What You Can Learn from Slow Living
Written by: Luísa Monte
Published on: March 01, 2025
Estimated Reading Time:4-5 minutes
In 2024, slow living is no longer a distant concept—it has become a necessity for many. With increasing mental and emotional overload, 72% of workers in major cities report experiencing high levels of stress, and more than half of millennials say they want a more balanced, less fast-paced lifestyle. The hashtag #SlowLiving has already surpassed six million mentions on Instagram, reflecting a collective desire for change.
“72% of workers in major cities report experiencing high levels of stress, and more than half of millennials say they want a more balanced, less fast-paced lifestyle.”
The question is clear: how can we live more intentionally and less chaotically?
Ten years ago, Luísa Monte recognized this need before slow living became a trend. At the time, she was working more than 14 hours a day when, one day, she stood in front of her closet full of clothes with tags still attached and unworn shoes. The sense of excess was undeniable. But it was an unexpected diagnosis that served as a real wake-up call: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a silent autoimmune disease that affects 80% of the female population worldwide. Her body was demanding a break, and her intense routine was no longer sustainable. Over time, the idea of change took shape. Small desires emerged—living with less, adopting a more human pace, leaving the big city behind. That’s how Luísa found a new perspective in slow living. Instead of continuing the cycle of exhaustion, she chose to move from Rio de Janeiro to the fishing village of Jericoacoara, in Ceará.
“Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a silent autoimmune disease that affects 80% of the female population worldwide.”
Lessons from a Decade of Slow Living
Insights to Help You Find More Balance and Intentionality in Daily Life
1. Living with less doesn’t mean having less
It’s about keeping only what truly matters—whether that’s objects, emotions, relationships, or even the excess of digital information we accumulate without thinking.
2. Appreciate company, including your own
A slow, guesthouse-style breakfast can transform your day. Small rituals bring more intention to daily life. And when spending time with friends, being fully present—without technological distractions—makes all the difference.
3. Not every day needs to be chaotic
Occasional busyness is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to define your routine. If something helps recharge your energy—whether it’s an unhurried meal or time offline—it’s worth protecting, even during the busiest seasons.
4. Accumulation creates more clutter than satisfaction.
Holding onto clothes that no longer fit, broken objects that will never be repaired—is it really worth it? Often, making space means embracing life’s changes and creating room for new possibilities.
Slow living isn’t a doctrine or a rigid set of rules. It’s about finding pauses within the chaos, a breath of air before feeling overwhelmed. It doesn’t require moving to a new city, working less, or adopting a minimalist aesthetic. It can simply mean learning to create moments of stillness in daily life—organizing both your external space and inner world.
Today, Luísa Monte is the head of marketing in the tourism sector in Brazil’s Northeast and applies the principles of slow living to her work, her travels, and her connections with people. What started as a desire for change became a way of life—and now, more than ever, a relevant path for those seeking balance in 2024.
