Let me start off by saying - I never gave much thought to intentional or slow living - until I became a mom three years ago.

Motherhood flipped my priorities upside down.

What I thought I needed or wanted suddenly felt unimportant, even trivial.

I started noticing just how many distractions filled my life. From small everyday things to bigger things. I was giving my time and energy to things that didn’t add value to my life, that didn't make life any easier or that make me happy.

That’s when I began to wonder:

What if I let go of those things?

What if I focused only on what truly mattered and what truly brought me joy?

That being said, we all have different things that make us happy and fill us with joy. So of course, this looks different for everyone. I’ll share more of what’s on my “dopamine menu” later on.

Anyway, that’s how my journey into slow and intentional living began. At first, it was small steps. I read a bit for inspiration, but mostly I trusted my intuition and started a “life detox.”

What’s a life detox? It’s like decluttering every corner of your life, not just your home but your time, your habits, your mindset. It’s not about deprivation. Slow and simple living isn’t about having less for the sake of less. It’s about keeping what you need, love, and truly enjoy while letting go of the rest. It’s about clearing space: physically, mentally, and emotionally, for what actually matters.

At first, the process was really slow. I made tiny changes here and there but nothing life-changing. Then something happened that forced me to accelerate my journey: immigration.

We suddenly found ourselves at a crossroads, stay in South Africa or take a leap of faith and move to Europe. We chose the leap.

Immigrating meant sorting through our entire lives. We made the bold decision to bring only two suitcases each. That forced us to clear out nearly everything we owned.

This was the ultimate physical declutter. I let go of furniture, keepsakes, and random “stuff” that no longer served a purpose. It was freeing, but it didn’t stop there. About two months into our new life in Europe, I felt a deep urge to declutter every other area of my life. If I could do it with material things, surely I could do it with everything else.

Here’s how I detoxed my life, step by step:

1. Social Media

This was a big one. I realised I was wasting so much time scrolling through content that added no value to my life. So, I unfollowed and removed hundreds of accounts and people. My feed became quieter, my mind felt lighter, and I had more time for the things that mattered to me.

2. Phone Contacts

Next, I tackled my phone. I went through my contacts and deleted numbers of people I hadn’t spoken to in years or didn’t even remember. Holding on to those numbers served no purpose. Letting them go felt like clearing mental clutter.

3. Emails

My inbox got a serious purge. I unsubscribed from marketing emails that no longer aligned with my interests. It may sound small, but this simple act saved me the daily hassle of deleting irrelevant emails. Now my inbox is cleaner, and my mind is less cluttered and I don't get annoyed by unwanted emails!

4. Wardrobe

Immigration had already cut my wardrobe by 80%, but settling into a new lifestyle in Europe made me reassess it again. I let go of anything that no longer suited our way of life and kept only pieces I love and wear often. I also revamped Penelope’s wardrobe, though hers didn’t need much of a change.

5. Makeup and Skincare

I’d brought most of my makeup and skincare with me, but I soon realised I couldn’t replace many of these products here. That prompted me to simplify my routine even further. Immigration stress, a new climate, and navigating PCOS had my skin freaking out. I pared everything down to the basics, and it’s been a game changer.

6. Letting Go of My Old Life

This was the hardest part. Letting go of the old wasn’t about forgetting my roots, my values, or the memories that shaped me. It was about accepting that I needed to create space for the new: new experiences, a new lifestyle, and even new relationships.

Immigration also revealed which friendships were built to last and which were only for a season. Some relationships naturally fell away, while others grew stronger despite the distance. But that’s a story for another day.

I have learnt that slow and intentional living isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing what matters to YOU. It’s about focusing on what brings YOU joy and surrounding yourself with people, activities, and things YOU truly love.

Immigration fast-tracked my journey to simplicity, but you don’t need a life-changing move or event to start your own. All it takes is a willingness to let go of what’s weighing you down and make space for what truly matters.

P.S. I’ll share more about my “dopamine menu” and the little things that bring me joy in another post, stay tuned!

Liza

xoxo