Seeking Slow: Volume 8

Melanie Barnes is the writer and photographer behind the blog Geoffrey and Gracea home for slow and simple living. With more than fifteen years' experience in movement and well-being, she is a trained yogi, meditation teacher, and massage therapist. She has always been guided by her body and is always looking for ways to be present and truly connected. Becoming a mother inspired her to look at her life and purpose, which is when she discovered slow living. She shares advice on slow and simple living via her blog, ebooks, and slow-living retreats, and her work has been featured in the magazines Project Calm, Reclaimed, Country Home & Interiors, and Simple Things . She has collaborated with a number of well-known international brands, including The Linen Works, Smart Energy GB, 20th Century Fox, Jordans, Toast, Vitabiotics, and Denby. Melanie lives by the sea in Sussex in the UK with her husband, daughter, and, cat, Juniper. She shares their slow moments on her Instagram account (@geoffreyandgrace), which has over 30,000 followers.

Preface SLOW LIVING: AN INTRODUCTION What It Means to Live a Slow and Simple Life Realistic Slow Living Reflecting on the Past THE CHALLENGES OF OUR MODERN AGE The Glorification of Busy Consumer Culture and Materialism The Art of Waiting The Digital Age and Virtual Consumption LIVING LIGHTLY | Digital Detox TIME Valuing Our Time Managing Our Time LIVING LIGHTLY | Working Smarter Our Purpose and Priorities LEARNING TO NURTURE OURSELVES Making Time for Ourselves LIVING LIGHTLY | Slow Moments Embracing Self-Compassion Play Daydreaming and Boredom WELL-BEING: BODY Learning to Listen to Our Bodies LIVING LIGHTLY | The Benefits of Listening to Your Body The Body-Mind Connection A SLOW HOME Creating a Slow Home Simplifying Our Belongings LIVING LIGHTLY | Decluttering Your Home SEASONAL LIVING How to Live Seasonally Welcoming the Seasons LIVING LIGHTLY | Seasonal Decorations and Activities Nature Therapy SUSTAINABILITY Conscious Shopping Slow Fashion LIVING LIGHTLY | Conscious Consumerism Reduce, Reuse, Recycle A Homegrown and Natural Home WELL-BEING: MIND AND SOUL What Is Meditation? What Is Mindfulness? Why Meditate and Practice Mindfulness? LIVING LIGHTLY | The Benefits of Meditation Meditation Techniques How to Begin to Meditate DAILY SLOW-LIVING RITUALS Creating a Ritual From Ritual, to Routine, to Habit LIVING LIGHTLY | Daily Mindfulness Establishing a Quiet Corner Conclusion Acknowledgments About the Author Notes