6 things people do around the world to slow down

6 things people do around the world to slow down
By Carl Honoré for We Humans Ted

Is living too fast turning your life into a blur? How can you slow down to see things clearly and savor them more?

1. Shinrin yoku
   Eco-therapy. Green time. Wilderness cure. Whatever name you hang on it, spending time in nature is a wonderful way to slow down. In Japan, spending time in nature is called shinrin yoku (“forest bathing”) — and Japanese doctors prescribe it to their patients.

2. Fika
   The Swedish word fika translates as “coffee and cake break,” yet it means so much more than that. Fika is a mindset: slowing down, being present, savoring the moment.

   Forget slurping a latte while walking down the street and using your phone. When you fika, you put away the screens and sit down somewhere cozy. You sip your coffee (or your drink of choice). You nibble on a delicious cake or cookie. And you enjoy a proper chat with someone.

3. Slow Radio
   A rich soundscape can transport you anywhere and offer refuge from the frenzy of modern life. That’s why I love Slow Radio on the BBC.

4. Ubuntu
   One of my favorite proverbs is: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

   It’s a reminder that a slower life is built on strong relationships. That spirit is captured by the word ubuntu, which means “I am because we are” in the Zulu and Xhosa languages of southern Africa.

5. Dolce far niente
   In a world terrified of wasting time, doing nothing feels like a crime or a sin.

   I’m here to say: It is neither! Because idleness is an art form.

   It offers sweet relief from the daily grind and the relentless pressure to achieve, and Italians call it il dolce far niente.

   Trust me: Once you get over the guilt, doing nothing is actually very easy. Put down tools, turn off your phone, stop striving and then … sink into the moment.

6. Indian Head Massage
   Massaging the head has been a tool of Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. And no wonder.

   Whatever your view on chakras, a good head massage has been shown to relieve stress and headaches as well as kickstart the lymphatic system. It can leave you feeling relaxed and better able to concentrate.

   A head massage from an expert is the ultimate luxury. But you can also go the DIY route. Place three fingers at the point where your neck joins your head just behind the ear. Then rub your fingers back and forth. Within 30 seconds, you’ll feel a warm, slow glow.

Learn more about each option here.