11 Slow Living Quotes

I have complied a list of 11 slow living quotes that you can utilize to lead a simpler life that is less stressful.

A simple and slow life seems far off for us busy folks who dream of accomplishing big goals. But what if slowing it down and keeping things simple can actually lead to a better quality of life?

I am a chronic over-thinker that thrived on stress – until I hit burn out.

I was leading a chaotic life, rushing through tasks just so that I could cross them off my list and feel good about it. But it just led me to feeling exhausted and starting a new list.

But enough is enough.

Busy, stressful, chaotic, anxiety inducing, etc. do not have to be the words used to describe your life.

By slowing it down and appreciating the simple things in life – we can change our mindset.

Sometimes all it takes to inspire a person is that one quote that sticks with them forever. That they cling to when things are tough.

For as long as I can remember, I have always maintained an ongoing list of quotes. Some lists are in my phone notes, some are in screenshots, some are post it notes on my walls. Quotes have always been a personal source of motivation for me. Quotes can also be very grounding and guiding.

This is why I have put together this list of 11 inspiring slow and simple living quotes to help inspire you along your slow living journey.

Slow Living Quotes #1. “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

–Annie Dillard

As humans, we are naturally focused on the end goal. And we get so wrapped up in the end goal, that we forget to appreciate the journey. This leads to feelings of unfulfillment because we are so focused on the future and the outcome that we deny ourselves fulfillment in the present moment.

I watched a Youtube video recently lately and heard an interesting reference. When an author opens a box of their old novels they don’t think back to the time they first opened their brand new novel freshly printed. Rather, they are going to remember the days they spent writing, the journey it took to complete a book, how they felt after a long day of writing, etc.

Let this be your reminder that when you look back on your life, you too are going to remember the journey, the everyday things, the little things, the decisions you made, etc.. So try to stay present in each day and find ways to make yourself smile and enjoy the little moments.

Slow Living Quotes #2. “Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”

-Anonymous

Western culture is very materialistic and focused on things. We go to a job we hate to make money to pay for things to impress other people. Shoes, clothes, purses, technology, cars, etc. are all status symbols. The more things you have, the more impressive you may seem to people.

However, the impression your things make on other people is likely fleeting. They will forget. But you will look back and remember. And when you do, what do you want to remember? And how do you want people to remember you?

Personally, I would much rather be remembered for the way I made people feel than for the things that I own.

Get out there, experience things, take lots of pictures and videos, make something with those pictures and videos so that you have memories to look back on.

Slow Living Quotes #3. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more.”

–Melody Beattie

I am guilty of being a person who always wants more or better. If I got 98% on a test, I would be mad at myself for not getting 100%. Yet, the rest of the students in my class would have been grateful to get an 80% for example.

We can wreck so many moments for ourselves by wishing things were different, better, etc. But if we can just change our thinking and be grateful for each moment of life, I think we will find ourselves a lot more fulfilled.

A gratitude journal is a good way to get in the habit of changing your way of thinking to a more grateful mindset. For example, each morning you could write down 3 things that you are a grateful for that morning. This will start your day off right. See how much your days/life can change when you are full of gratitude.

Slow Living Quotes #4. “Edit your life frequently and ruthlessly. It’s your masterpiece after all.”

–Nathan W. Morris

Often times we become complacent. We may not like something but we don’t care enough or don’t want to spend the energy to change it, so we just accept it the way it is. Yet, each day we might see it and be reminded that we don’t like it. But we continue to do nothing about it.

Let this be your sign to change the things you do not like in your living space. I have collected many plants over the past couple years but some plants I did not buy with intention, I simply just bought to buy.

So now I have plants that I don’t really enjoy and it shows as I invest less time in to caring for these plants. But I still hold on to them! And they make me mad at myself for not caring more when I see how neglected they are.

But now I feel compelled to act. I will take action by posting the plants for free in a local Facebook group to someone who enjoys rehabbing plants.

Just because you don’t like something, doesn’t mean there isn’t someone who does. For all of the things that you don’t like – pass it along! Trust me, your trash is someone else’s treasure.

Stop accepting mediocracy in your living space. Edit out what is no longer serving you or the space.

Slow Living Quotes #5. “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

–Lao Tzu

Humans – always in a rush. A rush to get somewhere, to get something done, to find out the results, etc. But being in a rush is exhausting. And when we are in a rush, it is because we are focused on the future and the outcome.

Living a slow and simple life, means becoming more present and enjoying the journey.

As we see in nature, you don’t have to rush anything. Allow things to come together on their own natural time.

We tend to hurry towards accomplishing our goals. Doing whatever it takes in the present moment to be able to reach our goal on time or maybe even faster.

But going to extreme measures can put added stress on our bodies and lead to burnout quickly. We might reach our goals, but at what cost? While our relationships, home life and self care suffer?

You need to determine what is important to you and what you value, then focus on those things the most. Learn to appreciate the journey of accomplishing a goal and don’t be afraid to take it slow.

Trust me, when you look back on your life, you won’t care how long things took, but you will remember the process.

Slow Living Quotes #6. “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”

–William Morris

Similar to quote #4 – another reminder to only keep things in your living space that are useful and/or beautiful.

Don’t hang on to broken things that “one day” you are planning to repair. If repairing the item was important to you, you would have made time for it. Or if the item itself was important, you would have repaired it already because you can’t live without it.

Clutter in our living space can lead to clutter in our minds.

An easy way for anyone to start living a more slow and simple life is to edit your things. Start small – for example, spend 5 minutes per day decluttering your space.

These 5 minutes will add up over time. You will start to feel the impacts of how a more simple living space makes you feel.

Slow Living Quotes #7. “Minimalism isn’t about removing things you love. It’s about removing the things that distract you from the things you love.”

–Joshua Becker

There can sometimes be a negative connotation around minimalism. You assume that you need to strip everything away down to the bare bones to live a minimalistic life. But that’s not necessarily the case.

Minimalism isn’t asking you to get rid of everything you love and exist in emptiness.

Get rid of the things that you don’t appreciate, that aren’t bringing you any joy or serving any purpose. Unappreciated items make a space feel crowded, full, dirty, etc.

Once you get rid of the distractions, you will be left with only items that you love or serve a purpose and this will lead to a greater appreciation for them.

You will also start to feel lighter and possibly less anxious as there is less stuff around that can feel suffocating.

Slow Living Quotes #8. “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”

–Hans Hofmann

Similar to quote #7 – another reminder to keep your items and living space simple so that the things you value can hold the space they deserve.

But this goes with other aspects of life too – such as problem solving, decision making, relationships, etc.

When we over complicate things it can be hard to come to a solution because our brain is trying to process so much at once. But when we are able to simplify things – we more quickly get to the source of the problem.

Identifying the root cause allows us to create a solution that is actually going to address the problem.

Choosing to lead a more slow and simple life can bring you clarity in unexpected ways.

Slow Living Quotes #9. “Your home is living space, not storage space.”

–Francine Jay

I frequently say to myself I need a bigger house, I need a garage, I need more storage space, ahhh!!! We spend the majority of our life at work or at home. Our homes are supposed to be our safe place, our sanctuary.

But how can your living space be enjoyable if it is full to the brim with things. It’s hard to avoid feeling suffocated in a cluttered environment.

Envision your storage spaces in your mind right now. What’s stored away? Do you even know? When was the last time you used it?

Sometimes the answer isn’t you need more space, the answer is you need less things.

The next time I think to myself I need a bigger house, I will shift my thinking to decluttering and getting rid of items.

Decluttering and purging don’t have to be viewed as a scary thing. I know that I have tendencies to hold on to things and getting rid of them can be hard sometimes.

But you have to look at the other side of things – the things no longer serving me can be given new life by people that truly appreciate them and use them.

Slow Living Quotes #10. “Slow down in your pursuit of happiness and it’s more likely to catch up with you.”

–Ernie J Zelinski

If you ask most people what they want out of life, they will say they just want to be happy. Yet we look at happiness like this far off land that we plan to reach in the future when XYZ is accomplished.

Choose happiness for yourself today. Take time out of your day, even if it’s only five minutes, to do something that makes you smile.

Center yourself in the present moment and be grateful for life.

Stop waiting for a better life – create it now. Find peace in yourself through the slow and simple living movement.

Slow Living Quotes #11. “I don’t say no because I am so busy. I say no because I don’t want to be so busy.”

–Courtney Carver

We live in a society that celebrates busy-ness. I don’t want you to feel like you must be busy at all times of the day in order to be considered productive or good enough.

Try slowing it down for one week and committing to less than you normally do. Assess how that makes you feel.

As a virgo and an introvert, I appreciate a non-busy schedule. However, as an over achiever I often lead myself to believing that if I am not busy accomplishing things then I am wasting my time. I find it hard to truly rest.

However, think of how recharged and relaxed you are when you have time to invest in yourself.

Slowing down can allow a better version of ourselves to show up.

I hope you enjoyed these 11 slow living quotes to enjoy a more simple and slow life.

For more inspiration follow along on my journey of slow and simple living – click here to learn more about me.

For more quotes, I recommend checking out these lists:

25 Simple Living Quotes to Inspire you to Declutter & Simplify your Life! by https://simplelionheartlife.com/simple-living-quotes/