Slow Living : The art of slowing down in a cottage to rent

Autumn: a period of transition which invites us to take the time.

As nature begins to slow down around us, why not being inspired by it during our stay in a cottage rental ?

The Slow Living movement, which is rooted in the Slow Food concept of the 1980s and 1990s, is the perfect example. In this article, we explore this art of living, why it is relevant to apply it to our lives and above all, how to get there as simply as possible.

Slow Living: What is it?

In our modern lifestyle, it is common to rush through our To Do list. Whether in the professional or personal area, it sometimes becomes difficult to make time for what really matters.

Slow Living is a simple invitation to slow down the pace of our modern life. It’s a response to information overload, the perpetual race against time and constant stress.

It encourages patience, appreciating slowness and savoring each moment. For example, during a cottage getaway, it could take the form of savouring your hot chocolate by the fireplace.

It is a quest for quality, rather than quantity.

Why promote Slow Living?

The positive effects are numerous, since this movement quietly guides us towards a change of perception. Giving yourself the right to slow down means allowing yourself to BE instead of DOING.

Here are few of these positive effects:

POSITIVE EFFECT ON GENERAL WELL-BEING:

- Encourage us to enjoy and appreciate the present moment;

- Reduction of stress and anxiety symptoms.

ALLOWS YOU TO CREATE SPACE: IN OUR ENVIRONMENT, BUT ALSO IN OUR MIND:

- Invitation to target what really matters to us, then prioritize and make conscious choices;

- Strengthening relationships, encourages us to spend quality time with our loved ones and cultivate meaningful relationships;

- Allows you to explore your passions and cultivate your creativity.

CULTIVATE YOUR CONNECTION WITH YOUR ENVIRONMENT:

- Invites you to observe seasonal changes and savor the beauty of nature.

The list could be extended further, since each person applies Slow Living in their own way, in their own reality. A cottage getaway offer plenty of opportunities to put these benefits in motion.

Slow Living and cottage rental : the perfect combo

The Slow Living movement seems excellent, but how is it possible to trully apply this vision to our daily lives (or to our stay during a cottage rental)?

It is possible to slowly integrate this concept into our lives, by simply starting with things that we enjoy doing.

Here are some ideas:

TAKE TIME IN THE OUTDOORS (IDEALLY WITHOUT YOUR CELLPHONE)

- Appreciate and contemplate nature, fauna, flora.

PRACTICE BEING PRESENT

- Connect with your senses (the smells while walking in the forest, observe the shades of colors in the fall, smell your coffee before drinking it);

- Feel your body while moving (during a walk or yoga for example);

- Even during fairly simple tasks like washing dishes or gardening (oh yes, I’m serious!).

RELAX

- Concentrate on a manual task that can free the mind (embroidering, coloring, doing a puzzle, etc.).

PRACTICE GRATITUDE AND REFOCUS ON WHAT REALLY MATTERS

FULLY ENJOY QUALITY TIME WITH OUR LOVED ONES

- Be truly present and actively listen to the person in front of us.

Finally, the idea is not to add new rules to follow, when our daily lives are already full of guidelines to respect. The essence of Slow Living is rather to allow our body and mind some time to stop, to slow down but also to let ourselves be inspired by what really matters.

Discover the available cottage for rent now and plan your getaway:

https://www.maisonsetchaletsalouer.com/

 

Source :

1) Paola Aki Moanack, Psychologist, Infuse Magazine, https://infusemagazine.ca/slow-living-vivre-moment-present-profiter-de-lexistence/, (June 20, 2021).

2) Sophie Giroux, Le Devoir, https://www.ledevoir.com/plaisirs/777332/le-slow-living-ou-l-art-de-ralentir (January 14, 2023).

3) Annabelle Iglesias, Passeport Santé, https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/psychologie/Fiche.aspx?doc=slow-life (June 2019).