“5 ways slow living changed my life”

Armani

Credit: Armani

Mental Health


“5 ways slow living changed my life”

By Amy Davidson

Updated 3 years ago

In partnership with Armani Beauty

Armani logo

Feeling overwhelmed? Now might be the time to take a slower approach to life. Here, Jada Sezer explains how a conscious mindset made a positive impact…

For many of us, the pandemic put a pause on our hectic lifestyles. Sweaty commutes, Pret lunches and drinks with friends were swapped for 8.59am alarms, home-cooked lunches and evenings on Zoom.

As life has opened up again, our schedules are being crammed with all the holidays and hang-outs we missed during the Covid years. But what if we just… didn’t go back to the way things were? What if we actually embraced our new slower pace of life?

Well, in the case of model Jada Sezer, she did just that and decided to hold on to that slower way of being. 

After incredible success in the world of fashion, Jada took the scary and uncomfortable decision to quit her career to be with herself for a bit, moving forwards with a more meaningful lifestyle that aligns with her values.

“My life was really crazy before. When the pandemic hit, it made me realise that I quite like being in one place, and not constantly on the go,” she explains.

Here, Jada shares five of the swaps she made for a slower life and how they changed her.

1. I became more intentional

Armani
Armani

One of the first steps towards living a more conscious life for Jada was to be intentional with her decisions, especially when it came to her work.

As one of the first plus-size models in the UK, Jada always wanted to have an impact. But she says the purpose of her career ended as plus-size models became more accepted.

“My job was pioneering, then it became mainstream – which was the goal. I didn’t want it to be shocking. I realised that doing brand deals without any intention behind them was empty for me. It took a bit of time to reconfigure,” she says.

Now, Jada says that boundaries have replaced burnout: “I’ve been more selective about what I spend my time doing. I’ve gotten better at saying no.” 

2. I valued quality time

Armani
Armani

How often have you had one eye on Instagram while catching up with a friend or rushed a conversation with your mum because you were already thinking about the next thing in your diary? 

Spending minutes with your loved ones does not always equal quality time, which is why Jada made a switch.

“I used to see friends for a quick half an hour while I was on my way to something else, but my head wouldn’t be in it,” she says.

“Now, I’d rather catch up with my friends over a nice long lunch at the end of the month instead.”

It’s the same in her relationship, too. 

“I used to think that as long as we had great communication, we didn’t necessarily need quality time,” she says. “Now I prioritise that in my relationship because I can see how important it is to me.”

3. I built a capsule wardrobe

Armani
Armani

One of the most obvious ways we’re switching to a slower pace of life is through our purchasing power.

We’re increasingly looking to shop with brands that align with our values and have an eye on protecting the planet. For Jada, a capsule wardrobe is a great place to start.

“Before I got into the fashion industry I never bought much, but I loved staple pieces,” she explains. 

“That’s something I’m trying to channel again. I look for quality over quantity, good pieces that will last. If I find a good quality pair of trousers that aren’t quite right, I’ll get them tailored to fit my body. There’s nothing better than a piece that sparks joy and makes you feel good.”

With beauty, Jada is slimming down her collection to products that she loves and is going to stick with, appreciating brands that are clear about their sustainability credentials. 

“Nobody’s perfect, but I’m learning and making slow, steady changes,” she says.

One brand heading in the right direction is Armani with My Way Floral

This zesty, woody scent favours consciously sourced ingredients, like Egyptian orange blossom, hand-picked Indian tuberose and vanilla sourced through a responsible, sustainable program that supports local communities in Madagascar. 

The bottle is also refillable to save on glass, metal and plastic, with refills sold in a cellophane-free box.

4. I found harmony

Armani
Armani

We’ve all heard the phrase ‘work-life balance’, but should we be aiming for harmony instead? 

Jada argues that for many people, things are always going to be a little bit out of balance.

“I struggle to make sure everything has an equal amount of my time,” she says.

“Sometimes work takes up 90% of my time, then suddenly it’s the weekend and switching off is what needs 90% of my time. You might have a family issue that needs your attention and need to drop the ball with work.

“Harmony is a subtly different thing to balance.” 

5. I set my own schedule     

Armani
Armani

One of the benefits of taking a breath is the chance to get to know yourself. 

That’s what spurred Jada on to start a yoga teaching training course – not so much because she wanted to offer lessons, but because she wanted to get comfortable with her new life.

“It was scary, but I let my interest lead me – I went on to do a diploma in neuroplasticity and another diploma in cryptocurrency and blockchain,” she explains. 

“It is a privilege to be able to discover new interests, but I had to ask myself what was next for me and what I was passionate about. I think we always want to get to the end result quickly, but it takes a lot of self-discovery.”


Are you ready to slow down? This could be the start of your most conscious life yet. Start by making your beauty choices more sustainable with Armani My Way Floral.

Armani My Way

Credit: Armani My Way

Get the Stylist app

Sign in once and stay logged in to access everything you love about Stylist in one place.

QR code

Works on iOS and Android

Sign up for the latest news and must-read features from Stylist, so you don’t miss out on the conversation.

By signing up you agree to occasionally receive offers and promotions from Stylist. Newsletters may contain online ads and content funded by carefully selected partners. Don’t worry, we’ll never share or sell your data. You can opt-out at any time. For more information read Stylist’s Privacy Policy

Thank you!

You’re now subscribed to all our newsletters. You can manage your subscriptions at any time from an email or from a MyStylist account.