Intentional Living
Thoughts about how to live a more intentional life – one that’s better for your health, finances and the planet.
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Cheap things to do on holiday (and at the weekend)
There’s a quiet assumption built into modern travel: that a “good” holiday has to be an expensive one. However, as a Slow Down and Saver, I’m here to challenge that. While spending money on holiday can certainly lead to enjoyment – think nice restaurant meals, a chartered flight or boat trip for sightseeing, hiring a…
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Why Discipline and Consistency are the Ultimate Life Skills
As I pounded the cycle paths around the estate where I live on my afternoon run, a thought occurred to me: why aren’t there more people out running? It was my lunch break during a lovely sunny day at the end of a long winter. It felt like spring. I certainly saw more people outside…
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Golden Rules for Career Success
A couple of years ago, while clearing out my parent’s study, I stumbled across a gem from the May 1994 edition of Reader’s Digest: “Golden Rules for Career Success”. Even though it’s more than 30 years old, the advice is timeless and still resonates today. The world of work can feel ambiguous, with wins and…
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How to be a Badass at Life
I was reading a Mr Money Mustache blog the other day and was so inspired by the content that I decided to incorporate the information directly into my own life (as well as to write this blog). In Lessons From the Badass Muscular Neurobiologist, MMM reflects on lessons he’s learnt after listening to 70 hours…
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Is a Career a Wasted Life?
A career is a wasted life – well, possibly. That depends on whether you get satisfaction out of working for someone else, and building someone else’s dream. But is your job what you really want to spend your time doing? Does it bring with it a deep sense of satisfaction and enjoyment at what you’ve…
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Stop Procrastinating and Start Building your Dream Life
I’ve always said that procrastination is the root of all evil.* Everybody does it – don’t think you’re weird if you spend hours in the evening scrolling through your phone. I often get distracted – usually it’s YouTube on my phone or TV, and occasionally just daydreaming. Aha! I spot an area of our lives…
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Make Hay while the Rain Pours
Rain, rain, keep falling every day. Well okay, maybe not every day. We all like to see Mr Blue Sky every now and then. But between the months of November and March, I’m generally fine if the weather is gloomy. It means I can be productive indoors through building my intentional life and improving myself…
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A life of joy means to never stop working
The whole point of Slow Down and Save is to encourage you to live a more intentional, meaningful life – truly living a life of joy – by reducing your spending and focussing your time, energy and money on the things that bring you joy. You will discover that these things are rarely material possessions,…
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Overconsumption: Why We Consume Too Much
Have you ever wondered what happens when you throw out the rubbish? Humanity now produces billions of tonnes of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions every year. This overconsumption means we’re using natural resources at an unsustainable rate – faster than the Earth can replenish them. Here’s why consuming less matters. Overconsumption is increasing Municipal…
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A day in my life of intentional living
The first seeds for this whole intentional living lifestyle which I now find myself talking about really took root in early 2023, when I read the book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. This was a profoundly influential book for me, and really made me question whether I was living the lifestyle that I…
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How to slow down your life by buying less
Have you ever wondered why you have so much stuff?. Most of it just accumulates over the years – and where does it all go? Most likely to the landfill. I bet that made you think. Can you even remember where and why you bought it? The trouble is, all that stuff clutters up your…
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Oct + Nov review and December goals
Well hello there! It’s cold and dark here in the UK, the trees have lost their leaves and the country seems to have gone into hibernation mode. But there’s lights aglow everywhere and the Christmas spirit is high – for it’s the most wonderful time of the year! With this in mind, I can’t believe…
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Why Discipline is the Key to Increasing Productivity
If you constantly find it difficult to get everything done that you want to do, improving your discipline can dramatically increase productivity in everyday life. Discipline reduces distractions, helps you focus on meaningful goals, and allows you to use your time more intentionally. In many ways, discipline is the ultimate life hack for increasing productivity…
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14 Simple Ways to Live a Slower, Easier Life
If you’re wondering how to live a simple life in a world that feels increasingly busy, the answer isn’t radical change – it’s small daily shifts. Modern life moves faster than ever – both literally (trains, planes and cars), and digitally (social media, notifications and constant connectivity). But learning how to live a simple life…