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When life feels too fast, it’s easy to think slowing down will require a complete overhaul, changing jobs, moving to the countryside, or spending hours in stillness you don’t have.
But slow living is essentially about creating pockets of presence in the life you already have.
These moments can be small, just ten minutes, and still shift the pace of your day.
When I first began leaning into slow living, I started with the simplest habits, ones that felt doable even on the busiest days. Over time, they became the anchor points that made everything else feel calmer.
Here are five easy slow living habits you can start today, each taking no more than ten minutes.
Take a Morning Pause Before Reaching for Your Phone
It’s tempting to reach for the phone the moment you open your eyes. Emails, messages, headlines, it’s all there, just waiting for your attention. But I’ve learned that how you spend your first moments in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Instead of scrolling, spend your first ten minutes connecting to the world as it is, not through a screen.
Sit by a window with a warm drink and notice what’s around you. Is the light soft or bright? Is there movement outside? How does the air feel on your skin?
Some mornings, I simply sit on the couch with my tea and watch the way the sunlight shifts across the wall. That small pause slows my breathing, softens my thoughts, and reminds me I have a choice in how I begin the day.
Clear One Small Space in Your Home
Clutter has a way of making the mind feel full, even when nothing else is going on. But tackling an entire room can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re already short on energy.
That’s why I focus on one small space at a time like a single drawer, a shelf, or my bedside table.
Spend ten minutes removing anything that doesn’t belong there, putting things back in their place, or simply wiping down the surface.
The change is immediate. That cleared space becomes a calm point for your eyes to rest on, a visual reminder that you’ve made space for ease in your home and your mind.
I’ve found this habit especially grounding at night. Clearing my kitchen counter before bed means I wake to an uncluttered view in the morning, and it changes the way the day feels before it’s even started.
Step Outside and Notice the Season
One of the most grounding parts of slow living is connecting to the seasons. Even if you only have ten minutes, stepping outside can shift you from a busy mind to a present body.
You don’t have to go anywhere special. Stand on your porch, open your balcony door, or walk to the end of the street.
Notice the details – the feel of the air, the smell of the earth, the sound of leaves or distant traffic. Look for what has changed since the last time you were outside.
I try to do this at least once a day, even if it’s just stepping into my backyard for a few deep breaths.
In the fall, it might be the crunch of leaves underfoot. In spring, the faint scent of blossoms. These small observations keep me rooted in the moment and connected to the rhythm of nature.
Savor One Daily Ritual Without Multitasking
So much of daily life is spent in half-attention whether it’s listening to a podcast while cooking, checking emails while eating lunch, scrolling through a phone while walking.
Slow living invites us to be fully present, even in the smallest moments.
Choose one daily ritual and give it your full attention for ten minutes. It could be making tea, eating breakfast, washing dishes, or watering plants.
Notice the textures, scents, and sounds. Feel the warmth of the mug in your hands, hear the splash of water, watch the way the light falls across the table.
For me, it’s my evening calming tea. I love the sound of the water boiling, the earthy scent as the leaves steep, the quiet warmth in my hands. By focusing only on this, I turn a simple act into a moment of restoration.
Write Down Three Things You’re Grateful For
Gratitude is a cornerstone of slow living. It shifts the focus from what’s next to what’s here. Taking ten minutes to reflect on your day creates a sense of closure and contentment.
Keep a small dedicated journal on your nightstand. Before bed, write down three things you’re grateful for.
They don’t have to be big, sometimes mine are as simple as the way the morning light looked on the floor, a kind conversation, or the first sip of coffee.
This practice trains your mind to notice the good in everyday life. It also builds a quiet record of small joys you can look back on when you need a reminder of what matters most.
Closing Reflection
Slow living isn’t something you wait to begin until life is perfectly aligned. It starts in the ten-minute spaces you can carve out right now.
You don’t need to commit to all five habits at once. Choose one and see how it shifts the feel of your day. Over time, you can layer in more, letting them become part of your natural rhythm.
For me, these small habits were the doorway into a slower, more intentional life. They reminded me that I didn’t have to change everything to feel different. I only had to change how I spent the moments I already had.
If you begin today, ten minutes from now you could be in a different pace entirely.
