Do you ever feel overwhelmed by all the things happening around you so fast and instantly? Do you feel small and insignificant in this universe while everyone else seems to be chasing big dreams and a sophisticated life? Do you constantly compare yourself and your success to others? Are you tired of always rushing and competing with people you barely even know? Do small things still make you happy, or do you need big, shiny materials to feel less unhappy?
It’s high time we question these things and realize what we truly need and what actually makes us happy. This fast-paced way of living has turned millennials into machines, where people can barely breathe properly. You know the saying: “While you’re taking a break to breathe, others are moving ahead faster, and if you don’t keep up, you’ll be left behind.” But nobody ever says, “Maybe being left behind isn’t so bad if we dig deep.”
I get it, you’ve got to be fast—not only fast but efficient as well. However, what are your long-term results if you keep sprinting through life like that? Is it fancy houses and cars that you hardly have time to live in or drive? Is it to prove to your relatives and neighbors that you’ve got it all together? Is it just to compete with your colleagues and friends because competition is fun? Or is it because you want to be happy and live a satisfying life without regrets?
No matter what your answer is, deep down we know it’s the last one, even if you disagree right now. Somehow, we all know our purpose is to explore different sides of ourselves and the universe to lead a fulfilling life. The only question is: how? I haven’t found the answer to ‘how,’ but I feel like I’m getting there through a Slow and Minimal Living approach.
You may think I’m crazy for talking about slow and minimal living in today’s world, but trust me—it’s the only sustainable way to live meaningfully and be completely happy. I’m not saying you should completely avoid and detach yourself from technologies and the changes happening around you. I just mean embracing simple, basic things that can be done like a normal human being.
I admit the convenience we have today through modern technologies, gadgets, and appliances is comforting and very tempting. But think—do we really need that much comfort and convenience when our main purpose is to live life by making mistakes and doing our own things? Besides chores, to live is to just enjoy, love, and feel emotions. Don’t you agree? You have no idea how much I’ve enjoyed my days in the past year doing just regular, boring, simple things—tons and tons. I enjoy preparing meals, eating with my family, reading and writing when I’m full of emotions, taking care of my plants, and even washing my clothes, which soothes me these days. And trust me when I say this—I used to hate washing clothes and doing dishes.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe in a simple and minimalistic lifestyle, but I am all in for progress, change, and the advancements of the world. However, even as we work like machines surrounded by technology, how far can we really go, and how much can we truly accumulate in a single lifetime? If things, money, and power made humans happy, I bet no successful or rich person would ever run out of happiness, and they could even carry some of it forward to their successors.
But reality is different. These days, we hear many motivational speeches and watch powerful videos that encourage us to be efficient, but they don’t disclose how tiring and burnout-inducing these efficient methods are. Let’s take an example: Suppose you wake up at 4:30 or 5 a.m., manage and schedule your entire day full of productive activities, and follow them exactly as planned. But what about at the end of the day? If you have spare time, what do you do? Binge-watch your favorite shows? Watch YouTube videos? Scroll through social media apps? Honestly, I’m not liking what you’re doing in your leisure time after being so productive—it looks and sounds a little off.
Let’s suppose you’re productive through the entire week. What do you do on the weekend? Do you have the energy to meet up with friends? Okay, I’m trying to be optimistic as much as possible. I’ll assume you meet up with friends and hang out, but where’s the time for yourself? Are you giving yourself enough time to just relax, sit back, and enjoy? You may be able to carve out a tiny portion of time for yourself after being so productive, but what you’re missing in this process is the experience and happiness you can find in little things.
While we fast-forward through our lives and activities, we miss out on the valuable things that actually matter and are meaningful to us. While we’re busy chasing big things, small things rarely impress us anymore because we’ve already visualized how big things are supposed to make us feel. The luxuries we seek is not our ultimate needs, nor should they be our ultimate goals. As human beings, we should be fully present to experience tiny moments as they happen—not catch up on them later when we have free time.
I don’t want to sugarcoat slow living by saying how beautiful, exciting, and wonderful it is. Trust me—this approach is tiring, as it requires more time and effort. But then again, good things take time and effort to happen. However, let me tell you, the results last longer. Things that happen instantly may offer you immediate happiness, but it fades quicker than it came.
Why do you think people these days easily get bored, are so impatient, and feel their lives are dull?
It’s because we have access to almost everything, and we can easily outsource everything we need and want in life.
In my next post, I’ll share all my slow-living habits that bring more meaning and value to my life as a normal person.
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