Slow and steady wins the race: How slow living can become the answer to your mental wellbeing

Isn’t it interesting how, from the moment we wake up, we dive into one thing after another, becoming busy immediately? Whether it is checking our messages while we have breakfast, watching news while we travel or talking on the phone while replying to emails, we begin to rush without even realising it. At times, we even dash through the things that are meant for our leisure, like working on our hobbies and spending time with our families and loved ones. What is even more ironical is that we tend to confuse our busyness with productivity and never really pause and ask ourselves, are we truly living a good life? Isn’t this constant rush exhausting? Most importantly, is it perhaps taking a toll on our mental wellbeing?

Well, the want to do more and quickly can leave us feeling anxious and overwhelmed, no matter where we live and what our profession is. And this is where the concept of slow living becomes relevant. Slow living is about  being more intentional with our time and attention. Many people confuse it with choosing to be lazy. As Laura Malloy, director of the Successful Aging Program at Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard, states, “Slow living isn’t about doing less, but doing more with greater focus and purpose and at the right speed. It’s about enjoying the moment and putting more energy and enjoyment into fewer things.”

To put it succinctly, slow living is a way of life where one focusses on what really matters. It means doing things at a pace that feels calm. Instead of trying to do everything quickly, you take your time and give more care to the things that are important.

This mindful approach can also be seen in the way certain cultures live. Countries that encourage and have adopted the slow and balanced way of life have shown great results. Denmark, that has been  ranked the second-happiest country in the 2025 World Happiness report, is a great example with an average score of 7.5 out of 10 in self-reported life satisfaction. In Denmark, people follow a lifestyle called hygge, which means enjoying simple things like spending time with loved ones and relaxing in general. Life is not rushed and the focus is more on wellbeing. New Zealand, that is ranked 12th worldwide for overall happiness, also enjoys a slower pace of life. Here, people value time with family, outdoor activities and opt for a good balance between work and personal life. These statistics show us how cultural values such as hygge and a balanced approach to life can support life satisfaction and lower stress.

National Relaxation Day is celebrated on the 15th of August annually. It serves as a reminder that rest and relaxation are essential for our physical and mental health. This special day urges people to take a break from their schedules and engage in activities that bring them calm and joy. Be it reading one’s favourite book, taking a walk in the park or maybe doing nothing at all, this day urges us to simply relax.

So, let us explore how slow living can be the answer to our mental health and wellbeing.

Appreciate the present

A lot of us are always in a state of hurry. We rush from one task to another, wrapping up work and already planning dinner, checking official emails while worrying about the pending tasks at home. This constant fast forwarding takes a toll on our mental wellbeing, leaving us stressed and anxious. Slow living encourages us to focus on what’s happening now.

It encourages us to pause and be fully present in the moment. A study published in the journal Mindfulness (2019) found that people who practiced being present in the moment reported significantly lower levels of stress and better emotional wellbeing.

As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” His words remind us that life is not just about getting things done faster, it’s about being aware with intention. When we stop rushing, we give ourselves the chance to slow down, breathe and stay in the present, at peace.

Less chaos, more clarity

From juggling chores to racing against deadlines, we often push ourselves into doing multiple things at once. And multitasking tends to takes its toll in the long run. The constant mental chaos can leave many of us feeling overwhelmed and incapable of further productivity.

According to Dr Paul Hammerness and Margret Moore, authors of Organise Your Mind, Organise Your Life: Train Your Brain to Get More Done in Less Time, multitasking not only increases the chance of making errors but also reduces our brain’s ability to think clearly. Slow living is one way in which we can help shift this pattern—it teaches us to focus on one thing at a time, giving our full attention to the task at hand. This approach can help quite the mind and sharpen focus. Over time, this slow pace of life can make us calmer, smarter and even enhance our wellbeing.

Connect with what matters

When we slow down, we begin to notice what really brings joy and meaning to our life. We may realise that a quiet walk in nature, sharing a meal with our family or reading a good book gives us more happiness than doing those things on our daily check list.

In fact, research from the Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals who practiced mindfulness and intentional living reported a stronger sense of purpose and a lower level of stress. By slowing down, they gained clarity and a deep sense of peace and fulfillment.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished,” the famous Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once stated. This beautiful quote reminds us that things don’t have to move fast to be successful. When we live slowly, we create more space to reflect on what matters. We start making more intentional choices about how we spend our life—and this kind of awareness helps one feel at peace.

Build emotional resilience

A wonderful benefit of slow living is that it helps improve our emotional resilience. When life is rushed,  stress builds up and everything feels intense and hard to manage. Taking time to slow down gives us the space to reflect and process our feelings. This help us respond more calmly in tough situations. A 2019 study by the American Psychological Association found that individuals who incorporated mindfulness and slower routines into their lives were more resilient in dealing with stress and uncertainty. These people also reported lower levels of cortisol and better emotional regulation than others—meaning slow living encourages mindfulness and awareness, habits that reduce anxiety. It also supports better sleep; all things great for our wellbeing.

Make room for rest and joy

Irony is that even after doing plenty, we tend to feel guilty when we pause. Slow living reminds us that taking breaks, doing nothing or enjoying small, quiet pleasures is essential.

Whether we are watching the sun set, sipping tea or simply breathing in the morning air, all these moments help our body and mind thrive. As American actor Eddie Cantor says, “Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast – you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.”

When we slow down, we not only enjoy life more fully but also gain clarity and purpose. The rest reduces stress, makes us more productive and makes life more meaningful and joyful.

So, contrary to popular belief, slow living is not about giving up ambition or productivity. It is about making a better choice that supports our wellbeing. By slowing down, we give ourself the permission to breathe, to be present and to truly enjoy life.