5 tips on how plants encourage slower living

I was thinking a lot lately about how to connect all my passions together. Didn’t figure it out yet, although the working version is : Meaningful slower living with humans and plants. So this time, I teamed up with my friend Sarirah and she wrote for us really thorough article about the ways plants and nature help us live slower life. I am sure you will enjoy it and if you fancy a read and more slow living ideas, you should definitely check Instagram and sign up for her Free 7 Days of slow living Guide and lovely newsletter on her blog. She has so much wisdom about intentional living and I am glad to share her view on slowing down with plants! 

Nature​ ​is​ ​a​ ​slow​ ​living​ ​lifestyle​ ​teacher.​ Plants​ ​are​ ​in​ ​no​ ​rush​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​up.​ ​They​ ​will​ ​take their​ ​time​ ​growing​ ​stable​ ​roots​ ​and​ ​strong​ ​stems.​ ​Enough​ ​leaves​ ​and​ ​spend​ ​energy​ ​turning to​ ​face​ ​the​ ​sunlight​ ​and​ ​only​ ​producing​ ​flowers​ ​when​ ​the​ ​time​ ​is​ ​right.​ ​(On​ ​a​ ​much​ ​larger scale,​ ​trees​ ​will​ ​wait​ ​decades​ ​to​ ​make​ ​their​ ​debut​ ​at​ ​the​ ​top​ ​of​ ​the​ ​canopy).​ ​Taking​ ​care​ ​of plants​ ​forces​ ​you​ ​to​ ​slow​ ​down​ ​and​ ​work​ ​at​ ​their​ ​pace.​ ​Appreciating​ ​that​ ​some​ ​good​ ​things take​ ​time​ ​and​ ​when​ ​you​ ​finally​ ​see​ ​those​ ​beautiful​ ​blooms,​ ​it’s​ ​overwhelmingly​ ​more satisfying​ ​than​ ​you​ ​thought​ ​it​ ​would​ ​be.​ ​Perhaps,​ ​the​ ​same​ ​could​ ​be​ ​said​ ​for​ ​the​ ​work​ ​that we​ ​do​ ​and​ ​the​ ​people​ ​we​ ​try​ ​to​ ​grow​ ​connections​ ​with.

I’ll​ ​keep​ ​this​ ​short​ ​for​ ​you.​ ​Five ​ways​ ​to​ ​embrace​ ​slow​ ​living​ ​through​ ​the​ ​world​ ​of​ ​plants.​ ​Pick one​ ​and​ ​give​ ​it​ ​a​ ​go​ ​this​ ​week.​ ​And​ ​remember,​ ​it​ ​matters​ ​not​ ​that​ ​we​ ​may​ ​be​ ​approaching colder​ ​seasons​ ​and​ ​the​ ​peak​ ​of​ ​Summer​ ​blooms​ ​have​ ​passed.​ ​Embracing​ ​the​ ​seasonal​ ​shift and​ ​the​ ​wonder​ ​each​ ​season​ ​has​ ​to​ ​offer​ ​is​ ​a​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the​ ​journey.

1. Clear mind

Indoor​​ plants​​ are ​​more​ ​than ​​just ​​their ​​appealing​ ​indoor ​​jungle ​​aesthetic. ​​​Spider plants,​ ​Chinese​ ​Evergreen,​ ​Bamboo​ ​palms​ ​etc.​ ​are​ ​all​ ​brilliant​ ​housemates​ ​to​ ​keep the​ ​air​ ​clean.​ ​Especially​ ​great​ ​if​ ​you​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with​ ​paints​ ​and​ ​other​ ​high-fumed chemicals​ ​and​ ​materials​ ​for​ ​work​ ​or​ ​play.​ ​Clean,​ ​filtered​ ​air​ ​eases​ ​our​ ​breath​ ​and helps​ ​to​ ​clear​ ​foggy​ ​minds.

2. Growing edibles

From​ ​little​ ​pots​ ​of​ ​herbs​ ​to​ ​looming​ ​tomatoes​ ​on​ ​the​ ​vine,​ ​growing your​ ​own​ ​food​ ​is​ ​an​ ​exciting​ ​journey​ ​and​ ​one​ ​of​ ​many​ ​benefits.  Imagine stepping​ ​out​ ​into​ ​a​ ​little​ ​garden​ ​area​ ​and​ ​picking​ ​homegrown​ ​produce​ ​to​ ​use in​ ​your​ ​cooking.​ ​The​ ​flavours​ ​are​ ​stronger,​ ​the​ ​colours​ ​more​ ​real​ ​in​ ​their gradients​ ​of​ ​red,​ ​blushing​ ​yellows​ ​and​ ​irregular​ ​sizing. The​ ​appreciation​ ​of​ ​knowing​ ​how​ ​much​ ​time​ ​and​ ​effort​ ​and​ ​work​ ​went​ ​into putting​ ​that​ ​food​ ​on​ ​your​ ​plate​ ​resonates.​ ​It​ ​connects​ ​you​ ​with​ ​your surroundings​ ​and​ ​reminds​ ​of​ ​the​ ​balance​ ​between​ ​giving​ ​and​ ​taking.

3. Plant​ ​care​

​​A​ ​process​ ​that​ ​requires​ ​patience.​ ​Learning​ ​to​ ​go​ ​with​ ​the​ ​ebb​ ​and​ ​flow and​ ​patiently​ ​ride​ ​the​ ​waves​ ​has​ ​been​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​harder​ ​slow​ ​loving​ ​struggles​ ​for​ ​me. And​ ​whilst​ ​in​ ​work​ ​or​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​time​ ​I​ ​allocate​ ​to​ ​spend​ ​exercising​ ​etc.​ ​can​ ​still have​ ​me​ ​rushing​ ​around,​ ​plant​ ​care​ ​cannot.​ ​It’s​ ​not​ ​possible​ ​to​ ​rush​ ​the​ ​care​ ​of​ ​your plants​ ​and​ ​flowers​ ​without​ ​jeopardising​ ​the​ ​process.​ ​Sometimes,​ ​it’s​ ​taking​ ​your​ ​time learning​ ​the​ ​right​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​care​ ​for​ ​each​ ​individual​ ​type​ ​of​ ​plant​ ​you​ ​have.​ ​Or​ ​carefully watering,​ ​checking​ ​for​ ​moist​ ​soil​ ​or​ ​a​ ​health​ ​check.​ ​Misting​ ​the​ ​leaves,​ ​wiping​ ​them down,​ ​pruning.​ ​Noticing​ ​your​ ​surroundings​ ​-​ ​where​ ​has​ ​the​ ​best​ ​light​ ​in​ ​the​ ​afternoon, which​ ​way​ ​should​ ​your​ ​plant​ ​be​ ​facing?​ ​All​ ​movements​ ​of​ ​slow,​ ​deliberate​ ​actions. Perhaps​ ​small​ ​spaces,​ ​little​ ​kids​ ​running​ ​around​ ​or​ ​curious​ ​pets​ ​make​ ​it​ ​harder​ ​for​ ​you​ ​to own​ ​and​ ​look​ ​after​ ​a​ ​plant​ ​family.​ ​Whilst​ ​there​ ​are​ ​many​ ​plants​ ​that​ ​require​ ​minimal​ ​work, these​ ​last​ ​two​ ​are​ ​with​ ​you​ ​in​ ​mind.

​​4. A​ ​foraging​ ​adventure​ ​​

Part​ ​of​ ​embracing​ ​slower​ ​living​ ​is​ ​soaking​ ​in​ ​your​ ​surroundings. Slowing​ ​your​ ​pace​ ​so​ ​you​ ​can​ ​notice​ ​the​ ​small​ ​details.​ ​Cracks​ ​in​ ​the​ ​pavement,​ ​daisies peaking​ ​out​ ​between​ ​the​ ​grasses​ ​and​ ​wildflowers​ ​hiding​ ​around​ ​your​ ​doorstep.​ ​Next​ ​time you​ ​go​ ​for​ ​a​ ​walk,​ ​look​ ​out​ ​for​ ​any​ ​flowers,​ ​conkers,​ ​pine​ ​cones​ ​along​ ​your​ ​path.​ ​Perhaps you​ ​may​ ​collect​ ​a​ ​bunch​ ​of​ ​buttercups​ ​and​ ​daisies​ ​to​ ​sit​ ​fresh​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tea​ ​cup​ ​next​ ​to​ ​your morning​ ​brew.​ ​Or,​ ​as​ ​Autumn​ ​rolls​ ​around,​ ​forage​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​magnificent​ ​fallen​ ​leaves​ ​in all​ ​of​ ​their​ ​golden​ ​and​ ​burnt​ ​orange​ ​glory.

5. Preserving nature

Perhaps​ ​your​ ​foraged​ ​arrangements​ ​won’t​ ​last​ ​long​ ​in​ ​a​ ​little​ ​jar​ ​on​ ​your​ ​kitchen​ ​counter. Something​ ​i’ve​ ​loved​ ​to​ ​do​ ​since​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​child​ ​is​ ​press​ ​little​ ​flowers​ ​and​ ​leaves​ ​by​ ​resting them​ ​inside​ ​large​ ​books.​ ​You​ ​could​ ​even​ ​do​ ​this​ ​with​ ​daisy​ ​chains.​ ​As​ ​the​ ​next​ ​season​ ​rolls around,​ ​open​ ​that​ ​giant​ ​dictionary​ ​or​ ​encyclopedia​ ​to​ ​discover​ ​a​ ​new​ ​dimension​ ​of​ ​beauty from​ ​the​ ​once​ ​fresh​ ​flowers​ ​that​ ​you​ ​picked.

If you want to get in touch with Sarirah you can find her on her Blog or on Instagram where she shares beautiful pictures full of flowers and nature. Share some love and say hi since she made so much effort to write these amazing tips for us, will you? 

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Author: herinternest

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