The Connection Between Slow And Seasonal Living

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Time flies no matter how you spend your days. There’s always a reason to stay busy, but that only distracts you from the joys that make life worth living. Learn more about the connection between slow and seasonal living to reconnect with the planet while remaining more present in your daily life.

What is slow living?

Slow living is the concept of doing things more slowly each day to feel present in your mind and body. Each person defines their slow lifestyle speed according to what feels right for their mental health. As long as you’re spending your time according to your values and whatever supports your well-being, you’re embracing a slower life.

This concept began with the slow food movement, which Carlo Petrini started in 1986. Petrini wanted to protest the first McDonald’s in Rome and make people focus on the benefits of sitting down for meals of whole foods. The concept caught on in popularity, eventually morphing into the broader slow-living movement.

What is seasonal living?

Seasonal living is the practise of modifying your lifestyle according to the time of year. It allows you to fully engage with the opportunities only available for short periods, making every moment more special. It may involve some slow living practices but modifies them to the season.

Instead of taking evening walks throughout the year, you might only take them in the fall to appreciate the cooler weather and changing leaves. Your winter, spring and summer exercises would change to workouts inspired by the time of year.

Ways to combine both lifestyles

There’s an undeniable connection between slow and seasonal living. They seem similar to many people, so you can combine them if you’d like to try both. Use these tips to improve your well-being throughout the year with these lifestyles.

1. Reserve time for weekly activities

When you have free time, you might watch the latest TV show or play a video game. Although those could be part of your slow-living lifestyle, you can also improve your quality of life with seasonal exercise. Research shows the brain releases feel-good endorphins when people get more active.

Remember to spend your time on things that make you feel relaxed and happy. The goal isn’t to be productive with your physical activities. Make them seasonal and enjoyable. You could get moving by picking berries in the spring, swimming in the summer, jogging on an autumn trail or ice skating in the winter.

2. Slow your spending

People might think slow and seasonal living centres around your health, but it can also involve your financial life. Try buying things less often to reduce how often you drain the world of natural resources. You could reuse your seasonal decor and clothing as much as possible. Swap belongings with friends to stagger your purchases, save money and live more slowly.

3. Make mindful seasonal meals

Crops are one of the many things that change throughout the year. Use your combined seasonal and slow-living ideas to dine on seasonal meals. If you make them mindfully, you’ll feel present during your cooking process. Take deep breaths while inhaling the aroma of your simmering stews or taste test the ingredients for your summer salads while you chop.

The key is to utilise foods while they’re in their harvest seasons. Eating more sweet potatoes in the fall would fill your meals with vitamin A, which supports your hair health in addition to your bodily functions. Other seasonal produce like springtime broccoli or summer bell peppers would help you eat a more varied diet while grounding it in whole foods inspired by your lifestyle.

4. Keep a journal

Mindfulness lifestyles and slower routines often involve journaling. It gives people a chance to sit down, reflect on their day and process how they feel. Save some time each day for your journal entries. You could even combine slow and seasonal living by changing your pen colour to match the time of year or decorate each page with seasonal stickers.

If you can’t think of anything to write, log your lifestyle changes. Note if they’re helping you feel more present or not. You can check your logs over the coming weeks to see what’s working. It’ll also help you next year when you’re looking for inspirational seasonal routine changes.

5. Meditate on seasonal affirmations

Slowing down means you have more time. Your body might be still, but that doesn’t mean your mind is at peace too. Get more control over your racing thoughts by learning to meditate. You could focus your mind on positive affirmations related to your seasonal goals. Consider breathing deeply and slowly while repeating phrases like:

●      Spring: My self-confidence is blooming each day.

●      Summer:  My heart warms to new friendships with optimism.

●      Fall: I embrace rest like the slumbering autumn leaves.

●      Winter: I accept the dark hours as time to appreciate my valuable rest.

People who think more optimistically improve their psychological well-being if they continue to do so long term. Use your slow and seasonal living changes to shift your mindset. Repeating positive affirmations each day could tackle your mental health while your slower lifestyle does the same over time.

6. Listen to Nature

Using your senses is the best way to ground yourself in nature through the seasons. Step outside and listen to your local environment. You might hear birds singing in the summer, autumn leaves rustling, the wind of a snowstorm or the soft patter of a spring rain shower on the trees.

Even if you can only listen for a minute, reserve time to pay attention to seasonal sounds. It’s one of the joys people often miss while they’re busy. You’ll remember the world is so much bigger than anything going on in your life, which may help you feel more assured that everything will work itself out.

Slow down and enjoy each day more

When you’re ready to experience more peace of mind and feel more present each day, try combining slow and seasonal living. You’ll feel connected to nature while gaining more rest, minimising anxiety and starting healthier habits.

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