We’ve all been under the grind in our lives at one point or another, being constantly under the clock, be it your work, side hustle, or just plain burnout from a society that glorifies being busy. Which makes a low-demand lifestyle an almost radical idea in today’s day and age. That is, until you step back and recognise that anxiety and being constantly overwhelmed have become a default response for a lot of Americans.  It begs the question: are we asking too much (in some cases, far too much) of ourselves?

Rest, reflection, and creating space; this is what a low-demand lifestyle is all about. Living in a way that supports your mental and physical health. If this all seems a little ambiguous, read on as we unpack what it means to live a low-demand lifestyle and why this path might be the path for you. 

A Low-Demand Lifestyle: What Is It?

Simplicity. Gentle routine, gentle structure. Preserving energy. This is the low-demand lifestyle in a nutshell. The idea is: don’t fill every moment of your life with stuff. Productivity, self-improvement, and obligation; these things don’t always need to stand centre stage. 

A low-demand lifestyle is something you may have heard already in a neurodivergent context, as a response to constant societal pressure and the mental exhaustion of masking. That said, the low-demand lifestyle has a universal appeal. No matter your background, no matter your story, this lifestyle has sustainable traction. 

Simply put, a low-demand life asks, ‘What’s enough for you?’ instead of ‘Do more, be more.’ 

Craving Less: Why Americans Are Embracing the Low-Demand Lifestyle

Current mental health trends in the U.S. will tell you the shift toward a low-demand lifestyle isn’t surprising. Stress-related symptoms like fatigue, headaches, and sleeping issues are on the rise. The translation of this is easy to understand: the hustle has caught up with us. 

Of course, looming in the background of this shift is the COVID pandemic. Along with the disruption it brought, the pandemic made us rethink our daily rhythms. Working from home reminded us what a slower morning felt like. The media labelled it The Great Resignation, a pilgrimage that workers were willing to take if it meant escaping a toxic work environment. 

Call it minimalism, call it the soft life; whatever title you assign it, Americans are flocking toward this slower, more down-to-earth way of life. 

The Time Has Come: Signs You Might Benefit From a Low-Demand Lifestyle

If you’ve felt like pumping the brakes for some time, a low-demand lifestyle might be for you. Here are a few signs this might be the case:

Even with a full night’s rest, you still find yourself yawning through a day’s work

Sticking to routines is becoming an increasingly difficult task

You walk away from social situations feeling more drained than fulfilled

Silence, solitude, and space are what you crave most

It’s critical not to mistake these signs with laziness or complacency. Instead, they’re signs your lifestyle might be too much for your nervous system. 

Making the Shift: How to Implement a Low-Demand Lifestyle

A low-demand lifestyle can suit anyone. You could be living your most intense life at the top of the corporate food chain or about to enrol in university, it doesn’t matter. If more than one of those signs has become a permanent presence in your life, it might be time to dial back the time and energy you put toward other aspects of your life. Here are a few ways you can start making your life more low-demand:

Awareness first

Question time. You need to take stock of your days, in honest detail. What leaves you feeling drained? What restores your energy, mentally and physically? The goal here is to identify what’s unnecessary, what you do out of pressure (or worse, habit) that you don’t need to do. 

Work/Life balance 

A low-demand lifestyle isn’t always about Netflix and chill; Sometimes it’s about aligning your career with your values. If you’re a Nursing student wanting to go back to university to upskill but you don’t have the time due to work, there are multiple direct entry MSN programs that are available that cater to students looking to fit it into their flexible schedules. The main point is that you have to find a balance in your work, and the easiest way to complete that goal is the age-old adage, “Do what you love.” It may seem cliche, but everyone has different skills and wants, for some being a Doctor is low-demand because they love doing it, while that same person may find being an actor stressful due to stage fright. These are the questions we have to ask ourselves. What do I love doing?

Make your routines low-demand

Cut out the overly elaborate morning ritual—its time is done. Replace it with activities you consider essential for your well-being. A morning coffee, a morning stretch, a morning walk with the dog, it’s up to you. Keep this mantra in mind: What do I feel like doing today? 

A simple environment

Reducing cognitive load is the key here. Cluttered spaces equal overload, trust us. Whether it’s your home or your office, get rid of the excess, let the space breathe. And don’t stop at clutter. Think about ambient lighting and indoor plants, anything to make your main spaces less stimulating. Do this, and you’ll find it much easier to regulate your energy. 

Guilt-free rest

We’ve already declared rest a productive activity. Time to double down. Time to treat rest the same way you’d treat a board meeting; with the respect it deserves. Whether it’s a siesta, a walk without your phone, or simply reading on the couch, remind yourself that rest is a basic human necessity, not a luxury. Lose the guilt. 

On the Topic of Guilt

It’s worth revisiting guilt because it’s the hardest thing to shake. Entrenched in everyone is the belief that doing less is inferior to doing more. Psychiatrists call it internalised capitalism, the notion that your economic output defines your value as a person. If it sounds heavy, that’s because it is. 

Our tip? Take your time unlearning this belief. You don’t have to earn rest; it’s an essential activity in life, not a token for hard work. 

If the low-demand lifestyle is something you’ve been considering for some time, great. If it’s the first you’ve heard of such a lifestyle, even better. The important thing is that you give it some thought, especially if you feel the need to slow things down. A calm, considered approach will help you work out what works best. Here’s to a calmer, more relaxing life.