Slow Living by the Sea

For so long, many of us have worshipped at the alter of busyness. It has become part of who we are.

‘How are you?’ friends ask. ‘Busy,’ we reply with a smile – because it’s a good thing!

To be busy is to be productive, to be productive is to be successful. We still buy in to the idea that having a jam-packed calendar and flying through life at break-neck speed is a valid marker of how well we are doing.

But a lot of the people who live like this are not actually doing all that well. They are exhausted, overwhelmed, teetering on the brink of total collapse. The answer is, seemingly, simple. We have to slow down.

Ever since we created a mainstream term for the concept of ‘burnout’, there has been a push-back against the cult of busyness. More people are trying to take their foot of the gas, find more time for themselves, do more self-care, say ‘no’ to more invites.

‘Slow living’ enthusiasts will tell you that life is better when you’re not moving so quickly. They say taking tasks one at a time, never rushing or over-filling your diary, gives you the space to appreciate things as they happen – rather than manically ticking things off your to-do list.

There’s an element of mindfulness to the concept. Slow living is all about being conscious of the here-and-now, making considered decisions about how to spend your time, and enjoying the little things in life.

‘Slow living tells you that productivity isn’t the end goal. That as humans we need to be able to have full lives that aren’t just working 12 hour days (or more). I never thought I would say that, but because my body made me do this I had to rebuild and really look at what my life meant without work.

‘Slow living (or present living, or flow, or joy – call it what you will) comes from a place of choice. Not from a place of action, thinking or doing. It’s a place of choice, which starts with simple curiosity.

See you outside.

Always go with a friend so you can keep an eye on each other. Do what feels right for you. Practice breathing techniques to control your breath in the cold water. Listen to your body. Get out of the water when you feel like getting out. Have plenty of layers to wear afterwards.