Romanticizing Your Life: Embracing a Slow Lifestyle for More Meaning and Joy

Life Isn’t a Checklist—Here’s Why I’m Learning to Slow Down

Our rainy view this morning.

It can feel almost rebellious to slow down - in this modern age where busyness and productivity are glorified. We rush through our days, checking off tasks, chasing goals, and trying to make life look amazing—often without truly feeling fulfilled. But what if we flipped the script? What if, instead of measuring our days by how much we do, we measured them by how much we enjoy?

I first heard the phrase romanticizing your life from my friend Christy, and it stuck with me. It’s the idea that we don’t have to wait for special occasions to feel present, joyful, or at peace. We can create beauty in the everyday—simply by choosing to live slowly and savor the moments right in front of us.

How often do you put away your favorite items, to enjoy them later, then never really actually use them? Maybe a beloved perfume or beautiful, antique china? What would happen if you used them now? If you were intentional with those items and really luxuriated in their beauty?

Savoring the Simple Things

Happiness isn’t found in the next big milestone—it’s in the quiet moments, like the warmth of your morning coffee or the sound of rain outside your window.

Learning to Live Slowly

I’ll be honest: I don’t have this all figured out. I’ve spent years caught up in the mindset that productivity equals worth. But lately, I’ve been experimenting with a slow lifestyle—not in a dramatic, overnight shift, but in small ways that make a big difference.

For example, last night, I didn’t fall into my usual routine of zoning out in front of the TV with the latest true crime series before bed. Instead, my husband and I curled up on the couch and watched, what I call, “slow TV”. There are many options on YouTube. They are less flashy, more peaceful, relaxing to watch.

I am usually drawn to videos with slow transitions between clips that are focused around living different types of lives, in different places or ways, or videos on how other people choose to live more simply. When I watch these videos, it’s almost like I am choosing what to bring into my awareness instead of being force-fed the latest drama.

Afterward, I just laid down at 9:05 PM, relaxed, and let myself fall asleep naturally. I didn’t feel like I needed my phone, or even a book, to continue to be stimulated. I felt at peace just relaxing in my comfy bed.

And, the best part? I woke up feeling so good. It was such a simple shift, but it reminded me that I don’t need to constantly be doing to feel fulfilled. Sometimes, the best thing I can do is just be.

Redefining Productivity

Life isn’t about checking off endless to-dos; it’s about creating space to truly be—to rest, to breathe, and to enjoy the present moment.

The Art of Romanticizing Your Life

Romanticizing your life isn’t about making things look perfect for an audience—it’s about making life feel beautiful for you. It’s about slowing down, finding joy in the little things, and allowing yourself to experience life fully, rather than rushing through it.

Here are a few ways I’ve been practicing this:

1. Savoring the Simple Moments

Instead of rushing through my morning coffee while checking emails, I take a moment to actually taste it, to feel the warmth in my hands, to enjoy the quiet before the day begins. These tiny shifts turn routine moments into something special.

2. Balancing Productivity with Presence

I still love the feeling of crossing big tasks off my to-do list—but now, I give myself permission to stop once I’ve completed a couple of important things. Instead of filling every gap in my day with more work, I leave space to breathe, reflect, and just exist.

3. Letting Go of the Need to Capture Everything

Sometimes, the most beautiful moments are the ones we don’t share online. The morning light hitting the trees just right, a deep conversation with a friend, the sound of rain outside—these moments don’t need an audience to be meaningful.

4. Creating Routines That Feel Nourishing, Not Rushed

Whether it’s a slow morning stretch, reading before bed, or taking a long walk without distractions, I’ve been leaning into routines that ground me rather than push me to go faster.

5. Redefining Success

Success isn’t about how much I accomplish in a day or how impressive my life looks—it’s about how deeply I feel connected to my own experiences. Am I present? Am I enjoying my life? That’s what matters most.

Living for YOU, Not for an Audience

At the end of the day, we only get this one chance in this particular lifetime, with this particular body, with these certain people, with these experiences.

So remember, it’s ours to experience, to get the most out of — not just to document, showcase, or perform for others. What if we made our lives beautiful for ourselves? What if fulfillment came not from doing more, but from actually being here for the moments that matter?

I’m still figuring it out, but one thing I know for sure: the more I slow down and actually live my life, the more meaningful it feels.

Are you on this journey too? I’d love to hear how you’re practicing romanticizing your life and embracing a slow lifestyle. I invite you to leave a comment and start a dialogue with me!

Sincerely,

Crystal