The results of the study were revealed today by Professor Ricardo Ferreira Reis, Director Centro de Estudos Aplicados (Centre for Applied Studies) at Católica Lisbon School of Business & Economics, in a conference held at CCB which included the participation of Carl Honoré. This international expert underlined the need to slow down, explaining that ‘being slow means doing everything at the correct speed: quickly, slowly or whatever pace works best. Slow means being present, living each moment fully, putting quality before quantity in everything we do.’
According to Ricardo Ferreira Reis, the study led to the conclusion that 60% of the Portuguese population does not adopt a slow lifestyle, and 82.2% of these wish they did. On the other hand, those who do have a slow lifestyle spend more time away from work, enjoy more outdoor activities and manage their time better, presenting higher focus levels. The study indicates that good task management, as well as more free time for family and social relationships, are the indicators that most contribute to general wellbeing.
It was also identified that young adults between the ages of 25 and 34 are those with greatest difficulty in adopting a slower lifestyle, although 47.9% of those surveyed stated that they have changed their lifestyle in the last 5 years.
About Carl Honoré: Award-winning journalist, best-selling writer, broadcaster and TED speaker – with more than 2.8 million views – Carl claims that the best way to prosper in a fast world is by slowing down. He travels the world to teach people how to thrive in a fast world while they slow down.