Having our days filled with never-ending schedules, meetings, school, extra-curricular activities and all sorts of social commitments is stressing and leaves very little space for us to enjoy the important things in life. Learn how to get started with the “slow living” lifestyle and discover a more mindful way of interacting with your surroundings.
Holidays at home, enjoy and rest
If you’re willing to achieve a more “slow life” way of living but don’t know where to start, keep on reading. On your next holidays take a few days only to enjoy your home retreat and the peaceful feeling of quietness and serenity in your own place with the following tips:
Plan the important things
Planning everything in advance seems like a good idea when we’re short of time but it has a major drawback: when things don’t turn out as planned, we get very frustrated. Not completing our entire schedule can be stressing and turn us irritable, and that’s the last thing we want to happen to us.
Well, then don’t plan everything: set only for the important things. Decide which things you really want to do and enjoy organizing them and actually doing them. This previous work will help you focus on the things that really matter to you and your family. The rest, you can leave out.
Eat healthier
Keeping ourselves healthy helps to balance our minds and bodies. There is an ineffable connection between both entities and we need to be able to keep balance between them in order to be happier and full of energy to achieve our daily goals.
Try changing a bit your food habits: swipe from fast, pre-cooked meals to homey slow and tasteful food. Even though pre-cooked meals are usually seen as a lifesaver when we don’t have many time to spare on the kitchen, taking care of your nutrition will help you maintain full control of your mind and body.
You’ll see a huge change in the way your body reacts to food made with love and patience and, in return, your mind will rest peacefully with the new rhythm your body will set.
Turn off your devices
Nowadays, we are so immerse in our phones, tablets, laptops and tv’s that we often forget to take a look around. Our adivice? Turning off all your technological distractions. Try leaving them out of the equation for a while and only focus in what surrounds you. During your holidays at home, you should give a try to technological detox.
When was the last time you paid attention to the way dust dances in sunlight? When was the last time you stopped to smell the flowers? If you can’t remember, it was a long time ago. Give yourself a rest from the modern life and pay attention to the little things that make it all worth.
Spend time with your loved ones
It seems obvious that spending time with those we love is important but our daily schedules usually give us no time to enjoy as we’d like to. Make the most of your holidays. Plan a BBQ, a movie night— yes, a binge watching tv-show night is ok too— or a game night and spend quality time with your family, having fun and relaxing altogether.
You’ll be thankful for those moments once your holidays are done and in addition you’ll feel more connected to them. Don’t miss the chance to spend time with your family and friends, they make it worth.
Take it easy
Holidays at home: take it easy. Just that. Breathe and take it easy. Focus on the air that fills your lungs and let your mind have a rest from everything. This modern life and its fast rhythm make us want to control everything happening around us, we are in a continuous rush to nowhere and just forget to breathe deeply and relax a bit.
During your home vacation give a try to meditation, yoga or pilates to enhance the bond between your mind and body. We take it for granted and even though it is an inner bond, it takes work and time to make everything work as it should.
Try to keep a routine of meditation once you’re back to work: it will help you stay focused and more relaxed when things start getting messy.
The “slow life“ way of living seems unachievable nowadays but it just takes a bit of effort at the beginning to get rid of stress and frustrations. During your spare days, dedicate some time to “detoxify” from every stressful thought and past frustrations. Just focus in what really matters: your well-being and spending time with the important people.
You’ll see how, in a few weeks, your way of perceiving the things going on around you has changed. Slow living will give you a new mindset and to understand the world around you. Holidays at home!
