When Slow Living Gets Squeezed by Fast Modern Life
I created Leisurely to champion a slower, more intentional way of living. But recently, I’ve had to admit something to myself. I’ve been living fast.
Like so many of us, I’ve been juggling full-time work, trying to show up for friends and family, and meeting the basic demands of modern life. I’ve been hustling to move Leisurely forward, squeezing it in evenings and weekends. And who would’ve guessed? It’s only led to a sense of being spread too thin and the frustration of unmet expectations I’ve set for myself.
And I guess this is exactly the point.
We’re all constantly juggling the things we have to do, with the things we want to do - and the values we intend to live by. But this tension isn’t a failure. It’s a feature of the systems we live in. Capitalism stretches us, and the planet, too thin. It creates urgency where there is none and distraction from the things that really matter.
Slow Living isn’t just about aesthetics or rituals. It’s a mindset shift. It’s resistance. It’s a reminder that we can make space, in time, for something deeper, even when it’s hard. We just need patience and the hope that reminds us that though good things may take time, they are always possible.
Leisurely hasn’t gone anywhere, we’re still here, offering even the tiniest step to make your night’s sleep as peaceful and restorative as possible. To give you the energy (and hope) you need to do the things that are most meaningful to you. Imagine what we could achieve if we all felt just an ounce more spaciousness?
Over the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing a series going deeper into the roots of Slow Living - from Andean philosophy to Taoist teachings - to learn from the deep wisdom that came long before #slowliving started showing up on Instagram.
If you’ve been stretched too, know that you’re not alone, and you’re certainly not failing. And I hope Leisurely can be a reminder that there’s still space for quiet, restorative moments, even in the chaos.
There is always time.
Sophie x
Images by Celie Nigoumi
