What is a SLOW House?

What is a Slow House? In her book, “Still: The Slow Home,” Natalie Watson invites readers to take on the philosophy of the SLOW Movement. Living sustainably, local, organic, and whole. It speaks not just to the question of the physical structures we choose, but also the surrounding environment, and what effect that can have on general happiness and wellbeing.

Being still, slowing down, and a slow home all  sound pretty appealing, but how do you get there?  We can’t all pick up stakes and move to the woods.  If you have kids, pets, and busy lifestyles, is it even possible to be still?  To have a “slow” home?

First, let’s breakdown SLOW:

• Sustainable living begins by having a deep respect and love for the earth.
• Local is all about supporting your neighbors and the communities in which you live.
• Organic can mean a lot of things, but it’s really about how we approach our every day lives and doing so at its most natural, purest level.
• Whole defines being in sync with yourself and having a healthy mind, body, and soul.

So, is it possible to have a SLOW home? Absolutely. Start by respecting where you live and by caring deeply for your space, both your indoor and your outdoor space. You can actively care for your home by keeping it clean and maintained,  properly caring for your belongings, and being mindful of how you steward things. Avoid disposable products, reduce your food wastes, pay attention to how much water you use, recycle, consider planting a garden, buy less, and buy better. When you treat your living space with care and consideration for the earth it sits upon, you begin to create a sustainable home. We all have choices when it comes to helping the planet and environmental stewardship begins at home.

When it comes to your home, you can support your local community by purchasing home products and goods produced nearby. You can help sustain local farmers and small businesses by keeping money circulating in your local community. Local products preserve your community’s distinction and a SLOW home featuring handmade goods reflects  what makes your community special. Living locally and buying locally supports you, your family, and your community.

Organic Living is a lifestyle choice. When confronted with decisions about your home, consider how those decisions will influence your health and your environment. Be mindful. Are you promoting sustainable living and are you employing the application of natural methods wherever possible? For example, avoid toxic products by gradually replacing your chemical cleaning products with non-toxic products.  Reduce your energy usage and use natural light whenever possible. Let the sunshine in by keeping your windows clean and by minimizing heavy curtains. Consider adding skylights. Even something as simple as moving furniture away from windows to allow more light and air to enter can create a healthier environment. Listen to your body and connect with nature. Consider house plants, water features, and the use of natural materials. Strategically place things to create space that is both relaxing and calm. There are lots of ways to live organically in your home and you begin by simply paying attention – to the air you are breathing to the sounds you are hearing and to the materials you are using.

When do you feel the most whole? Most people feel whole when they are deeply connected to their loved ones and fully engaged in activities that align with their values. Your home is a place of connection. It is where you most often experience those things that give your life meaning and purpose. You experience wholeness in your home when you have peace and harmony within your living space and an environment that nourishes your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. When you foster meaningful relationships and align your home with your values, you make your home a sanctuary where you feel fully present, supported, and whole. Simply stated, you and your home need to be in sync, so that you can be your most whole self.

Creating a SLOW home may not be easy, but it is possible. Small incremental changes in the things we do can make a profound difference in our homes and  how we live. When we begin to care less about having more and more about what makes life truly meaningful, living SLOW will become the only way to live.