This is the place to tell us about your downshift and what it means to you.
Share your news, your views, your ups and downs.
The best bits and the worse bits.
And feel free to pose any burning questions you have on the subject.
You never know, someone just might have the answer!
February 9, 2009 at 8:26 am
I downshifted because I realised there was more to life than chasing money.
I want to simply enjoy a life with less stress.
Those around me say they think I’ve gone mad!
I live with a wonderful husband in the country in Mid Wales. For a year I worked in a busy office to save up for our wedding, and hated every moment. Constant office politics, total lack of respect or thanks for effort, feeling tired and worried. That isn’t the life I want.
Now, I’m a housewife, I can volunteer in local projects, sort out our garden, spend time cooking food from scratch and with my own grown ingredients. I can also spend more time doing the things I love like sewing, drawing and reading, and actually have energy at the end of the day when my husband comes home, rather than feeling drained and fed up!
People are always asking me how I live so frugally, it honestly doesn’t bother us. We have enough to eat, enough to wear, and enough for the odd treat like a meal out or a new DVD.
We don’t need a new TV or holiday abroad to make our lives worthwhile, which is how our friends and relatives seem to quantify their quality of life.
February 9, 2009 at 8:28 am
I downshifted because I wanted a better work/life balance.
I want to enjoy a life with less stress.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
We wouldn’t go back to our previous lifestyle with my husband working very long hours. We do have less money but now have more time to cook together from scratch, grow some veggies and spend lots of time together as a family.
Our health has improved and we are so much happier. It’s a journey we have enjoyed and are still fine tuning each day.
Go on, give it a try, you have nothing to lose but lots to gain.
February 9, 2009 at 8:31 am
I downshifted because I realised there’s more to life than chasing money.
I enjoy having more time to cook using fresh ingredients.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
My husband & I gave up our successful careers in 2007 as we had disposable income but no time with each other to spend it. So we used what we’d saved to buy a small, remote farm in Wales & set up a herd of organically-managed dairy goats – so we can provide fresh, natural, healthier food in support of our local economy.
It’s still stressful, but in a different way as we’re milking our goats we are more ’slaves to the clock’ than ever & work even longer hours than before. But we’re doing it together; & the rewards far outweigh the struggles.
We’re just in the process of building our new Dairy Complex: it’s a carbon-neutral, wooden build sourced from sustainably managed forests & even has a compostable loo!
We ultimately aim to make the whole thing as eco-friendly as possible – we believe in treading lightly upon the Earth.
With best wishes & indeed the very best to you all, for Downshifting Week & of course for Earth Day on 22 April.
February 9, 2009 at 8:33 am
I downshifted because I wanted a better work/life balance.
I enjoy simply living a life with less stress.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
I earn a lot less than in my previous job, but I’m now self-employed, working from home (about 10,000 fewer miles in the car per year): school holidays and child illness are not problems, and I have time for voluntary work, for growing some of our own fruit and veg., and for cooking virtually everything we eat from the basic ingredients – so no additives there!
I couldn’t have done it without my husband’s income staying the same, but it has made a huge positive difference to the whole family’s life.
February 9, 2009 at 8:40 am
I downshifted because I wanted a better work/life balance.
I enjoy not having to answer to a clock.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
I made a career change leading to about a third less salary, but now that I’m working 9-5 it is just that – 9-5 and no more (sometimes less) but never the 7-9
I used to work. And, as I have more time to cook, clean and for home maintenance, I’m spending a lot less money, so I’m no worse off financially but a whole lot better emotionally.
February 9, 2009 at 8:41 am
I downshifted because I’ve realised there’s more to life than chasing money.
I enjoy taking the time to indulge my general creativity.
I’m in the process of downshifting life for and with my whole family. The problem that we’ve had is that it’s a bit scarey to ‘take the leap’ and leave a job, even one you hate.
You have to have faith in the universe.
February 9, 2009 at 8:43 am
I downshifted because I realised there’s more to life than chasing money.
I enjoy simply living a life with less stress.
Those around me wish they were brave enough to try it.
5 years ago I quit my stressy job, halved my income and instantly doubled my quality of life.
Since then every year I make less money yet I’m happier than I’ve ever been, do more with my life and laugh and smile more than anyone I know!
February 9, 2009 at 8:48 am
I downshifted for personal health reasons.
I want to enjoy time to indulge my personal creativity.
On my third instalment of cancer and wanting to down shift, or more specifically, be given ill-health retirement from my library assistant’s job with a local authority, but no luck so far, despite an ‘incurable’ prognosis.
Well done with your evolutionary web site, and good luck with this year’s campaign.
I especially like your choice of charity – helping young children of alcoholic parents, as I have personal experience of this.
Best wishes to all.
February 9, 2009 at 8:49 am
I downshifted because I realised there was more to life than chasing money.
It’s about getting the right balance in my life – regardless of current fashions, media, etc.
Getting back to basics, connecting with life on earth, feeling the connection between myself and my ancestors – it’s my decisions, and not anybody else’s.
February 9, 2009 at 8:50 am
I downshifted for a better work/life balance.
I simply enjoy a life with less stress.
Hi, I started a home improvements company with a friend of mine 18 months ago. The benefit of working with a friend, is the hours are more flexible, and it’s great to be working with a human being!
It’s also good to be doing something creative, and being able to see the results of your labours right in front of your eyes.
February 9, 2009 at 8:51 am
I downshifted to enjoy more time with family and loved ones.
I love not having to answer to a clock.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
I have always wondered why as a society, we feel it is OK to spend 8-10 hours per day working and only spending a few waking hours with friends and family!!!!
I guess I downshifted a long time ago.
February 9, 2009 at 8:52 am
I realised there is more to life than chasing the money.
I enjoy living a life with less stress.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
We originally tried downshifting to rural France but it was impossible to be greener living so far from everywhere in a freezing cold farm house.
We have relocated back to the UK but in a town I now have no use for the car we can walk everywhere & the house is smaller & very easy to heat etc.
February 9, 2009 at 8:54 am
I downshifted for personal health reasons.
I want to enjoy a life with less stress.
Those around me say, ‘You’ve gone mad’!
After 2 heart attacks at 42 I had to drop down to part time work. I now have lower blood pressure, weigh several stone less.
I have far less stress in my life, have been able to return to shopping properly and cooking good quality food. I even grow some fruit and leaves in tubs in my tiny inner city back yard.
Money however is always very tight and the rise in fuel costs threatens my way of life. I have spent the last year desperately trying to insulate my 1890’s house with its single brick walls to reduce my bills and my carbon footprint.
February 9, 2009 at 8:55 am
I downshifted to enjoy a life with less stress.
Those around me said they wish they were brave enough to try it.
My downshifting experience was ‘enforced’ following my son’s poor health 15 years ago. My early reaction was panic due to my loss of earnings and my workplace ‘identity’ – but the realisation that this poorer lifestyle could actually be enriching has been a revelation.
And we are all richer for the change.
February 9, 2009 at 8:56 am
I downshifted for a better work/life balance.
I want to take time to indulge my general creativity.
Those around me say they think it’s a fad.
I have had it suggested that I have gone into ’semi-retirement’ or that I am ‘clearly earning too much money’ if I can ‘afford’ to ‘take time off’. but I merely worked out what I need financially (having simplified my ‘needs’)and am extremely lucky that I have found enough work so far to cover that, and that no unforeseen problems have arisen.
February 9, 2009 at 8:57 am
I am trying to live a simpler life becuase I want to live a more Christian life. I know that I am privileged to have been born here in the UK and never to have gone without essentials, even when there were shortages during and after the War.
I know that I am morally obliged to share out the gifts I have received, more equitably.
I am also aware of the need to try to reduce and to combat the effect of my carbon footprint with all the consequences my lifestyle has on other vulnerable peoples.
February 9, 2009 at 8:58 am
I’ve realised there’s more to life than chasing money.
I want to enjoy a life with less stress.
I am just at the beginning. Right now I am just contemplating how can I downshift. I need some help and direction in this respect, because right now I don’t know how to do it. But I do know I really want it!
February 9, 2009 at 8:59 am
I downshifted for a better work/life balance.
I want to enjoy a life with less stress.
Those around me say they wish they were brave enough to try it.
Take that risk if you feel that deep down it’s the way forward no matter what you think you might be leaving behind. You’ve done it… move on:)
February 9, 2009 at 9:00 am
I downshifted because I realised there was more to life than money.
I enjoy being able to grow some food to eat in the garden.
Those around me say they cannot understand why I’d want to quit the 9-5.
It has been nearly two years now since I started changing my life to a more sustainable one in earnest.
I finally feel comfy in my life and not uneasy because I’m trying to fit in with everyone else (and don’t, never did!). I still owe the bank a large amount of money which is leftover debt from all those years trying to ‘keep up’ but I know I’ll get there and in a couple of years time will have even more scope for downshifting!
February 9, 2009 at 9:00 am
I downshifted to have a better work/life balance.
I want to reconnect with people I haven’t had the time for.
The rat race and eternal ‘paper chase’ for money is all that seems to motivate people these days!
I want time to connect with nature and other people with like minds, travel, cook, spend time with loved ones.
February 9, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Great new site Tracey.
I suppose I started my downshift when my family moved to Bury St Edmunds. I gave up work and became a housewife. I’ve enjoyed my time at home so much, picking the kids up from school, volunteering as a school governor and learning to write a blog or two.
I’m ready for the next stage of life, when my youngest starts full-time school. I think life’s going to get more interesting with a few more adventures to be had.
xxx
February 9, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hi AMA,
I know exactly what you mean about the changes that come as a result of migration into motherhood….all very interesting and so many opportunities to be expressive in your chosen field just seem to ‘pop up’ out of nowhere.
I’m looking forward to your new works with much antici………..pation my dear chum,
TS x
June 26, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I started the downshifting process a few years ago to reduce my carbon footprint and reduce stress. I’ve stopped using my freezer and eat local fresh vegetarian food. For 2 years I’ve kept chickens in the garden and grown oak trees from acorns which I donate to a local woodland. My great achievement this year is to reduce my working hours by one day a week to 30 hrs. I’ve ’stopped buying it’, compost or recycle nearly everything, aiming for zero waste. My work mates are envious.
July 4, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Hi Becks,
Thanks for your note and comments on your own personal downshift – you’re in such good company my friend, so many are saying ‘no’ to the ‘norm’…..times they are a changing…
Wishing you every success on your continuation,
TS x