I don’t know about you but the idea of a slow lifestyle, simple living, sure sounds appealing in this rush around world and hustle culture we are living in. These slow living books will talk to you about the lifestyle and tips, hacks, and reasons to live it.
Spoiler alert, the great news is that you don’t have to hustle in order to have a “successful” and happy life.
Slow and simple living not only helps bring about peace and happiness, but when you’re at peace in your life, I believe you’re able to find your own level of success and happiness because of it.
If you are curious about the slow living lifestyle, keep reading!
This article was updated August 21st, 2023
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Slow Living Books
My Story of Slow Living
I embarked on a slower living lifestyle years ago, and quite by accident. It wasn’t a grand epiphany that led me to slowing down. In fact, it was brought about by a chronic illness that has drastically changed my life since 2008.
Chronic illness tends to halt daily life as you once knew it, including your daily rituals, in such a way that slow and simple living just tends to naturally occur.
And that was the case with me.
Instead of climbing the corporate ladder, I was working from home in a flexible career, and working on building passive income as a fallback for my finances. Instead of pushing 40 plus hours each week, or spending hours in traffic every week, I was working when I could with no commute. (And yes, I understand that not everyone has this luxury.)
Instead of running my children from this place to that place, I was reading books in bed with them, having picnics in the backyard talking about the clouds above, and generally just adapting to a slower and simpler style of parenting.
Instead of running around town with friends, grabbing lunch, spending untold amounts of money shopping for things I didn’t need, I’d invite them over for brunch on the back deck. My idea of fun changed from going out and spending money to staying in and recharging my body and my soul.
But, slow living is much more than just changing up your lifestyle – it’s about appreciating what you have, valuing the people in your life, and being intentional and grateful with your time. When I adapting the whole purpose of slow living, my attitude changed, my outlook changed, and my found true happiness.
Whether you have a chronic illness or not, you can change your lifestyle to be one of simple, slow, and intentional living.
What does slow living mean?
According to Slow Living LDN “Slow living is a mindset whereby you curate a more meaningful and conscious lifestyle that’s in line with what you value most in life.”
Slow living is much more than what it sounds like at face value.
It’s not just about doing yardwork instead of hiring it out, or playing cards instead of watching TV, or even tending to a small backyard garden.
Yes, slow living can be those things but the grander purpose of slow living is to live in a mindset that is meaningful, allowing yourself to be grateful for what you value most.
The Benefits of Slow Living
Physical Health
Cooking a meal from scratch instead of eating out can help with your health and can foster a beautiful dinner experience with the family. Taking a nice walk around the neighborhood instead of laying on the couch will obviously be better for your health. Not rushing around from commitment to commitment will relieve the body and the mind.
Mental Health
Slow hobbies can often bring about a sense of meditation and relaxation than faster paced hobbies will. Instead of vegging out in front of the TV, why not pull out your hobby bag and get to stitching? Maybe go out back and play in the garden, get your hands in the dirt, experience nature – that can be so healing.
Improved Relationships
The more present and happy you are in your life, naturally the better your relationships can become. Instead of rushing around, mindlessly scrolling your phone, or thinking about your next item on the todo list to check off – which can be bad for connecting with those around you – you will be intentional and slower and more present.
Less Stressed and Happier
A slower paced life can bring about much less stress, which then will lead to be happiness. Just imagine how you feel on a vacation, or even when you take time off and stay home. Aren’t you less stressed, enjoy life more, and are happier? Think about that for your daily life. It is a wonderful by-product of this lifestyle.
So this all sounds great, right? You’re ready to learn more about this way of life, right?
Slow Living Books I Recommend
These books are in no particular order
Destination Simple
128 pages
Book Overview from Amazon:
“We live life in the fast lane. We race to keep up with the Joneses. We are over-worked, over-connected and over-stressed, and we compete over how busy and important and sleep-deprived we are. But we don’t have to. There’s an ever-growing group of people opting out of a life lived at 110%. They are choosing to slow down, simplify, say no and focus on the things that are truly important. Brooke McAlary is one of them.
In Destination Simple, Brooke McAlary shows readers that no matter how busy you are, you too can feel in control of your days; minimize stress; find pockets of peace on even the busiest day; empty your mind and sleep better. Destination Simple shows us how a few changes to the flow of daily life can create long-term, lasting change.”
4.3 out of 5 stars
Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World
288 pages
Book overview from Amazon:
“What is slow living? It’s a way to find happiness by stepping away from the never-ending demands to constantly succeed and acquire more and more. It’s easy to get stuck in the carousel of frantically wanting, buying, and upgrading the things in your life.
The philosophy of simple living is about finding the freedom to be less perfect and taking time to enjoy the pure joys of life: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude. Reconnecting with the living world can help you integrate moments of peace, joy, and mindfulness into an otherwise rapid life.
What you’ll find in this book:
- Guidance for forming your own slow life
- Ways to declutter and de-own
- Tips to replace messiness with mindfulness
- Paths forward to answer the question “Where to now?”
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Grounded
Book overview from Amazon:
“This book is your entry into a world that spins slowly and draws its inspiration from the earth, the ocean, the sun and the sky. Each turn of the page through projects organized into chapters for the four seasons will lead to discover a new way to practice slow living and weave nature into your everyday life. Build a garden bed and plant seeds.
Watch your vegetable garden grow, and pluck a tomato or two to make a salad. Go on a walk in the woods, build a campfire and then read the moon. Rediscover a childlike joy of nature through over 20 projects to cook, make or do outside. Grounded is the ideal way to put down your devices and spend time in natural surrounds with your friends, your family and, of course, yourself.”
4.6 out of 5 Stars
Living Slower
240 pages
Book overview from Amazon:
“In an increasingly complex and chaotic world, we yearn to live a little slower, a little simpler.
For popular lifestyle blogger Merissa A. Alink, living slower has enabled her to eat healthier, develop stronger relationships with her friends and family, save money by spending less, and have more “in-real-life” time with her kids instead of more screen time. It has given her family more time to plant gardens, can produce, and sit down to wholesome, home-cooked meals. It has allowed her to do what is needed rather than what is expected.
Now she shares the secrets to living a simpler, slower life with anyone who is tired of feeling anxious, frenzied, or disconnected from the natural rhythms of life. She helps you reevaluate your priorities, seek God first, and take small steps toward a life more in line with your values, including decluttering to create space in your home and your mind, making simple and healthy meals, taking a weekly Sabbath, limiting the influence of media, and taking time to nurture your most important relationships.”
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Art of Simple Living
160 pages
Book overview from Amazon:
“A timely and stylish look at ways to experience the joys of simple living
Whether you want to make small changes to your life or you’re looking to transform it, The Art of Simple Living will show you the way to a more wholesome existence by literally simplifying all areas of your life. Whether it’s practical help on how to declutter your home, or streamline your belongings or advice on how to practise mindfulnesss, this stylish and elegant book presents a trove of ideas.
Find inspiration at home on how to make your mealtimes, free time and relationships more fulfilling, as well as suggestions for doing more with less when you are out and about. The advice and tips in this book will guide you towards a simpler life filled with joy, laughter and love. A perfect gift for self or for someone you know who would benefit from the joy of simpler living.”
4.4 out of 5 stars
Slow Living: The Secrets to Slowing Down
Whether you want to make small changes to your life or you’re looking to transform it, The Art of Simple Living will show you the way to a more wholesome existence by literally simplifying all areas of your life. Whether it’s practical help on how to declutter your home, or streamline your belongings or advice on how to practise mindfulnesss, this stylish and elegant book presents a trove of ideas.
Find inspiration at home on how to make your mealtimes, free time and relationships more fulfilling, as well as suggestions for doing more with less when you are out and about. The advice and tips in this book will guide you towards a simpler life filled with joy, laughter and love. A perfect gift for self or for someone you know who would benefit from the joy of simpler living.
4.7 out of 5 stars
Wrapping it up
I hope this book list has been helpful to you. I hope you’ll find one or more of these books a great companion to your slow living journey. But please note that slow living isn’t about a set of rules. Slow living is an intentional state of mind, a place of being intentional about your day, and about your life.
Some of you may enjoy gardening as a form of slowing down, meditating in nature, and being intentional with your life in that way. While others of you may find that your slow life just means being present in each moment and finding the small moments of gratitude. While most of us will likely find that our practice of slow living is a mix of both ideas.
I hope you’ll enjoy learning more about slow living and find meaningful ways to make it happen for you.
Further reading:
- slow living hobbies
- slow living tips – for busy women
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