What is downshifting: definition, meaning of the word

Recently, downshifting has become a very popular and controversial phenomenon. Who are downshifters? What does downshifting mean in the lives of different people and society as a whole? How did downshifting originate and in what forms does it exist today?

The history of the origin of downshifting

To understand what downshifting is in its modern sense, it is necessary to recall the ancestors of downshifting, which are rightly considered the "generation X", which appeared in America about 3 decades ago. They were educated, intellectual youth who left lucrative jobs, career advancements, and life in luxurious apartments for a much simpler and more modest life. When asked by friends and relatives about their mental health, they reasonably and logically explained that they did not want to waste their best years on a system-imposed lifestyle and pursuit of material wealth, as well as the illusion of so-called success.

Famous downshifters

Perhaps the first downshifter known to the world was the emperor of Ancient Rome Diocletian, although he, of course, did not know what downshifting means in the modern sense of the word. During the heyday of his empire, the ruler unexpectedly left the throne and retired to his estate to grow cabbage. Members of the Senate subsequently came to him more than once to persuade him to return to power, but he was quite happy and did not back down from the decision, despite all the persuasions.

A certain idea of ​​what downshifting is can also be obtained from the life of Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. He gave up the privileges and the princely title that his origin gave him, and instead of a comfortable metropolitan life, he preferred living in the rural outback.

Downshifting definition

The fact that it arose as a natural response to the yuppie lifestyle, in which career, image and social status are most important, helps to understand what downshifting is. A real yuppie often refuses hobbies and hobbies, as in his eyes this is an unacceptable luxury and a waste of time. With great pleasure, he will stay at work for a few extra hours, if this, of course, will contribute to his career growth. The needs of such a person grow with his capabilities, and he becomes a hostage to the constant pursuit of them. The desire to break this vicious circle, which for most has become the norm of life, is what downshifting is.

The definition that can be given to a downshifter, in some reference books, sounds something like this: this is a person who deliberately refuses to work a lot and prefers to live modestly, but at the same time have more free time. The main thing that a downshifter refuses is other people's desires and goals.

What Motivates Downshifting?

Often, people choose such a way of life for themselves, because, due to the economic crisis, they are convinced from their own experience that material values ​​are unreliable and deceptive, and wealth and position in society achieved by hard work can disappear in an instant. Others just get tired of the stress of work and the ever-accelerating hectic pace of life. Some people rethink life after a tragedy, for example, the loss of a loved one. There are, of course, many other reasons why a person decides to go beyond the existing system of values.

Downshifting types

The meaning of the word downshifting becomes clearer with the literal translation of this concept from English. Shifting is switching, and down is down, so downshifting is a kind of philosophy of simplifying life, or, in other words, voluntary simplicity. There are two main types of downshifting, depending on the reasons that prompted it. This is the downshifting of the Creator and the downshifting of the Loafer.

If a person or family moves, for example, from a large industrial city to a village with the aim of starting a farm there, doing crafts, a vegetable garden, raising children in an ecologically clean environment, in a word, living closer to nature and working on the land, then this is the Creator's downshifting. A person who chooses such a path of life seems to be returning to his ancient roots, he leaves the bustle of the city, but does not cease to benefit society, reviving agriculture.

But there is a different way of life: moving to resort places for a long rest, as well as the destruction of the old system of values ​​for the sake of one in which only one's own “I” matters. Downshifting Slacker is a movement that people who have accumulated a certain amount of capital often adhere to. They stop working and devote all their time to travel and all kinds of entertainment, such as surfing, skiing, or even just relaxing in a hammock. Sometimes even poor people become this kind of downshifters. Moving from large cities and not working anywhere, they live, for example, by renting out their urban housing.

What does the downshifter refuse?

What these two types of downshifting have in common is that these people abandon the consumer value system, where material prosperity is at the forefront and according to the laws of which the vast majority live. Sometimes the downshifting movement is compared to the hippie lifestyle, but in fact there is practically no similarity between them. Downshifters have no codes, no hymns, no general preference for looks and dress. Generally accepted consumer values ​​are abandoned by a wide variety of people who are unlike each other. Some of them do not even suspect that their choice corresponds to the fashionable philosophy of our time. What is downshifting, the definition of this concept and how popular it is, hardly worries them. Often they do not oppose the social system itself, but the slogan "faster, higher, stronger", in accordance with which society lives, is alien to them.

Substitution of values

It is almost impossible to completely get out of the consumption system and do without money, and those who really understand what downshifting is, and do not just follow fashion, do not set such goals for themselves. In addition, by rejecting old values, a person inevitably acquires new ones, so it cannot be said that he becomes absolutely free, just his life guidelines are radically changing.

Creator or Slacker - who will win?

When it comes to Downshifting Loafers, such a selfish life solely for its own sake does not bring long-term deep satisfaction. A person changes the race for material values ​​for the pursuit of pleasure and fun, and instead of filling life with real meaning, he simply burns it out. A person may think that he has begun to “live for real,” but many psychologists say that this is, rather, an imitation, and not life in the full sense of the word.

Much more satisfaction is brought to a person by useful activities when he develops himself and helps others to develop, creates something new and works for something important. Then the rest and fun in his life become comparable to a seasoning, the use of which in reasonable quantities makes the taste of food more varied and richer. Largely for this reason, Downshifting the Creator is a life position that seems reasonable to more and more people.