In one episode of Packed to the Rafters, Ben Rafter espoused the virtues of ‘slow living’. More than just a fad, the Slow Movement has been around since the 1980s and is a response to the fast-paced,fast-food, technology-driven world around us.

‘Slow is all about connection,’ explains Jacqui Mott, editor of Slow Magazine in Australia. Here are some slow-living philosophies…

Slow Food
The antithesis of fast food, slow food is about wholesome, healthy meals and savouring the time spent preparing, eating and sharing them.

Slow Travel

Is for those of us who come back from holidays feeling like we need another holiday, having raced from place to place with a jam-packed itinerary. ‘Slow travellers meander, pause as the mood takes them and connect with locals instead of being isolated in resort-style destinations,’ Jacqui explains.

Slow Parenting
This is a response to the growing trend our busy lifestyles may be putting us on the fast track to health problems. So go slow and reap the benefits of families rushing through their lives with hectic schedules and little together time, resulting in a generation of stressed kids. ‘Parents can start by simplifying schedules, allowing for “nothing” time where children can learn to be creative,’ Jacqui says. ‘It also requires a change of attitude, where parents stop playingthe push-push-push tune.’