Pop Press - Be More Snail: find joy and thrive by living in the slow lane

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First published by Pop Press in 2021

Copyright Pop Press 2021
Illustrations Pop Press 2021

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Design by Evi O Studio
Illustrations: Evi O Studio
Text: Susan Clark

ISBN: 978-1-529-19233-9

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the authors and publishers rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

If your life is racing by in a crazy blur of WhatsApp messages, Insta posts, work emails and mindless junk TV, it might be time to look to our plant-loving neighbour for help.

When everything feels a bit too much, the humble snail can show us how to put the brakes on and embrace life in the slow lane. Following a more sedate lifestyle gives you time to think and breathe; you will find you have more space to make good decisions and choices that work for you. With help from our snail friends, the benefits of the slow lane dont have to be a distant dream, and once we master the art of slowing down, we will quickly see just how fulfilled and meaningful our lives can be.

The snail carries its home on its back and knows when to retreat into it for some quiet downtime. Its a creature that knows what it likes usually a quiet, shady and leafy place of peace and it is smart enough to stay away from whats not good for it, including harsh sunlight, saltiness and places where unexpected things can pounce. In other words, the snail can teach us a lot about protecting our vulnerabilities without needing to build walls so high that nobody can scale them to reach us. By learning from the snail, we begin to understand when its right for us to come out and shine and when we should retreat and embrace introvert life.

The snail knows how to look after itself, too. Its shell is beautiful and unique, and the mucus it produces to help it to glide along in life keeps its skin healthy and has amazing moisturising properties so the snail knows the importance of a great self-care routine!

This book is divided into the nine core lessons that we can learn from the humble snail. You can dip in and out and read the sections in any order you please, the most important thing is to take your time and let the steady wisdom of our plant-loving neighbour sink in. Grab a nice cup of tea, or whatever you fancy. A gentle and fulfilled life is just a few leisurely chapters away.

In Slow Down well discover all the joys and benefits of taking life at a slower pace. The snail takes its home everywhere it goes, so in Your Body is Your Home well learn to how to love and care for our own snail homes our bodies. Eat More Plants has lots of tips about sneaking more healthy plant-based dishes into your diet, and in Dont Be Salty well discover the things we need to avoid if we truly want to be more snail and happier.

Snails like to roam, so Explore Green Spaces encourages us to get outdoors and connect with the healing power of nature and in Perseverance is Key we see how the humble snail teaches us that success is not just about hard work, it is about staying power and never, ever giving up.

In the last part of the book, we embrace all the things that make the snail unique. Embrace What Makes You Different celebrates diversity and teaches us to revere what makes us stand out from the crowd, and in Love Your Small-space Sanctuary, you will see how less really is more. Finally, in Retreat and Embrace Introvert Life youll discover how choosing to spend time alone can be not only energising but the highest form of self-care.

Once you start to notice the snail and learn the life lessons it can share, youre on your way to forging your own unique snail trail through life. Youll learn how to appreciate the little things, take pleasure in the moment, destress and glide serenely through all the adventures that life throws at you.

Modern life is complex. More and more of us find ourselves committed to busy routines, the constant demand of messages and stressful workloads that have us wishing the weeks away and living just for the weekends when we can switch off.

It doesnt have to be this way. A slow-paced life doesnt mean a boring one and taking time out for a short while every day of the week can really help to establish what it is that you need to truly thrive. Taking the lead from our snail friends means carving out time to enjoy whatever were doing; it means single-tasking, disconnecting from apps and tech, giving yourself the mental space to breathe and being present in the moment.

When we adopt a snail-inspired Slow Living lifestyle we become more present and more willing to walk away from that which no longer serves us.

We learn how to do whats important and we forget what doesnt matter.

We end up, as a result of slowing down, feeling more grounded and more free because weve taken back control of our time, our attention and our lives.

Here are a few easy steps to help you to slow down in your life:

Disconnect. Switch off and switch it off. It might be your mobile, your laptop, your iPad or your TV. Whatever technology you use, take regular breaks from it so that you can give your overwrought mind some well-deserved respite from information overload.

It can be hard to take the first step in disconnecting, so start simple. Try switching off for that last hour of the evening before you go to bed. If you can, leave your phone to charge somewhere other than in the bedroom. If you use it as an alarm and youre worried about over-sleeping, get yourself an old-fashioned alarm clock instead.