Turning 30 Series: Slow Living As Survival for Introverted Creatives

I don’t know about you, but as an intuitive, high-sensitive, introverted, anxious, depressed writer-artist, I simply cannot keep up with the Joneses.

I won’t bother asking if you’ve been Very Busy lately. You probably have. Which means you’re probably feeling Very Burnt Out.

Creative writers come in all varieties, but the ones I surround myself with tend to be introverts, NDs, the weirdos and misfits, and those of us who have a really hard time keeping up with the grind.

When I first heard of slow living, the term was self-explanatory. The idea gave me hope during a time when I was terrified about how someone like me could financially support myself in this world.

I wasn’t worried about influencers or trends or clean girl aesthetic; I was just trying to find a way to survive.

We Don’t Have To Dismiss Slow Living Just Because It’s Trendy

Sometimes things become trendy for a reason, sometimes not. I always like to look into the buzz a few layers deep and decide for myself.

The idea of slow living should really be called “natural pace living.” Because what we’re doing these days in not living, it’s tripping over ourselves in a mindless rush, injuring ourselves and others, and for what?

So we can get there forty seconds faster?

I refuse.

Slow living isn’t just for the rich and privileged. It’s a reframe in thinking that can help anyone. Nobody gets to discount or coopt living at one’s own pace.

Slow Living Was My Only Means Of Flourishing

Depression, anxiety, high-sensitive nervous system, chronic pain, chronic tick-borne illness— it’s not always easy for me to think clearly.

Most days, I walk out of my house, get in my car, and have to walk right back in to get my forgotten keys.

Writing and music are the only spaces I really feel like my old, sharp self.

Keeping up with the pace of others isn’t an option for me. Trying to meet the pace of others isn’t always an option for creatives, especially ones who aren’t “normies.”

Only when I dropped out of the race did I begin to flourish and find answers.

Please, Take It Slow & Easy (At Least When You Can)

In my view, writing isn’t something that should be rushed 100% of the time. There are great reasons to write fast, but as an overall practice, it wouldn’t work for me.

We’re not machines. Our growth and evolution can’t be expedited. Pushing oneself is different from rushing oneself.

We can’t always afford to take it slow. Clocking in is a thing, sometimes we get sidetracked and lose an hour, or something last minute comes up. But acknowledging when you can take it slow and making sure you do so is invaluable, because you’ll be rejuvenated when you need it most.

Slow Equals Nice

I don’t claim to be a state of the art writer, but I do consider myself to have a better handle on words than the average Jason. Still, I haven’t yet been able to accurately describe this floating, post-pandemic hostility I feel in everyone around me when I leave my house.

People speeding, trucks barreling down highways, horns blaring, crowding me at the checkout. Even this small town is a nightmare for a high sensitive.

But sometimes I wonder if it’s hostility, or just everyone being in such a rush.

Slow Living, Turning 30, & Creative Writing Are A Perfectly Balanced Meal

For the very busies and the very burnt outs, an alternative is worth consideration. Slow living has no single definition and is more like “natural pace living” than anything. Some of us are at our best with a packed schedule, but others aren’t.

It hit me that I’ve spent a solid 25 years living on someone else’s schedule. For me, it wasn’t a choice. I simply couldn’t keep up anymore.

There’s nothing wrong with embracing the pace at which you flourish.

I can almost guarantee your words will too.

☄. *. ⋆

Thank you so much for reading! I write about Ikigai, staying creative, and turning 30.

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See you there! Borahae, much love, 好き, be well!

-Ari