - write a hand-written note and give it to someone you're grateful for.
21. Identify stress triggers and avoid them.
22. Let go of an unattainable goal and journal about it.
23. Leave a whole day unplanned.
24. Have a picnic with someone you love.
25. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with no distractions.
26. Evaluate the last five purchases made.
27. Tell someone how you feel about them.
28. One night, don't use any lights, use candles instead.
29. Enjoy today's moments and don't take any photos to document it.
30. Make a new recipe from scratch.

If you think you might join along in this challenge, let me know in the comments below. I think it will be fun!

Slow Living

For awhile now I have been intrigued by the concept of slow living. A life of slow living is one that is intentional, minimalist in theory and relaxing. A time where you don't make plans or are constantly busy. It means that you actually have time to enjoy yourself and your loved ones. It can be as simple as cooking your meals instead of ordering out, or enjoying a cup of tea or coffee at home, instead of on the go.

For me, slow living is actually a lot of things. It's listening to records on a Sunday morning with Alex. Reading a good book or having a picnic. The way our homemade meals taste and how good simple food should be enjoyable and relaxing to make. Having a cup of coffee in the morning, sitting at my table alone, and enjoying the stillness of it all. It's also about buying less and making more.

Slow living is different things to different people.
It's about finding time for what truly makes you happy.

Here are a few links in regards to slow living - ones that have really inspired me:

• Slow Living: A Beginner's Guide
• How To Find Time for Slow Living
• Simple Living
• Live With Less: A Guide To Decluttering
• What If All I Want Is A Mediocre Life
• 13 Reminders for Single Tasking

What do you think about slow living? What ways do you practice it? Let me know in the comments below, so we can discuss.