Downshifting Your Life
Last year marked the first edition of the National Downshifting Week in the UK, an event originated by British writer and broadcaster, Tracy Smith. Downshifting Week is a 7-day event designed to inspire and highlight ways for folks to consciously move towards saner and simpler lifestyles and reap the benefits of more time with family and community, living in closer harmony with the natural world.
The next edition of Downshifting Week is slated for April 22nd to 28th, 2006 and Tracey has been working to build awareness over on this side of the Atlantic, in hopes that more of us here in Canada and the US will join in on the celebrations.
You can find a lot more information on the Downshifting movement at the web site, DownshiftingWeek.com. Be sure to also check out the ‘Well Connected‘ page for a wealth of other resources on slowing down, getting de-stressed and finding your way to a healthier and simpler lifestyle.
I have started this already, it can really take some pressure off. Only one magazine subscription not eight? Four ingredient meals not nine? More sleep, less stimulation? Huh, who knew?
Dale – I downshifted myself out of the stressful hospitality industry a couple of years ago and I haven’t looked back. Life’s too short to be stressed out over stuff.
I don’t know if this qualifies, but it sure made my life simpler (is that a word?) I cancelled my DISH account and got Netflix. Now, I live somewhere out so far in the boondocks that without cable TV there is NO TV. Don’t miss it at all. We watch what we want to watch via the DVDs and the rest of the time, we read, I knit, we talk… I miss TV like a bad cold!
Now I have to think of some more things to do to simplify things – I have a disabled child and any time I can do that, it is a very good thing!!
Adelle – I did the same thing, canceling my cable, not too long after I stopped cooking for a living. Of course, I’m addicted to the Internet now.