Those days when life feels like too much are exactly why slow living matters. You’re not choosing chaos. It just builds up, laundry, emails, errands, and unfinished to do lists, until you feel like you’re always behind.
I’ve had seasons like that too. My brain felt full, my house felt messy, and I was tired of trying to catch up.
Slow living is not about being perfect or doing a fancy routine. It’s just a simple way to slow down, breathe, and focus on what matters most.
If you need a reset, start here. These slow living ideas are realistic for real life. Pick one, try it today, and let that be enough.
Simple Slow Living Habits
1. Decide what matters most right now
Deciding what matters most right now means picking one clear priority for this season, so you’re not trying to carry everything at once. It’s a simple choices that help you simplify your life, even on messy days.
I remember when my two kids got sick at the same time and everything felt so messy. The laundry grew, the dishes piled up, and my work started getting behind. In that moment, my kids mattered most. So I chose them first, and I let everything else wait.
2. Write down your top three priorities
- Take care of my kids
- Get enough rest
- Keep us fed with simple, healthy food
When life feels too loud and messy, I do this one simple thing: I write down my top three priorities. Not ten. Not twenty. Just three. As a mom, these are usually mine. This tiny list keeps me calm and clear, so I know what to do first and what can wait.
3. Stop trying to “fix everything” at once
Stop trying to “fix everything” at once. When I’m overwhelmed, I pick just one thing for today and I let the rest wait. Maybe it’s laundry, maybe it’s replying to one important email, maybe it’s making sure the kids eat and nap. One small win is still a win. Little by little, the mess gets lighter, and life feels calmer again.
If you’re in a season where everything feels like it’s falling behind, this might help too. I wrote a simple reset guide for the days life feels hard to handle. Read it here: How to Get Back on Track When Life Seems Hard to Handle.
4. Create a short daily plan
I keep it super simple, like a tiny checklist I can actually finish, even with kids running around.
- Healthy breakfast for my daughter before school and my son
- 30-minute morning walk with my little son
- Finish 1 client task
- Do 1 load of laundry in the afternoon while the kids nap
That’s it. A simple life isn’t doing more, it’s doing what matters first.
5. Start your day without your phone
When I wake up, I try not to grab my phone right away. Even just 10 minutes helps. I get up, drink water, and check on the kids first. No scrolling, no messages, no noise. It makes the morning feel calmer and more like slow living, especially on busy days. The phone can wait. I start with my kids and my home first.
6. Make your bed
It’s normal for your bed to get messy, especially when the kids are playing and climbing on it. But when you’re already tired and you see a messy room, you feel even more tired. Making the bed takes one minute, but it makes the room look better right away. It’s a small reset that helps your day feel calmer.
7. Build a morning routine you’ll actually do
A morning routine should be simple and real, not perfect. If it’s too long, you won’t do it, especially with kids. Pick just 2 or 3 things you can repeat every day, even on busy mornings. For me, it’s make the bed, drink water, and pack the kids’ things for school. That’s it. A small routine like this makes slow living feel doable and helps you simplify your life without pressure.
8. Eat around the same time daily
Eating around the same time each day is about giving your day a simple rhythm. It helps your body know when to expect food, and it takes away one more “What should we do now?” moment.
For me, it’s not just a routine, it’s a must do. With kids, meals can’t be random. They need food on time so they don’t get cranky, tired, or hungry in the middle of everything. When I stick to a simple meal schedule, our day feels calmer, more steady, and a lot easier to manage.
9. Drink water before anything else
Make drinking water your first habit of the day. It’s a simple slow living reset that helps you feel more awake, less cranky, and a little more steady before coffee, breakfast, or your to do list starts. I keep a bottle where I can see it, take a few big sips right after waking up, then move on to the kids and the morning rush. It takes seconds, but it really helps me feel clearer.
10. Do one thing at a time
It means you stop trying to juggle everything all at once. It’s the easiest way to simplify your life because your brain is not jumping around, and you finish things faster.
I learned this the hard way as a mom. I used to answer emails, cook, and help my kids at the same time, and I ended up stressed and making mistakes. Now I pick one thing, finish it, then move to the next. Even something small like washing dishes without checking my phone feels like super easy, and my day feels calmer.
11. Set a timer for focused work
Use a timer to stay on track. Do one thing for 20 minutes, then stop and take a quick break. It’s a simple way to build discipline and train your brain to focus.
This is the one I struggle with most. I try so hard to focus, but the moment my kid cries or calls for me, I stop and help. So I use the timer to do what I can in small pockets of time, and I remind myself it’s okay if my focus isn’t perfect right now.
12. Take breaks on purpose
After one task, step away for a few minutes on purpose. It can be super small, like stretching your shoulders, taking a few slow breaths, drinking water, or just sitting quietly with no screen.
These tiny pauses help your brain reset, so you don’t feel as overwhelmed. You come back calmer, think clearer, and you’re less likely to get snappy or tired fast. Even with kids, a short break counts and it can make the rest of the day feel way easier to handle.
13. Clean one small area daily
It is a simple way to keep your home from feeling out of control. You’re not trying to deep clean everything. You’re just making one tiny space better.
For me, it’s usually the corner where the toys always end up. When that one spot is clear, my brain feels lighter too. It’s a quick reset that makes the whole day feel calmer, even if the rest of the house is still a little messy.
14. Plan outfits ahead for busy days
The night before, I pick our clothes and set them out. My daughter’s dress, my little son’s outfit, and mine too. Then when morning comes, we don’t run around looking for socks or changing again and again. We just get dressed and go. It’s a small thing, but it makes the morning not rushed.
15. Create a home for your essentials
When your essentials don’t have a “home,” you waste time looking for them and you start the day already stressed.
So I give the important things one spot. Keys go in one bowl. Wallet stays in the same pocket of my bag. Chargers stay on one table. Even my kids’ small stuff, like school ID or hair ties, has a little box. It’s simple, but it saves me so many “Where is it?” moments.
16. Practice saying no without overexplaining
Saying “no” can be simple. You don’t need a long story or a bunch of reasons.
When someone asks me for something and I can’t do it, I keep it short and kind. I say, “I can’t right now,” or “Not this time.” That’s it. As a mom, my time is already full, and I protect my energy. No extra explaining, no guilt, just a clear answer.
This one gets easier when you stop carrying the weight of everyone’s expectations. If you’re working on that too, you might like this: Choose Yourself: 7 Ways to Stop Pleasing Everyone.
17. Limit social media to a set time
Social media is fun, but it can steal your time without you noticing. You open your phone for “just a minute,” then suddenly it’s been a long time and you feel more tired.
That’s why it helps to choose one time for scrolling, like after lunch or after the kids sleep. When the time is done, you stop. This keeps you in control, so you still have time for your kids, your home, and the things you really need to do.
18. Be picky about what you consume
Choose what you let into your day. Not just food, but also videos, news, social media, and even conversations. Because whatever you take in can change your mood fast.
If I notice something makes me anxious, angry, or drained, I step back. I pick calmer content, kinder people, and simple meals that make us feel good. It’s a small good habit, and it helps protect my peace and makes my day feel lighter.
19. Create a calming corner at home
Pick one corner at home and make it your calm spot. It can be a chair by the window, a clean space beside your bed, or even a tiny balcony if you have one. The goal is simple. Give yourself one place where you can breathe and feel okay again.
My favorite is our balcony on the second floor. I step outside for a minute, take a deep breath, and look at the sky or the street. It helps me feel like the world is bigger than my to do list. Even if the house is still busy, that one small spot makes me feel calmer.
20. Spend time outside regularly
Spending time outside doesn’t have to be a big thing. Even a short morning walk is enough, especially when life feels busy.
For us, walking every morning is the easiest and healthiest way to start the day. We step out, breathe fresh air, and let the kids move their bodies. It clears my head, lifts my mood, and makes the day feel lighter. Sometimes that simple walk is all we need before we start everything else.
21. Move your body in a simple way
This helps you feel better in your body without adding more stress to your day. You don’t need a gym, a perfect schedule, or a big workout plan. You just need a small way to move.
It can be simple as stretching, dancing to one song in the kitchen, or doing a quick 5-minute exercise at home. That little movement wakes me up, lifts my mood, and helps me feel more patient and calm. It also makes it easier to keep up with my kids and the rest of my day.
22. Journal when your mind feels busy
When your mind feels too full, journaling helps you let the thoughts out instead of carrying them all day. You don’t need fancy prompts or perfect handwriting. It’s just a simple way to clear your head.
I do it when I feel overwhelmed, like when I’m thinking about my kids, the house, and work all at once. I grab a notebook and write what’s bothering me, what I need to do, and what I can let go of for now. Even a few minutes can make me feel calmer, like my brain finally has space to breathe.
23. Keep a notebook for life organization
It helps you feel less scattered because you’re not constantly thinking, “Don’t forget this, don’t forget that.”
I write down important things like schedules, groceries, kids’ needs, and quick reminders for work. When my day gets busy, I just check my notebook instead of stressing or opening ten different apps. It’s simple, but it makes life feel more in control.
24. Choose one habit to build a time
Building one habit at a time makes change feel simple instead of stressful. When you try to fix everything at once, it’s easy to get tired and quit. But one small habit is something you can actually stick with.
For me, I pick just one thing and keep it easy. Drinking water every morning, or taking a short walk with the kids. Once that feels normal, then I add the next habit. Little by little, that’s how slow living starts to feel real.
25. Let go of unnecessary drama
When something is bothering you, do this simple check. Ask, “Will this matter tomorrow” If the answer is no, let it go. If it matters, handle it calmly and only once. Then move on. Focus focus focus on what you can control right now, your kids, your home, your health, your work. You don’t need to carry every opinion, every comment, or every little problem. Let go of the noise so you can keep your mind clear.
26. Make space for silence
Silence is like a quick rest for your brain. When your day is loud with kids, phones, work, and chores, your mind never stops. Even a few quiet minutes can help you feel calm and breathe better.
Try going to your favorite spot for 2 to 5 minutes. No talking, no music, no scrolling. Just sit, close your eyes, and breathe. It’s small, but it can make your day feel easier.
27. End your day with gratitude
Gratitude is a simple way to end the day on a softer note. Even if your day was messy, it helps you notice one good thing instead of replaying everything that went wrong. It’s like telling your brain, “Hey, we’re safe, we did our best, and today wasn’t a total loss.”
Some nights, the “good thing” is tiny. The kids laughed. Everyone ate. The house is still a mess, but at least the dishes are done. When you look for one small win, your heart feels lighter. And you fall asleep with peace, not pressure.
If you want help building this habit, I put together simple gratitude prompts you can use even on the messy days. You can find them here: 50 Simple Gratitude Journal Prompts and Affirmations (+Printable).
Take this with you
You don’t have to change your whole life overnight. Just pick one idea from this list and start there. One small shift. One calmer morning. One clear no. One quiet minute.
That’s how slow living begins. Not perfectly. Just intentionally.
And that is more than enough!
Before you go, I’d love to hear from you. Which idea felt the most doable for your life right now, and which one are you going to try first? Share it in the comments below so we can cheer each other on.
