Downshifting: Quitting the rat race

Lily Tomlin said: "The trouble with the rat race is, even if you win, you are still a rat."

Who hasn’t wanted to step off the ever-accelerating treadmill of work, and gain some balance in life? Most of us, at one time or another, have wanted to move from the fast track of life to a more satisfying, healthier, less work-focused lifestyle.

What is a downshifter?

Downshifters are people who adopt long-term voluntary simplicity in their life. They accept less money through fewer hours worked in order to have time for the important things in life. Downshifters also place emphasis on consuming less in order to reduce their ecological footprint.

Why do we downshift?

There are two primary aspects to downshifting. One is about connection – connection to life, family, food, place – and the other is about maintaining a healthy balance – balance in the personal, work, family, spiritual, physical, and social aspects of their life.

Basically downshifters seek a life filled with more passion and purpose, meaning, fulfilment and happiness. A life to look back on with no regrets.

Downshifters want to slow down at work in order to ‘upshift’ in others areas of their lives. For most people the change to a slow life through downshifting comes after a long quest for true happiness and fulfilment. For others it may come after a significant life event such as severe illness, relationship breakup, bankruptcy, or the death of someone close.

What does a downshifter look like?

What is the profile of a downshifter? Well as we saw they have either been questioning life for some time or they have suffered a life event. In terms of demographics, there are no specific features that identify downshifters or possible downshifters. They are blue-collar workers and white-collar workers. They are most likely in their thirties, forties or fifties, although they may be younger or older.

How do we downshift?

We can downshift by working fewer hours in our present job, or by accepting a job with less responsibility in the company, or we can quit our job and find another one that we find more rewarding. Or we can start our own part or full-time business, perhaps working from home.

Although we can stay where we are to downshift even if that is in the surburbs, many people do move to other locations eg to the coast – seachange; or to the rural country areas – treechange.

Sometimes downshifters find they make more money, but are happier and more fulfilled – usually because they have found something that fires their passion, and work is no longer work.

If you are thinking of downshifting the first practical step is figuring out how to work less, freeing up time for valued activities. When you cut back on expenses (which you will do living simply), you will find you can live on less income and consequently work fewer hours.

Why not become a downshifter and slow down a little bit?