The Greek island of Ikaria is one of the Earth’s five blue zones, a non-scientific term that’s been coined for the areas where people are most likely to live to 100 or older. On Ikaria, 30 per cent of its inhabitants live past the age of 90. The islanders live by a specific mantra, siga siga (σιγά-σιγά). In English, this means “slowly, slowly” or “little by little”.
Ikarians focus on conversation, companionship and the pleasure of doing things without urgency. Rushing is viewed as disrespectful, and they value slowing down to spend time with loved ones, and to ensure that tasks are completed thoroughly. Time is precious, essentially, and it should be enjoyed. In short, it’s all about living in the present as much as you can.
Granted, those juggling busy lifestyles may struggle to take the siga siga approach. “We’ve gotten used to living surrounded by constant stimuli,” health psychologist María Cordón tells Vogue. Nowadays, we continue to use devices even as we walk, or cook, or watch TV. Fortunately, there are some small things we can do to help us reduce stress and live life a little more slowly. “We’re in too many places at once – practising attention-based minimalism is one way to change this,” Cordón adds.
Start by “reviewing things that are truly important to you”, Cordón suggests. This could be as simple as reviewing the mobile apps you actually use (and getting rid of any you don’t), or learning to say no to plans that you’re committing to out of obligation, rather than because they actually serve you. “You should also take a moment to ask yourself what your real aspirations are,” she adds. “What do you truly want out of life, and what is taking up space without adding meaning?” Re-centring your priorities and enjoying every step of the journey, rather than just focusing on the destination, will help you feel less stressed in the long run.
