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8 BEST PODCASTS FOR PRACTICING SLOW THIS WINTER
For the past 7 years that I’ve written this blog I’ve always booked December off to go on vacation. This year will be no different I’m still taking the month off work however this time I’m trading in tropical climes for cozy blankets, lots of tea and walks in the crisp cold sun. As usual we’ll spend time with family and can’t wait to have have our first Christmas in our new home. However there’ll be one key change and that is that I plan to take it slow.
Until about 10 years ago, December was my favourite time of year, my birthday and Christmas were only a couple of weeks apart, so it was pretty much a month long celebration. But as I got older and December would come around I would instantly feel my mood shift, I’d become more irritable and moody, I’d get ill ALOT and no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t shake it! There was never a reason that I could tell and for a long time I couldn’t figure out why I felt this way around Christmas, after all it was meant to be the most wonderful time of the year? It wasn’t until I heard about Seasonal Affective Disorder that I finally realised what was happening to me. Since then myself and Mr T have always booked the first part of December as vacation time. It would always give me something to look forward to and more importantly it was always somewhere hot and sunny so I could get some sunlight to brighten my mood.
December 2018 wasn’t going to be any different, as soon as we left Sri Lanka we were planning our trip for the following year. That was until WE BOUGHT A HOUSE! As you can imagine that was pretty darn expensive and with our wedding booked for 2019 a winter holiday in the sun was soon out of our budget. So this year to combat my winter blues I’m practicing a month of slow, which means making more time for me, intentionally allowing myself to rest and recover after a fun year and fueling my body with the food it needs to sustain me for what looks to be a very exciting new year ahead. During that time I plan on catching up with some of my favourite podcasts, which I would love to share you with you today. So, if your planning on practicing a slow winter with me, here are some of my favourite slow podcasts to get you through to January.
1. The Minimalists
I’ve mentioned my love of The Minimalists podcast on this blog many times. It was the podcast that launched my journey into minimalism and was the start of my determination to become debt-free last year. If it wasn’t for the The Minimalists I would probably never have come across the rest of the podcasts that I’m going to share with you today. They are now on episode number 160 so this is perfect podcast to listen to whilst your hunkering down for the winter.
2. Honest Money Conversations
This was the second podcast I become addicted to listening to. If it wasn’t for the advice of friends, Cait and Carrie I’m not sure I would have ever become debt-free. Listening to their open and frank conversations about their own issues with debt really changed the relationship I had with my own money. Although much of the talk on this podcast is about money and business, there is also a lot about slowing down and embracing minimalism.
3. The Slow Home Podcast
The Slow Home Podcast has quickly become one of my favourite podcasts. Brooke McAlary along with her husband Ben, share the why and how behind their life of slow. Over-worked, over-connected and and over-stressed the couple adopted a simple approach to life, opting to slow down, they quit their jobs and went self employed. In their most recent episodes the family along with two young children, upped and left their lives in Oz to go on a tour of America as Brooke promotes her new book Slow.
4. Hurry Slowly
I have spent days listening to this podcast, not only does host Jocelyn K. Glei grab your attention with her insightful examples on how the simple act of slowing down can make your more productive, creative and resilient she also interviews a number of fascinating guests. One of my favourite episodes had to be the one with Jason Fried, CEO of Basecamp on how to find a slow and steady approach to work in a world of constant interruptions.
5. Deliciously Ella: The Podcast
Deliciously Ella Is one of my all time favourite chefs and personalities. I have two of her books and couldn’t recommend them highly enough. As someone who also avoids meat, dairy, sugar and gluten in part due to health problems, Ella’s recipes have been a total godsend. Her new podcast which she hosts with her new husband Matt, is extremely thought-provoking and although its not based around the idea of slowing down, I do think it highlights the importance of mindfulness and self care.
6. There Are Other Ways
I have to admit I’ve only listened to a few episodes so far but this is one podcast I intend to catch up on over the next few weeks. The episode with Cait Flanders of Honest Money Conversations and my favourite book of 2018 ‘The Year of Less‘ is definitely one of my faves.
7. The Highly Sensitive Person Podcast
This has only recently but recommended to me but I’m already obsessed. Again, it’s not about slowing down but highlights why some personality types may find it more beneficial than others.
8. The Living Experiment
This is a new addition to my list. I haven’t listened to any of it yet but I’ve heard very good things! Dallas and Pilar challenge the limiting norms, superficial obsessions and status-quo assumptions that can make healthy living harder than it has to be. With each new episode, they introduce a thought-provoking theme. They share their own insider insights and experiences, then offer up real-life experiments listeners can embrace on their own terms.
Well, that’s all I have to share with you for now but if you’d like me to share a post on other podcasts that I listen to let me know? I’m your gal specially if you like true crime, because honestly at the moment I’m obsessed! I’ve still got a few posts going up for you that I’ve written ahead of time, but until the New Year it’s adios from me.
