Ways to downshift?

[Jessica]

I have been a downshifter and seachanger for most of my adult life.  I find that I am often sucked back into the mainstream culture and lifestyle.  Sometimes I have been able to stay downshifted and/or seachanged for years at a time but so far I have always reverted (sometimes just a little) to a more consumeristic, fast life. 

The most important element in successful downshifting is having a support network.  Otherwise the dominant culture can slowly erode our beliefs, motivation and commitment.  It is understandable because the dominant culture is 'in our face'. Even as a downshifter or seachanger, you would have to live in isolation to avoid the insideous nature of the dominant consumeristic, ego-centric, fast culture.

I am hoping this forum can provide the kind of support we all need if we are going to make a sustainable downshift.

[Administrator]

Great Jessica, That is just how I envisioned this forum to work. I see it as an opportunity to exchange ideas on how to downshift and to support others to stay downshifted or to downshift some more.

There are many ways we can downshift - it all depends on our particular circumstances and on how far we want to go at this point in time.  Often the thing that stops us taking the plunge and making the change is simply not knowing the various ways we can do it.

So, lets use this forum to share ideas and spread the word.

[eryka]

Jessica - like you, I think it's easier in some ways to downshift, than to stay there!  Downshifting is something you can perhaps do in a dramatic chunk, like 'the day I started working part-time' but pop culture and materialism can happen incrementally.  You watch one TV show, or buy just one more kitchen gadget (perhaps that you saw advertised on that show!) or sweater and then another and another...each is just a very minor decision, but one day you look back on the stuff you've accumulated and wow! you're back in the material world.  Short of the isolation you mentioned, what strategies?

My friend Julie has a 'one-in, one-out' rule - if she brings home a new pair of shoes, she has to get rid of an old pair, etc.  Dan & I spend a lot of energy considering whether to buy new things - we ask 'do we really need this' almost as much for a new skillet as for a new car.  Living in a tiny space, we're also very attentive to clutter solutions: we replaced stacks of music cds with an iPod, and use the library instead of buying books, for example.  We got rid of our TV.  Now I wonder how we ever had time to watch it - we spend so much time chatting with neighbors or each other, reading, watching sunsets.  And there are so many things that are advertised that we don't even know exist, so we don't want, so we don't feel a need to work more hours to get more money to buy more stuff, the vicious cycle of downshifting...

[Eve]

Hi everyone,  I was pleased to discover this wonderful website.  After reading I just had to join. It is not often you find something that closely reflects your own thoughts and feelings on a different way to live 'slowly'. I have not downshifted on a big scale but hope to in the near future.

My partner is not as hooked on the idea of a major change or move (as I am) but in the short term I am making attempts to 'downshift' at home by growing organic and heirloom vegies, recycling and reducing spending in an effort to walk away from impulse buying and the consumeristic lifestyle. I find now prior to purchasing an item I ask myself why am I buying it and do I really need it? Or is there something else I already own that can do the job?

I look forward to reading about other people's experiences, ideas and tips and hopefully will be able to offer something equally useful to others.

[manuelrodriguez]

Glad to have you eve. Are you from costa blanca torrevieja