Creating a Culture of Slow: 8 Ways to Transform the Pace of your Home

Creating a Culture of Slow: 8 Ways to Transform the Pace of Your Home

I've always had a knack for conforming to cultures.

In my early 20s, country hopping through Europe and northern Africa, it worked in my favor.

I picked up basic flamenco steps in Spain, learned how to whip up a decent dish of German spaetzle, navigated spice markets up and down the Nile, and held my own on karaoke stages in British pubs.

Yep, this ability to acclimate quickly to a culture was undeniably positive.

Until I returned home.

I went to graduate school, entered the workforce, and soon found myself immersed in what many Americans dub “the hustle culture.” Naturally, I acclimated. The rushing was relentless and striving to get ahead became my new standard.

Then came motherhood, and I stepped into what I'd call “the do-it-all culture.” Work, child raising, cleaning, dishes, laundry, social life, volunteer commitments, and marriage. It was all on me.

Despite my attempts, I couldn't conform to this culture in a way that felt right. I couldn't authentically connect with my husband and kids while maintaining a home full of stuff and a calendar overflowing with commitments. I couldn't transport my kids from activity to activity and cultivate peace in our home.

Our oldest daughter, who has the trait of high sensitivity like me, began melting down daily at anything that even resembled rushing. I was on edge most of the time, usually thinking about what I needed to do next and calculating how I'd complete it.

Our family culture needed to change—I felt this at my core. We needed to slow down. Way down.

At first, I wasn't sure how. Then I began asking myself this guiding question: “What culture do I want to build within the walls of my own home?”

I realized that we didn't have to conform to anyone else's standards, lifestyle or pace. We could create a “culture of slow” in our home, a culture that was authentic to us.

And so can you.

Here are 8 ways to create a “culture of slow” in your home:

Read the full article here!

Julia Ubbenga is a freelance journalist whose teachings on minimalism, simplicity, and intentional living have reached thousands of people worldwide through her blog. Julia practices what she preaches in her Kansas City home with her husband, two extremely lively young daughters, two-year-old son, and baby girl. You can also find her on Instagram and Facebook.