Instead of rushing to follow the hustle and bustle out there, sometimes you need to learn to live slower so that you can fully enjoy every moment of life.
Today, the pressures of life mean that many of us get caught up in a spiral, with no way out. A day always goes by too quickly before we can see the world around us. To overcome this situation, a slow lifestyle that promotes relaxation in the soul is increasingly being responded to. Let’s travel to different countries around the world to find out how they have practice slow living!
1. Shinrin yoku
Shinrin yoku or forest bathing is a famous Japanese healing therapy . For the Japanese, spending time in nature is the best way to make our worries simpler and easier to breathe. Recent studies have also demonstrated the beneficial effects of forest bathing on human mental health. Accordingly, nature brings peace, happiness and reduces stress in life. Being in nature also enhances memory, creativity, concentration, and a deeper connection with the people around you. Especially for those who are always busy with life in urban areas, going to the forest helps to enhance the awareness of the senses and open their hearts to more vibrations. You can practice shinrin yoku by going on picnics, hiking, camping, or walking in the park, gardening and simply sitting and breathing slowly under a tree. Nature will always welcome you with open arms.
2. Fika
In Sweden, fika translates to “coffee and cake”. However, it’s just a lifestyle of slowness, being present, and enjoying every moment. When you practice the fika lifestyle , it means you put away your electronic devices and sit down somewhere to sip a warm coffee and a delicious cake. At the same time, you will be comfortable chatting with friends and colleagues to bond more emotionally and temporarily put aside the chaos of life. The advantage of fika is that you can practice anywhere, anytime, with everyone. This is not only a way for people in this Nordic country to pass time during breaks, but also an art of communication and part of traditional culture.
3. Flaneuring
The city of light, Paris, is famous for its prosperity and bustle. But it is also here that a slow-living practice has been created called flaneuring – which means wandering aimlessly. The practice of flaneuring is not about walking for health but about looking around, exploring your own city and finding beauty in the very small things. Like the Danish hygge , the Swedish lagom , the Finnish sisu , flaneuring has gradually become a way of life that emphasizes the benefits of enjoying the simple things around. To practice flaneuring,You just need to put your shoes on to go out. Wandering aimlessly, looking around and stopping asking questions, you will find your mind is much more relaxed, open and creative.
4. Ubuntu
You must have heard the saying, “ If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together ”, emphasizing the importance of human connection. That spirit is also expressed in ubuntu which means “human love” from the proverb: ” I exist because we exist ” in the Zulu and Xhosa languages of southern Africa. By being kind, generous, and compassionate, we contribute value to the community and leave behind the beauty of kindness. Giving more is the simplest way to feel and trust our meaningful presence. In addition, ubuntu is also a way for us to slow down, be more sincere and dispel the negativity in life.
5. Dolce far niente
In a chaotic life, “doing nothing” is seen as a difficult thing to accept. But for Italians, doing nothing is also an art, because it frees us from the enormous workload and pressures of life, and Italians call it dolce far niente. Try turning off electronics, taking a break from trying, and then… sink into the moment. Lie on the grass or look out the window and let your mind wander in the stillness. There, you will certainly feel the relaxation and happiness in your soul, as well as practice a slow lifestyle and recharge your energy for new journeys.
6. Ayurvedic
Ayurveda is a series of Indian healing methods that include the use of pure foods, the use of oils in dentistry, tongue scraping, yoga, head massage and many more. In particular, head massage has been shown to help reduce stress and headaches, as well as help blood circulation and strengthen the immune system.
Every morning before personal hygiene, you can take a few minutes to do a self-massage, by rubbing three fingers into the junction of head and neck just behind the ear in a circular motion. This is a very effective way to relax your head and neck area, ready to start a new day. Combined with meditation and yoga, head massage not only brings physical health benefits, but also helps us find peace of mind, clear the mind and learn to live more slowly.
Slow living is an art of finding inner peace, not encouraging a lazy and detached lifestyle. So practice slow living at the right time and in the right way. However, don’t let slow living become an excuse for procrastination, which will affect your work and life.
[…] If you have enjoyed reading this article about Sohwakhaeng, which is the Korean way of having a simpler and happier way of living, you may like to read ‘6 Tips to Practice Slow Living Around the World’ […]