I have asked friends to suggest fun articles to write and publish on the blog. I didn’t have interesting ideas, but a friend recommended writing about slow life in big cities. It was a great idea to think in depth about discussing this topic. Whether back home, I lived in Tripoli, Libya’s capital city, or when I moved to Paris in France, where I have been living for a few years. My lifestyle in both cities is fast-paced but with, of course, different circumstances. The pace of life has accelerated over the years, making it feel like driving at high speed without brakes.
While settling in Paris and slowly building a life here years ago, I faced so much uncertainty, fear, stress, and anxiety that it all accumulated and pushed me to “run” through life. Honestly, I had moments when I noticed how living a fast life left me tired physically, and I could sense it in the way I walk, for instance. Back home, my friends during my undergraduate studies used to tell me to slow down while walking. I have always walked quickly, regardless of whether something was urgent. We used to laugh whenever anyone mentioned it, but I didn’t think it would get worse.
What Fast Looked Like
It didn’t happen over time, but it accumulated for years. However, I want to highlight a specific period. Between 2020 and 2023, I went through so many rough experiences, needless to say, and many didn’t know the level of stress I was through. My lifestyle was literally fast living, and I tried to manage everything quickly. I reached a point where I was so fixated on work that I no longer looked into anything else. It is funny because I didn’t care about anything but work, and my worth became fixated on my productivity. I measured my self-worth and how good I am based on how much I have worked.
Although the timeline from 2020 to 2023 may seem short, it felt significant for me. I lived solely for work and had no personal life. My schedule revolved entirely around the volume of work I could complete; I lacked professional boundaries. I worked from 9 to 5 and continued working until midnight after returning home. As a result, my entire day was consumed by work. I neglected my health and spent weekends either feeling exhausted or finishing tasks. I honestly felt terrible but didn’t know how to stop. As mentioned above, I felt like I was driving fast without brakes and lost total control.
The Breaking Point
At the end of 2023, I was hospitalized after calling an ambulance due to a sharp pain in my chest. The pressure I felt made it difficult to sleep and was abnormal. I had initially ignored the pain while working late at night that day, but it became overwhelming around 2 a.m. At that point, I was deeply worried, especially since I was alone and concerned that something serious might happen.
It was the first time for me to be rushed to the hospital, and it felt scary. Doctors ran different tests, and I spent the day in the hospital bed, physically drained and waiting. I didn’t tell my family until I finished the tests. The doctor highlighted the medical issue I had but also stressed the role of overworking on my physical health, saying that I had reached burnout and must rest to recover and not take the situation lightly.
For me, it was shocking because it hit me at that point that I was fast-moving without taking into account my health and pushed my body to its limits. I spent months waking up tired every day because I finished work late and only slept when I felt physically exhausted. This took a toll on my health, leaving me in the hospital.
Switching to a Slower Lifestyle
After that experience, I decided to make a real change and focus on what mattered. I enjoy working and am happy to grow professionally, but there is more to life than work. I realized the importance of having hobbies, spending time with family and friends, and leading a balanced life that doesn’t revolve solely around work. At first, it was challenging; I felt like I lost my identity and personality to my job. With time, multiple trials, and the support of family and friends, I started taking real time off from work this year. It wasn’t the case before. I also did my best to manage my working hours, spending time after work doing things and not working. I remember only having a week off per year before. Unfortunately, it says a lot about how bad it turned out for me.
The bad experience I had forced me to change to a slower lifestyle, focusing on what matters most. Although I live in a big city, Paris, where everything is fast and you feel everyone is rushing, I no longer wanted to continue living like this. With baby steps this year, I started to pay attention when I began rushing forward. It applies both physically and mentally, and I stopped to slow down whenever I noticed a rush. I paid attention to how I spent my time and started focusing on things I enjoyed away from work—learning, baking, reading, improving my health, and writing. Of course, most notably, I am giving my mind and body the rest they need.
A Slower Life Means…
Living a slower life in a big city means that it’s okay to not feel productive all the time. It allows you to fill your life with things that bring you joy. Your worth should never be tied to your work. It is absurd how this world has shaped the concept of human productivity based solely on how much we can accomplish. Many people, including myself, romanticized or still romanticize a fast-paced lifestyle that emphasizes constant work and productivity. This mindset can lead individuals to feel guilty or ashamed when they take time to rest instead of being productive.
As a result, our experiences are reduced to tasks, turning us into machines rather than allowing us to embrace our full humanity. Take time to reflect on your lifestyle; you control how you live, especially in a big city. I always consider myself someone who loves big cities and has always enjoyed living in a big one, but that doesn’t mean I have to adopt a fast lifestyle only because I live in one. It is okay to live a slower-paced life and live in a way that brings you joy and peace.