How I've romanticized my slow life

And how you can do the same...

Hello, I’m Molly and I write about my slow and simple life in the Scottish Highlands. Subscribe for free to enjoy occasional posts from me. Or, better yet, join our slow community of kindred spirits to unlock ALL my content, including exclusive writing, videos and resources, to help you live the life you REALLY crave. We’d love you to join us for a cuppa…

Its a Tuesday afternoon in February and its raining.

I breathe in the smell of my ‘vintage books’ scented candle and tuck my tired feet under a fleecy blanket. I’ve just returned from a long hike with Skye, who is now snoozing on her bed. Her gentle snores melting with the raindrops that tiptoe on the metal roof of our tiny home.

I take a sip of my apple and cinnamon tea, enjoying the tang that rolls across my tongue, before picking up my book and finding out what Katy did, indeed, do.

The trend of romanticizing everyday life really took off in 2020. It felt like a defiance against lock down. Although our lives now looked very different, and we were restricted from doing so much, we were still able to celebrate the everyday magic of an ordinary life.

Although the concept of romanticizing our lives could be dismissed as another social media trend, if examined closely, it is so much more than that. It encourages us to slow down, to seek out joy and practise gratitude. Its celebration of the mundane makes this practise accessible to everyone, rather than a select few who lead glamorous ‘insta-worthy’ lives.

Research has in fact revealed that romanticizing our lives can have a positive impact on our mental health as it encourages mindfulness.

It’s a movement that is going from strength to strength and I’m fully behind it.

I’ve always been somewhat of a romantic but for many years it was a part of my personality that I was ashamed of.

I often felt silly when I got swept away by the stories in my books or when the beauty of nature or a piece of classical music moved me to tears.

I’d spent my 20’s working as a wildlife conservationist, which is still a male-dominated and, understandably, science-led profession. This meant that I was afraid that if I expressed these romantic notions, I’d be dismissed as stupid, weak or shallow (read more about my experience here).

Since becoming self-employed, everything has changed.

Now I am embracing that sensitive inner child within me that just wants to spend time skipping through wildflower meadows, re-reading beloved books under the perfect tree and doodling in my journal.

This led me to choosing ‘joy’ as my word for 2024 and it really couldn’t be more perfect.

Below are some simple practises that help me slow down and add a touch of romance to the beautiful everyday.

Joyful routines

I adore my morning routine.

Its nothing particularly special, and of course includes some rather mundane chores, but over time I’ve managed to fit in some nourishing habits that are just for me (read about how to create your own slow morning routine here).

This includes carving out some time, even if its only 10 minutes, to read something just for fun, rather than rushing to start work.

By adding romance into your routines, it means you are less likely to get swept up in the busyness of life and can consistently prioritise small moments of joy.

I create all my routines in my Slow Living Planner which I sell on my Etsy store here.

Practise gratitude

This is the perfect way of capturing and relishing the magic of everyday.

By taking a few minutes to reflect on what you are grateful for, it helps you realise how much joy there is in your life and highlights what you’d like to be doing more.

Its something I’ve tried to incorporate into my life more in recent years.

I shared in my journaling tea time my new practise of writing one sentence per day as a simple way of practising gratitude, which is such an uplifting activity that I’d highly recommend.

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Live closely with nature

There is so much magic to be found in nature.

I make it my mission to get outside on a daily basis and it is often the highlight of my day. Nothing else lifts my mood quite so much.

This year, I’ve started keeping a regular nature diary (which is something I will be sharing with my members soon) and this has allowed me to fully notice and get excited about the gradual shifts in the seasons.

There is so much romance in nature. All we need to do is take the time to notice it, no matter where you live.

I think this quote in Melissa Harrison’s book ‘The stubborn light of things’ sums it up well -

If you live in a city and miss ‘nature’, the answer doesn’t have to be to move out; it’s to tune in.

Create a cosy home

Our homes should be our sanctuaries. Somewhere we can unwind and enjoy nourishing hobbies that add a touch of romance.

This doesn’t mean your home has to be perfect. Mine is far from it. But I think there is something in surrounding yourself with a few select items that bring you comfort.

For me, this means always having a range of teas, plenty of cosy layers and treating myself to a candle now and again.

Wear what brings you joy

An important part of my morning routine is taking the time to get ready.

This can be easily overlooked, especially if you are like me and spend a lot of time at home. If no one is going to see us, it can feel like a wasted effort.

But getting ready is the perfect time to add some romance to your day. Its a form of self-care that’s just for you, so make sure to wear what you enjoy.

A habit that I’ve kept up is leaving my clothes out the night before, so I don’t feel the rush of making a decision the next day. My friend recently told me that she uses Pinterest for outfit inspiration from her existing clothing, which I thought was a wonderful idea.

This doesn’t mean you always have to get dressed up, but it gives you permission to wear that flowy dress whilst hoovering, just because you can.

Make food fun

If you watch my YouTube channel, you know that I love food.

Again, eating is something that we often rush, but over the last couple of years I’ve really tried to slow this down and add a bit of fun to what can feel like a chore.

For instance, I really love making soup. There is something so soothing about chopping vegetables and this is one of my favourite activities to do on a Sunday.

Besides cooking, why don’t you level up your eating experience? Take the time to set the table, maybe furnished with a candle or some fresh flowers, and plate your food on your favourite dishes. It makes something functional into more of a treat.

Find stories you love

Whether its a book, movie or TV series, finding stories that speak to your soul is a wonderful form of escapism.

I’m a big advocate of choosing the stories you actually enjoy, not those you think you should.

I also love to go back and re-read or watch some of my favourites and love this quote from

Charlene Storey

I think of re-reads as comfort food for the soul (read this wonderful post here)

A new ritual of mine has been rewatching Bridgerton with a hot chocolate. Simple but a wonderful treat.

Nourish your inner artist

One of my intentions for this year was to add more creativity to my life.

This is the main reason I started journaling and I’ve also picked up colouring and painting again, which were favourite childhood hobbies of mine.

This is still something I struggle with, as I am a bit of a perfectionist and my artistic skills are somewhat limited, but I’m learning to let go and just enjoy the process.

Its the perfect romantic activity.

If you want some more inspiration, I’d recommend THIS book, which is one of my all time favourites, and check out Darling Desi’s beautiful YouTube channel, especially THIS video.

Thank you so much for reading and, as always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on how you like to romanticize your own life so please do share them in the comments.

Until next time,

Molly xx

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