Slowing Down is Medicine for Your Soul
Queer creators worth celebrating, music for softer living, and gentle reminders that a meaningful life isn't meant to be rushed.
Slowing down is a habit worth building.
Arden M. Wayne and the
For Conscious Consumers team
A Slower Perspective
This week’s topic is about living slowly to cultivate deeper joy. In a world that tells us to go-go-go with little to no reward, we can take our power back by slowing down. Although it’s not ingrained in us, we can honor our humanity and our need for rest in subtle ways that become long-term habits. We hope you find this week’s curated newsletter to be supportive, wherever you find yourself on your journey.
What’s Worth Consuming
Article: “How Dancing in the Morning Can Transform Your Day” shares how and why a solo dance party is good for not only your soul, but your mind and body.
Music: ‘Soft Girl Era’ by Ari Lennox is lyrically perfect for manifestation and a visual homage to 00’s pop/r&b legends. It’s been on repeat for us, and we’re sure it’ll give you the earworm, too.
Podcast: Let Me Fix It is a podcast for those who like upbeat, scholarly commentary on a mixture of political, pop culture, and news-related topics, hosted by two besties.
Creator: Shelbizlee is a content creator who dives deep into how to combat overconsumption with thoughtful tips, rants, anti-hauls, and no-buy experiments. Her archive of videos helps viewers practice conscious consumption and sustainable living without the pressure of having to be perfect. We highly recommend watching her latest video on walkability in the United States.
Store: Out of the Closet is a queer-friendly thrift store with all-gender clothing, shoes, bags, and home goods on a mission to offer free HIV advocacy, services, prevention, and treatment locally and globally through the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. They accept donations and sell donated items at lower prices than their competitors, often hosting deep discounts on weekends.
Quote: “Be a curator of your life. Slowly cut things out until you’re left only with what you love, with what’s necessary, with what makes you happy.” - Leo Babauta
A Thoughtful Ritual for This Week
In honor of this week’s topic of slowing down, try giving yourself enough time in the morning to have a full-blown dance party. Starting your day with music and dancing like no one’s watching you can help shed negative thoughts and energy that’s built up in your body. This is a ritual we’ve done for years (see the linked article above), and we can attest to the fact that it lifts your spirits and transmutes anxieties. Instead of enjoying a coffee or tea uninterrupted first thing in the morning, this is just another way of having a slow morning, so we hope you give it a try.
Tiny Shifts to Consider
Buy fewer, but more meaningful groceries.
Light a candle before opening your laptop.
Take a walk every day at golden hour.
Write down every good thing that happens to you every week.
A Prompt for Your Sunday Reset
As we enter this next week, we’re hoping you feel empowered to slow down with us. If it’s too hard a task for you, try journaling or asking yourself: What does living slowly mean to you? What does that look like for you? What’s stopping you from slowing down, and how can you implement it into your life in little ways?
Consider reading our past article about slow living if you struggle with making small changes to live a more stress-free and softer life:
The For Conscious Consumers newsletter is a weekly pause—a gentle inbox ritual to reflect, recharge, and reconnect. Each Sunday, you’ll find curated insights on self-care, slow living, conscious media, and ethical shopping. This is a newsletter for those who want to choose with intention and live with care.
Here, we invite you to find your calm with:
📄 Thoughtful reviews and reflections
🔦 Spotlights on conscious creators & brands
🤍 Self-care rituals and slow living practices
🔍 Curated finds: books, podcasts, products, and more
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