Slow is chic, darling
Or ways I'm feeling more chic in 2026
Maybe it’s my chronic addiction to Pinterest, maybe it’s my recent swap of blue light to red light, but recently, I’ve been pulled into a life of slower living. A life of being more intentional with my brain, body, and energy. In my life, I’ve started to associate slowing down with feeling more chic.
In my opinion, taking your time and being present is one of the chic-est, most luxurious things you can do.
Below is a list of habits and hobbies that I’ll be turning to in 2026. Gentle reminder that making habits attractive, easy, and convenient have shown to subconsciously make us want to do them more. Romanticize everything; start small, and build up.
1. Slower eating: your food isn’t your main course
At home, it’s so easy to prop up a youtube video while I inhale my food, just to move on to my next task. When I’m out to eat with a friend and a dish hits the table, I find it awkward to find that balance of keeping the conversation alive while focusing on the food. In 2026, I want to be more mindful of my consumption overall and I think food is a good place to start. I’ve also been cooking a bit more recently, and having the opportunity to be present with my food is quite literally the fruits of my labor.
Not to mention the vast amount of research that shows that slower eating improves digestion, enhances the brain-body connection, reduces stress, stabilizes blood sugar, etc. I highly recommend slower eating to introduce presence to your daily routine.
2. One piece of slow media per day
I got this idea from Eva Meloche (one of my favourite creators). Essentially, the goal is to consume at least one piece of slow media per day— no matter what. She defines this as something that forces you to pause to consume, prompts reflection, and takes a little longer to fully digest. This could look like reading a book or an article on substack, playing Sudoku, writing in a journal, or watching a film.
If, by chance, you’re looking for recommendations, I highly recommend this article, this one, and this one. They’re all a little different, so hopefully one resonates.
3. Mindful consumption: You are what you [consume]!
As I mentioned, I want to be more mindful of my overall consumption in 2026. Growing up, I had instilled in me that I had to finish things, and eventually this extended to an obsession with having to finish everything— books, movies, food I didn’t like, makeup, even pens. I couldn’t move on to the next thing without finishing the first. I was subjecting myself to certain things for no real reason. Why would I finish my food if I’m already so full? Why would I finish a makeup product before buying a new one if it’s making me break out? In 2026 I’ll be taking my leftovers home, and giving the bronzer to a friend.
Being mindful about these things really make my brain feel lighter. This goes for what I’m consuming in my physical world and in my digital world. The magazines I’m collecting, the accounts I’m following, the music I listen to, the affirmations I repeat to myself. They may seem small, but it’s always the smallest changes that have the biggest results. After all, you are what you [consume]!
4. Warm lighting in the afternoons
At around 7pm, I’ll turn off my harsh, rented-apartment overhead light and start to cozy up with my salt lamp. The dark room with red-orange lighting sends signals to my brain that it’s time to start relaxing, and inherently makes me want to slow down. If you know me, you’ll know that I’m very big on my wind-down time. Warm-toned lighting is easier on the eyes, and is also shown to help with sleep. I got mine as a gift from a friend, but I’ve linked a salt lamp here.
5. Learning a language
Learning a new language is chic is so many ways. To be able to communicate and express yourself in different ways is art. When you’re learning a new language, your brain is trying to interpret and make sense of something that doesn’t align with any of your previous life experiences. This naturally forces you to slow down and make conscious connections between what you’re reading and how you’re speaking. (If you’re lucky, you’ll also find yourself perceiving things differently, because you have a more immersive understanding of different life.)
6. Being sensory conscious
It’s so easy to be in autopilot that we often miss the incredible things that are right in front of us. I know firsthand from living in New York that I’m moving on high alert incase something happens. More often than not, this leads me to miss the magic of life that’s right in front of me. The smell of food from the diner around the corner, the faint sound of children playing at recess 2 blocks down, and oh my! the leaves have turned to the most beautiful orange hue. Being aware of my senses helps me be more aware of my surroundings, and stay present!
One of my favourite psychologists, Ellen Langer, focuses a lot of her work on being mindful and present, and how most of the time, we don’t even realize we’re operating in auto-pilot. Her advice? In any given place, at any given time, try to notice 3 new things that you’ve never noticed before.
7. Connect with people
When speaking with others, it’s super important to talk to them, not at them. This includes everything you’ve heard before: hear people out without just waiting for your turn to speak, make direct eye contact, etc. But the art of human connection is so much deeper than that. Real human connection has that je ne sais quoi to it; it’s not something you can follow instructions for. Contrary to what every parent has ever said, I recommend talking to strangers. A (real) compliment is the best-intentioned, most harmless way to connect with someone. In my opinion, a one-line-statement is low-risk-high-reward. Who knows— maybe you won’t be strangers afterwards.
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing. Please leave a comment if you feel like doing so. Wishing you a happy and intentional new year <3 and happy holidays, if you celebrate!
with love and light,
katerina