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.

Research has shown that people in the western countries have approximately five hours more free time per week than they had 30 years ago. Thanks to modernity we perform less housework, we have fewer children, and we are retiring earlier. But we are busier than ever before. Although we have more free time a large proportion of that time is spent watching television, and the remainder of our ‘free’ time is spent in leisure obligations. These leisure obligations take the place of traditional sources of meaning in our life such as religious traditions, community, etc. 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.

Disponível em: <http://www.slowmovement.com>. Acesso em: jan. 2021. Adaptado