Could slow living make us happier?



The societies we live in these days, and especially in cities, allow us to order food to be delivered to our homes in 20 minutes, access an endless selection of films and series from the comfort of our couches, and communicate with people on the other side of the world.



Despite all that convenience, we sometimes feel exhausted, anxious, depressed and lonely in this ultra-productive life. What's more, the constant fast pace can lead to memory and concentration problems. If you're struggling to keep up, the slow living philosophy could be for you.



What does it consist of?



The basic idea is to do less in order to enjoy more, instead of wanting to have multiple experiences that we only half enjoy. Slow living encourages us to simplify our lives and savour the present moment. It's related to concepts of mindfulness and being fully present. Slow living can be interpreted in different ways, but the common thread is the idea of intentionality in what we do.



Canadian writer Carl Honoré released a book called In Praise of Slow in 2004, which would go on to be an international bestseller. He explained how the cult of speed was becoming the societal standard, and put forward slowness as a healthier alternative. Let's listen to Honoré talking to a TED Talk event in 2005.



"That's kind of the world that we live in now, a world stuck in fast forward, a world obsessed with speed, with doing everything faster, with cramming more and more into less and less time. Every moment of the day feels like a race against the clock."



When did the slow movement start?



It actually stems from the slow food movement and a protest against the opening of a McDonald's fast food restaurant in Rome's famous Piazza di Spagna in 1986. Italian activist Carlo Petrini started that campaign, which would lead to the slow food movement. It advocated for local food, small businesses and cooking with raw ingredients.



The slow food movement then expanded to other areas, giving rise to concepts like slow fashion in opposition to fast fashion, slow cities, and an overall slow movement that stands against the ultra-efficiency and speed of globalization and capitalism. But slow living is also rooted in older philosophies, from the likes of ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus, or 19th century American writer Thoreau.



Isn't it difficult to live a slow life in a city?



Indeed, modern urban lifestyles aren't conducive to slow living. Work demands that we do things quickly. However, slow living is more of a mindset than anything else. You could start by focusing on what you're doing in the present moment. Determine what your priority is at any given time. If it's eating, for example, and you only have a 20-minute lunch break, At least make sure you savour every bite.



It's also about knowing when to use technology and its benefits, and when to set it aside. If you're watching a film, turn off your phone. The same goes for having dinner with friends or family. Don't multitask, and don't plan a thousand things for every weekend. There you have it.



词汇表

slow living 慢生活（一种强调简化生活、品味当下、有意识地做事的生活理念）

access [ˈækses] 获取，访问，使用

ultra-productive [ˌʌltrə prəˈdʌktɪv] 超高效率的

savour [ˈseɪvə(r)] 品味，品尝，尽情享受

mindfulness [ˈmaɪndf(ə)lnəs] 正念

being fully present 完全活在当下，专注当下

common thread [θred] 相同思路，共同点

intentionality [ɪnˌtenʃəˈnæləti] 意向性，目的性

bestseller [ˌbestˈselə(r)] 畅销书

cult [kʌlt] 崇拜，时尚，流行

societal standard [səˈsaɪət(ə)l] 社会标准

fast forward 快进

be obsessed with [əbˈsest] 痴迷于，沉迷于

cram into [kræm] 填满，勉强塞入

race against the clock 与时间赛跑，争分夺秒

stem from [stem] 源于，来自

Piazza di Spagna [piˈætsə di ˈspænjə] 西班牙广场（罗马著名广场）

raw ingredient [rɔː ɪnˈɡriːdiənt] 原材料，原生食材

give rise to 引起，导致，催生

slow fashion [sləʊ ˈfæʃ(ə)n] 慢时尚（强调可持续、高品质、经典设计的时尚理念）

fast fashion [fɑːst ˈfæʃ(ə)n] 快时尚（指快速响应潮流、低成本、更新快的服装时尚模式）

stand against 反对，抵抗

ultra-efficiency [ˌʌltrə ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nsi] 超高效率

capitalism [ˈkæpɪt(ə)lɪz(ə)m] 资本主义

Epicurus [ˌepɪˈkjʊərəs] 伊壁鸠鲁（古希腊哲学家，主张追求适度的快乐和内心的平静）

Thoreau ['θɔ:rəu] 梭罗（19世纪美国作家、哲学家，倡导简朴生活和亲近自然）

at any given time 在任何特定时刻

set aside  留出，拨出；放在一边，暂不考虑

multitask [ˌmʌltiˈtɑːsk] 一心多用，同时做多件事情



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