The Little Book of Sloth Philosophy

by Jennifer McCartney

Live slow, die whenever

They resist the urge to be productive and the social pressure to be more successful.

Too much screen time is ruining our brains and expanding our waistlines.

often. In fact, the sloth philosophy believes it’s essential to good mental health.

Part of slowing down and embracing the sloth philosophy is realising you don’t have to do everything or be all things to everyone. Being busy isn’t a badge of honour if you’re miserable.

‘What’s the rush?’ Repeat this phrase when you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.

work hard, hustle harder

if sloths move too quickly they can die from expending too much energy. Let that be a warning.

who get up late, procrastinate, take lots of breaks and (surprise) manage to get stuff done in their own time.

A lesson to all of us that what looks like laziness is often just the most efficient way of doing things. Why spend nine months working on something that can be done in two hours?

the sloth philosophy of health and wellness can help you slow down, relax and regain your equilibrium.

slow movement increases our relaxation response. This, in turn, reduces our stress response and boosts our immune function.

They’re living their slow, slothful lives the way they were always meant to.

The sloth philosophy of food is all about chilling the hell out and consuming whatever you want.

that. So the sloth philosophy of slow eating is all about mindful eating, even if it’s not expensive locally sourced organic produce that you bought from a farmer an hour ago. It’s about savouring whatever it is you choose to eat wherever you choose to eat

Taking time to be mindful and enjoy what you’re consuming means you’re bringing yourself pleasure.

made up your mind

avoid eating it at your desk.

Use your lunch break for its intended purpose. A break for lunch.

Food is something to be enjoyed slowly and savoured for as long as possible – you love the rituals that come with eating and drinking fine food.

We’ve worshipped at the altar of productivity for too long.

Sleep is a magical place where our brains go to escape from the stress of our daily lives.

stigma that equates

Movies, books, television and art are what make the world go around – even better, they don’t require a lot of effort to enjoy.

Embrace the art of Slow Reading

We’re obsessed with productivity at the expense of our reading enjoyment.

cure: slow reading. The Slow Book Movement advocates reading at a relaxed pace – the idea being that slow reading increases pleasure, insight and comprehension.

the next-best example of how we should all be living our lives.

The sloth philosophy is about embracing the journey without needing a photo as a reward.

the most relaxing music in the world is ‘Weightless’ by Manchester’s Marconi Union.

stressed out, your heart pounding away, your thoughts racing,

Love happens when you’re least expecting it, and when you find it, you want all the trappings associated with it

Deliberate solitude is a choice that can allow us to get some perspective, far from the maddening crowd. It encourages deeper thinking and creativity and improves concentration.

We mistake a busy schedule for being important or smart or having more value. But science tells us otherwise.

the smarter you are, the lazier you tend to be.

no one is good at everything, but we’re all good at something.

It’s very easy to beat ourselves up over the things we’re not good at. And the pressure and guilt we may feel to improve at all costs must be avoided.

minding your own business is about acknowledging that it isn’t your responsibility to speak your mind all the time and fight every battle.

Will entering the fray change anyone’s mind about Brexit, or will it bring more shit and unpleasant feelings your way? Is this something you’re mentally prepared to deal with or will it make you upset? If you feel your heart rate rising as you contemplate getting involved, it may be time to just be still and chill.

embraces the little things that make you feel happy and look good, society be damned.

costs a fortune to maintain.

ice cream helps you live life to the fullest.