It’s predicted that in 2024, the cost of living will continue to rise. As a result of this, and as environmental concerns loom large, many people will now seek simpler, more sustainable ways of living. This desire for living with less, being more present in our daily lives, and strengthening our connection with nature has already seen people across the world embrace activities like making jam, starting a herb garden, buying old vinyls, and taking up nostalgic crafts like embroidery and macrame.

Slow cooking posits that food should be grown and bought locally, prepared with care, and consumed with appreciation. Slow living is a mindset whereby a more balanced, meaningful life is curated through slowing things down and appreciating the world around you. While humanity hurtles down the post-pandemic path to its old helter skelter rush, interesting insights from the Google Culture and Trends team show a growing amount of searches for content around slow living. These searches reveal more people looking for content revolving around gardening, baking bread, upcycling furniture, and, quite simply, making a proper cup of coffee.

Alongside these trends is homesteading, a lifestyle whereby you rely on natural resources wherever possible and make environmentally conscious choices for a more self-sustainable life. Born of necessity in different historical eras in various parts of the world, its resurgence has been dubbed “modern homesteading, and is being adopted by those with a desire for a simpler life and living off the land more self-sufficiently. Millennials especially have taken to its tenets, cultivating practices like growing their own food and living lighter on the earth with more natural lifestyles.

Modern homesteading, slow living and slow eating are all set to grow in 2024 as people recognise the value in living intentionally  and lowering their cost of living. If you’re interested, here are some practical aspects you may want to consider.