Slow is your superpower

December 9, 2021 - According to the voice of the Slow Movement Carl Honoré, slow transforms every kind of travel. Family vacations. Romantic getaways. Work trips. Even the morning commute. It turns every journey into a balm for the soul and a banquet for the senses.

When you take your time, everything falls into place. You are calm and in control; present and in the moment; healthy, rested and dynamic. You feel primed to seize the day and revel in its pleasures.

You focus on what matters most. Your relationships deepen. You remember things vividly thanks to the "secret bond" between slowness and memory. You slip into the richer mode of thought known as Slow Thinking, where you feel in tune with yourself and the world.

Carl Honoré travels the world to deliver powerful keynotes that put time and tempo in a whole new light. His counter-intuitive message is simple but game-changing: To thrive in a fast world, you have to slow down. He recently shared his 11 rules of slow travel with us.

1. Savor the journey

When you stop rushing to the destination, traveling becomes a moveable feast. Relish how light and landscape, sounds and smells, change as you glide through the world.

2. Master the moment

Studies show that being present and alive to the here and now enhances joy, pleasure and well-being. Notice a bird nesting in a tree, clouds painting shapes across the sky, a fish leaping from a river, a wine glass shivering as your train trundles through the night. Find the magic in every place, person and pursuit.

3. Bask in pleasure

The greatest minds have always understood that pleasure is more divine when taken in small sips. Linger over an exquisite meal. Lounge in gorgeous surroundings. Lose yourself in a serene forest or a striking view.

4. Do things for the joy of it

Casting off the pressure to tick boxes is a blissful release. Dawdle in the pool. Daydream in the shade when the sun is high in the sky. Doodle on the back of a napkin. Read another chapter of that book you can't put down. Enjoy the sweet thrill of sometimes doing nothing at all.

5. Embrace serendipity

The richest experiences are often unplanned and unscripted. Keep a light schedule. Wallow in accidental pleasures. Stumble on a big thought or a small detail. Indulge a whim. Slip into a delicious siesta after lunch.

6. Open the mind

Learning and experiencing new things fills you with zest and purpose. Dip into another culture. Try a new language. Take people watching to the next level. Let a local teach you how to pick out the best tomato in a farmers’ market.

7. Connect with others

Relationships thrive on two things that only slowing down can deliver time and attention. Share moments of meaning and rapture with loved ones. Spark off people you meet along the way.

8. Reconnect with yourself

Looking inward is the best way to figure out who you are and how you want to be in the world. Marinade in deep thoughts. Listen to your heart. Reflect on life. Ponder your next step. Return home recharged, reset, rebooted.

9. Honor your rhythms

Nothing is more delightful than slipping into your own groove. Eat when hungry. Rest when tired. Jump into a hot-air balloon when you fancy an adrenaline rush. Play a lazy game of cards when you crave slowness. Travel at your own pace and in your own time.

10. Eliminate distraction

Studies show that turning off technology helps you enjoy the moment and recall it later. Luxuriate in the serenity of going screen-free. Rediscover the wonder and charm of doing one thing at a time. Bathe in the soothing silence.

11. Forge lifelong memories

Slowing down helps every moment leave a deeper imprint. Take time to embed experiences. Engage all your senses. Sketch what you see. Write what you feel. Mull over what you hear. Turn the best moments into stories to tell yourself and others in years to come.

About Carl Honoré

Carl Honoré is a bestselling author, broadcaster, and the voice of the Slow Movement. His two main-stage TED Talks have racked up millions of views. Published in 35 languages, his books have landed on bestseller lists in many countries. In Praise of Slow was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and the inaugural choice for the Huffington Post Book Club. It also featured in a British TV sitcom, Argentina’s version of Big Brother and a TV commercial for the Motorola tablet. Under Pressure was shortlisted for the Writers’ Trust Award, the top prize for non-fiction in Canada. Bolder was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and a Reader’s Digest (UK) Book of the Month.

Carl lives in London. While researching his first book on slowness, he was slapped with a speeding ticket.