At its core, downshifting means working less and enjoying life more — slowing down the treadmill in order to find fulfillment, balance, and meaning in our lives. Most downshifters share these common goals:
- Spending less time working and commuting to/from work.
- Enjoying more quality time with family and friends.
- Actively contributing to our local communities.
- Avoiding the waste of money, time, or other valuable limited resources.
In order to accomplish these goals, downshifting often involves a conscious choice to simplify one’s life through a variety of means, including:
- Eliminating unnecessary possessions.
- Eliminating debt.
- Eating simple, “real” food.
- Living in a smaller home.
- Saying “no” to time commitments that that do not contribute to overall life satisfaction.
While many of us probably dream of quitting our jobs, living off the grid in a cabin in the woods, growing our own food, etc., a radical lifestyle change of that magnitude simply isn’t practical or possible for many of us, at least not right away. But that doesn’t mean that we can’t make small changes in our lives right now that will bring those dreams a little closer to our realities.
Downshifting should not be viewed as an end goal, but rather as an ongoing process and way of life. Downshifting is all about reclaiming our time, and our lives, by finding our own unique work/life balances. We can control the speed of the treadmill!
Through Downshifter’s Journal, I plan to chronicle the ups and downs of my own downshifting journey, while gathering together helpful resources and info, and sharing other downshifters’ tales, tips, and fears as well. I look forward to connecting with you all as we build this community together!
For more information on the Downshifting movement, please check out Wikipedia and Slow Movement.
Related articles
- Downshifting to Upshift Your Life (psychologytoday.com)
Downshifter's Journal 
Ms. Drowne: Your husband, Robert, told me about your blog and this is to say I really enjoyed it and will continue to follow your postings. Downshifting is another word for a concept that my wife and I strive to embrace: Simplicity. Looks like you do, too. Thanks for the time and effort you put into this project. Sincerely, Boyd Chivers
Hi there!
I like your posts very much and hope you will continue to add your ideas to the downshifting community.
Added your blog to my blog-roll.
Best wishes from Munich,
woodpecker
http://www.gooddaytolive.net
Thank you Mr Woodpecker! I enjoy your blog very much, and am thankful that you decided to write your posts in English! Through WordPress, I have discovered a downshifting community that I never knew existed, and it inspires me to continue on this path. 🙂
Hi! I have been reading your blog and really enjoying it. I would like to present you with the Liebster Award for small blogs. More information can be found on my blog, but it’s an award for awesomeness. I truly hope you’ll keep the wonderful posts coming!
Thank you so so so so much, greenandthrifty! I am stunned and amazed! This is such an honor, especially coming from someone whose blog I thoroughly enjoy. I’ve only been doing this for a few months, and the WordPress community has made me feel so welcomed. I will do my best to uphold the traditions associated with this prestigious honor!
You are most welcome and I’m so happy to be able to share this with you. I have been similarly welcomed and am enjoying the heck out of this whole experience!
Hi! I am honored by your connection with me at EarthPilgrim.net. What is the most important thing you would like to do with your life?
Hello Earth Pilgrim! I’m so thrilled that our paths have crossed. What is the most important thing I’d like to do with my life? Hmm… I like to think that my mission in life is to let people know, especially through my writing, that they don’t have to settle for mediocre, stressed-out, unfulfilling lives. I want to inspire others to slow down, pause, think about what they really want to do with their lives, and do it, instead of living according to what everyone else tells them they should want and do. I’m still trying to figure this all out for myself too, so I hope I can bring others through the process with me. You are such an inspiration!