What does the term downshifter mean?
A downshifter is a person who has literally shifted their life into a lower gear.
The term comes from the English word downshift - shifting to a lower gear.
How can I downshift too?
Downshifters are people who choose voluntarily and long-term simplicity in their lives.
They organize their lives in such a way that they can live comfortably with less money and, by working fewer hours for the boss, they have much more time for the truly important things in life.
Downshifters strive for a more biocentric way of life by consuming less and thus reducing the ecological footprint they leave behind.
Who hasn't wanted at some point to leave behind the daily chaos of their constantly accelerating treadmill of a life and achieve balance?
Most of us, at one point or another, have wished to transition from a fast-paced lifestyle to a more satisfying, healthier, and less work-focused one.
In general, downshifters seek a life filled with more passion and purpose, fulfillment and happiness.
A life where, looking back at some point, you do NOT regret wasting your time in vain.
Downshifters want to slow down their work so they can increase the quality in other areas of their lives.
Why downshifting?
For some people, the transition to a "slower" way of life by downshifting comes after a long search and a sincere desire for true happiness and satisfaction.
For others, the change may come after a significant event in their lives such as illness, a break-up, or the death of a loved one.
What does a downshifter look like?
What is the profile of a downshifter?
As we have seen, downshifters either question their fundamental values in life or have experienced some disruptive event.
From a demographic standpoint, there are no specific characteristics that the matrix can easily identify as potential downshifters or at least possible downshifters.
Downshifters have mostly been employees, workers, managers, business owners who may have been very important and responsible "bosses" at one point... :)
They are most likely over thirty, forty or fifty years old, although they may be younger or older.
Downshifters share two common traits
First and foremost, they believe that excessive pursuit of money and material values inevitably leads to significant costs for their own lives and the lives and health of their families.
Second, downshifters take responsibility for their situation.
Instead of complaining and expecting the government to do something for them, they simply take the actions necessary to change their lives.
I want to be a Downshifter!
How to switch to a lower gear?
We can lower our gear by working fewer hours at our current job, or by finding a new job with less responsibility in the company, or we can quit our job and find another one that we find more fulfilling.
Most often, we make the change after starting our own small business with an unregulated working day, preferably working from home.
Although it is possible to stay where we have lived so far, most downshifters move to new places, such as beach bungalows, cabins in the mountains, or simply move to a village house.
Especially in America, there are many downshifters who sell everything they own in the big city, buy a van, equip it for 24/7 living and start traveling and living in a new way.
Sometimes, downshifters, after making the change, realize that they earn more money than before, but in the meantime, they have become happier and their lives are more fulfilling with real things.</span
This usually happens because they have started doing something new that truly ignites their passion, and in this way, work is no longer just work.
First steps towards downshifting?
There are two main aspects of downshifting.
The first aspect is related to the relationship - your relationship with life, your relationship with family, food, and the place where you live.
The second important aspect is maintaining a healthy balance - the balance in personal, work, family, spiritual, physical, and social aspects of life.
If you have been thinking and striving for some time to become a downshifter, the first practical step is to figure out how to work less, thereby freeing up time for valuable activities.
After reducing your expenses (by living more simply), you will find that you can live well with less income and therefore work fewer hours.
The next step is to move, escape from the matrix, and the big city.
You can move entirely to a new and challenging place or simply move to live in your grandmother's country house.
Internet.. Internet, Internet
If you are planning
to become a downshifter and work more from home, especially if you are oriented towards the IT or service sectors, know that you need quality Internet!
Well, most future and present downshifters have usually been office drones at some point in their lives.
There is nothing wrong with that, as long as one realizes it in time, but keep in mind that the dependence on the Internet remains - perhaps forever ... :)
So before you move to your grandma's house in the village, check the quality of the Internet available there.
Keep in mind that in Bulgaria, the quality of the Internet compared to most other countries in the world is very good!
Even in remote villages, you can find extremely high-quality Internet.
I'll give an example with myself - in my house in the village, I have optical high-speed Internet, at the same price, but faster and of higher quality compared to the Internet in my apartment in Sofia.
Check the Internet offers from the local cable TV provider, but it's preferable if there is a specialized Internet provider in your village.
