Put simply, conveniences cost our planet (and our pocketbooks). That is why the art of slowing down is not only good for our mental and physical health (stress hormones have been found to lower immunity andare linked to cancer and aging), it's good for the planet too.

The more quickly our lives move, the more shortcuts we need to take; faster food, faster housekeeping, even (ironically) faster entertainment.And all this speed takes energy and lots and lots of resources. By slowing down, we can reduce that stress -which is entirely self-caused- and maybe even enjoy the little things more.

How to Slow Down

There might be some parts of your life that can't take a vacation, and that's OK. Start with a couple small things, or the areas that seem to stress you out the most. By slowing down and doing what needs doing incrementally, you will be less apt to make hasty, wasteful decisions.
Instead of....eating take-away or dining out six nights a week and nuking dinner the other one, make a commitment to cooking three meals a week.

Instead of.....buying coffee every day on the way to work, purchase some organic, fair trade beans, pull your coffee maker out of the cupboard and invest in a reusable, insulated mug (bonus, your coffee stays hotter longer, so you don't have to drink it so fast!)- at least brewing your own most days of the week.

Instead of....blindly surfing the internet or Facebooking for 20 minutes in the middle of the day while you're on a break, consider having a quick nap, which will revive your mind and body for the remainder of the day. 

Instead of....paying too much for fresh herbs from the supermarket, grow your own in your kitchen. It's hard to finish those packages of fresh herbs, and most of the time half ends up thrown away. Growing your own will add pretty greenery to your kitchen and will be fresher than the kind from the store.

---

---

Instead of....waiting for your house or apartment to get overwhelmingly dirty, spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and tidying. If you have to, set an alarm on your mobile phone and commit to just 10 minutes, which really isn't very much, but is enough time to keep up with housework. In ten minutes you can clean a toilet, sink and tub, vacuum two rooms, or water all your plants.

Instead of...eating out with your friends, put together a pot-luck dinner, where everyone brings a dish and the host provides the wine, drinks and plates. You can enjoy the meal with less rush than a restaurant, and it will cost 1/2 to 1/3 less than even a modestly-priced meal out.