Simple & Slow Living Habits I Practice Daily

In this fast-paced, fast-moving world, it is so important to make the most of each day and implement some slow & simple living habits into our lives so that we are not too caught up in the hustle and bustle.

Each day is a gift from the Lord and so it is our responsibility to live every moment wisely and for His glory!

By practising these little habits every day, I am able to take joy in the mundane.

It also helps to slow down, focus on the little things in life and delight in the Father who has blessed us with so much.

Today I am going to share with you a few of the slow living habits I try to implement in my everyday life.

1. Taking time before the day begins to be still before the Lord

This is really the most important habit because doing this one thing will set the tone of your entire day.

I always notice the difference in how my day goes when I haven't first done my quiet time!

Wake up earlier so that you have some time on your own before you begin your day and soak in His presence and don't rush it.

2. Get outside

I try to get outside and do something every day, whether I go for a walk with my dog, or work in the garden. Fresh air, sunshine and exercise are all vital for a healthy lifestyle. 

I find that if I don't go outside at all for a day, I feel stuffy, tired, or I get a headache. 

Being outside is a great way to slow down and appreciate the beauty in nature too!

3. Doing one thing at a time

This one is a fairly new habit that I am working on implementing but it has already made a difference in my productivity.

I used to try to multitask and do a bunch of things at once. But it's not really the most efficient way to do things. 

Now I like to focus on one task at a time and give it all of my attention, which actually increases my productivity because I am completing one thing after the other and doing a good job on each assignment. It's a great feeling!

4. Turning off notifications

This one is more of a one-off thing, but it did affect how I live my everyday life so I am including it on this list. 

A while ago I decided I didn't want the noise and distraction caused by the constant dinging I got from the notifications on my phone.

So I went into the settings and turned off all notifications and I haven't looked back.

It means I am not always picking up my phone to see what the latest update is and can resume my life without so much distraction.

5. Writing my to-do list for the day in order of priority

Usually, in the morning or sometimes the night before, I write out all the main tasks I need to do in my noted on my phone and enjoy the satisfaction of marking them off as I complete each one.

I put the most important things first so that I get them done before doing the smaller, less important things.

This little habit brings order to my day and makes for a clearer mind and a smoother day. 

6. Doing things that I enjoy 

After all of my schoolwork and other tasks are done I like to make sure that I do something that I enjoy as a way of resting and doing something that makes me happy.

This could be making something like a craft or some baking or simply sitting down to read with a cup of tea! I think it is important to have times of rest as well as times of productive working.

Each of these things may not seem very big, but sometimes it is the smallest habits which make the biggest changes in your day to day life.

I hope you gained some inspiration for embracing simple & slow living habits into your own life!

Let me know what your favourite slow living habit (if you have one) is down below!

  

keep blooming,

Hannah

What's on My Spring Wardrobe Wishlist

I have been thinking about my wardrobe lately and how I want to curate it more carefully and also invest in good quality pieces that will last.

At the moment I am working on my Spring-Summer wardrobe and I have noticed there are definitely some gaps I need to fill.

My wardrobe has quite a bit of colour and pattern, but I feel like I am lacking some good basics to tie everything together.. So a lot of this little wishlist is really just some basics to help streamline my entire wardrobe!

I hope this will offer some inspiration and ideas for your own spring wardrobe and be sure to let me know in the comments what pieces you are looking for for your own wardrobe!

a linen skirt with buttons down the front

I would love to add some more skirts to my wardrobe and I think that a simple plain coloured linen one with buttons down the front would be a great addition.

Whether it was a pink tone one like the one pictured here or something a little more neutral, I would style it with a plain tee or a cute white blouse, my brown sandals and some delicate necklaces!

A muted green button-up shirt

I have been loving shirts this year and I also love darker, more muted greens. So a green shirt is definitely up on my wishlist! There is something so versatile about shirts like this and they can easily look more dressed up or more casual, whichever look you're going for.

As far as styling goes, I'd wear a shirt like this either with a pair of jeans and a pretty necklace or with a denim skirt and some boots or sandals.

A grey longline cardigan

Almost everyday this week as I've been putting together an outfit for the day, I have looked in the mirror and thought, "a grey cardigan would go so well with this outfit."

I have coloured cardigans but I don't have a simple grey or neutral one that goes with everything.

Especially in the Spring, I think a good neutral cardigan is a great staple to have in your Spring wardrobe because of the fluctuating temperatures.

A plain tee in white & grey

It doesn't get much more basic than this! But I really think they are a necessity in any wardrobe.

I can picture these going with pretty much everything in my wardrobe and so they are definitely essentials. I am eying The Organic Cotton Crew style from Everlane! 

If you also like black, a basic black tee is also a good option. 

I have personally found that I don't like to wear black much so I am opting for a grey one instead.

A pair of white sneakers

These shoes look good with skirts & dresses as well as with jeans, so they check the versatility box!

I currently have a pair of black sneakers but I want to lighten things up a bit for the Spring and Summer.

A neutral-toned jumpsuit 

Last year, I thrifted a jumpsuit to see if I liked the whole jumpsuit thing, and I did!

I would love to add a few more into my wardrobe, particularly one in a similar colour to the one shown here. A jumpsuit is such an easy piece to wear because you can just pop one on and you're done! 

Denim overall dress

I have been searching for a dress like this for a while and I still haven't found the right one.

But I love how versatile denim is and how a dress like this could easily be worn all year round, with a cute sweater and boots in the cooler months or with a comfy tee in the warmer months.

A Straw sunhat

Is this not the sweetest little accessory for this season?

I'll admit I'm not much of a hat person, but I think I could get away with a simple straw hat for the summer. I hope to find on second hand but if that doesn't work there are a few from boutiques I have my eye on.

A dainty floral skirt

Dainty florals are so darling and pretty! I would love to find a skirt similar to this one at the thrift store.

This print simply screams spring to me! I would style a skirt like this with a white tank top or a plain tee, straw hat and my brown sandals.

the perfect striped tee

A good striped tee was a go-to of mine for a while and then while I was decluttering my closet, I ended up getting rid of most of my striped tees because they were a little worn.

I would love to find one really good striped tee to have as a basic in my wardrobe! I will look at the thrift stores first but if that fails, I love the look of this J.Crew Vintage Cotton Crewneck tee!

That's a wrap of my list, but what about you?

What are you looking out for to add to your wardrobe?

keep blooming,

Hannah

Slow Living in Spring

It is the 2nd of September.

The spring rain is falling outside as I write this but that is not dampening my excitement for this season!

I am sipping on my second cup of tea this morning and I am so glad to be back in the blogging world.

Today I thought I would welcome the new season with a few ideas for slow living activities to get the most out of this season of sunshine, rain, spring blooms and new beginnings.

My mind is full of ideas & aspirations for the warmer months and I cannot wait for all the seasonal delights that come with the sunny weather.

I say that as it is now raining cats & dogs outside my window...

But for now, let's get into these simple slow living ideas for Spring!

Have a picnic (weather permitting!)

Nothing is nicer than eating outside in the sun after months of being cooped up inside. 

Pack up a simple meal, wear a springy outfit (optional) and grab a blanket and head to your local park or even your own back yard to enjoy the outdoors and the spring flowers.

Turn over your wardrobe

As soon as the weather got warmer, I brought out all my spring and summer clothing. I couldn't help it! I was so excited to wear them.

If you are like me and you store your out of season wardrobe away while it is not in use, now might be the time to switch over to some warmer weather pieces.

But Spring weather is unpredictable, so make sure to keep back a few sweaters in case it gets chilly.

Clean + declutter

It's time for spring cleaning! During winter, the house tends to get a bit dustier & dirtier because we are indoors more and if you are using a fireplace, that will also create dust from the ashes and wood you are using. So take this time to give your house a good clean and declutter some things too.

We want to begin the Spring & Summer with fresh clean homes!

Dust surfaces, wash linens, clean the windows, and declutter the things that have been sitting around taking up space.

Plant a garden

This is quite an obvious thing to do in the Spring but I thought I would include it anyway. We are slowly planning our garden and using up the last of the winter crops (which didn't grow very well this year). 

I also want to bring some new life into my cut flower garden which all but died out in the summer because of drought. 

Get out into your garden and plant something, even if it is only a pot of flowers or herbs, it is so rewarding to grow something yourself!

Eat the new seasonal foods 

Check what's in season in the Springtime around you and try to make meals using them. 

For New Zealand, see this helpful list of in-season fruits and vegetables. 

Also, try and shop locally for these ingredients to support your local shops and farmers. It is so wonderful and important to know how your food is grown and where it comes from.

You can make fresh salads, lemon curd, delicious vegetable soups and much, much more in the springtime!

Wake up early

I usually try to wake up early all year round but it becomes a lot easier during the Spring & Summer because the sun comes up earlier so it isn't dark and cold when you get up.

If you don't already, set your alarm for an hour earlier than you normally wake up and get a head start on your day and take advantage of that extra daylight.

Sew something

Whether you mend or alter something, thrift flip something or sew an item from scratch, get out your fabric and sewing machine and create something this Spring.

I have a top that needs altering that I plan on sewing and I might make a few other fun projects too!

That's all my ideas for now! 

Let me know what activities you like to do in the Spring months in the comments!

keep blooming,

Hannah