What is a downshifter country? Downshifter who is this? Downshifting is a new positive lifestyle that has captured America, Australia and Europe. What is downshifting
Studying at a prestigious university, working in a highly paid position, own housing and a car - these items constitute the ideal life scenario for most people. Most, but not all. There are also those who have decided that such benefits are not capable of making him happy. Their name is downshifters.
As a rule, such people exchange an office office for a cozy home chair or a small house in the village. It also happens that a person leaves a high position and becomes an ordinary office manager. Why is this happening? Are there any advantages to this? And what dangers might lie in wait? Let's figure it out a little lower.
Crowdfunding is not enough even for downshifting.
Victor Pelevin. Love for three Zuckerbrins
Downshifters - who are they?
These people, like the majority, also at one time worked from 8 to 5, waited for Friday evenings, vacation, as well as salaries and bonuses. But at one point they stopped and asked themselves: “For what? Why live by other people’s goals, sacrifice time and energy not in your own favor?” It is this question that gives rise to a new life as a downshifter.Downshifting, as a social phenomenon, appeared relatively recently, although in fact it existed before. Translated from English, this word means “switching to a low gear” (from automotive terminology). Simply put, a downshifter is a person who has abandoned his usual lifestyle (home-work-home) in favor of a measured life “for himself”.
Downshifters of our time often contrast themselves with “white collar workers” - successful careerists who strive for material well-being and do not disdain daily work in offices.
For downshifters, such a lifestyle seems inferior. In their opinion, the financial side is not the most important thing in life.
One of the most striking examples of this direction is German Sterligov. He traded life in an elite area for a farm and livestock farming.
Is a downshifter a strong or weak personality?
There is now active debate about whether downshifting is a manifestation of willpower and determination or, conversely, a downshifter is a weak-willed person.
Psychologists share two opinions: the first say that this is the right direction from a scientific point of view. Others think that downshifting represents selfishness and laziness. In their opinion, a downshifter is a person escaping from temporary material difficulties and stressful situations that happen to almost everyone. Thus, he is trying to avoid banal responsibility.
Experts also identify three main groups of people who become downshifters:
- Hostages of parental attitudes.
They choose the specialty that mom and dad impose on them, they get a job they don’t like just because it pays well. Subsequently, such people usually become dependent on their spouses. - Those who cannot cope with moral pressure.
Psychological and physical stress becomes unbearable for them. - Someone who is tired of a luxurious life.
Typically this group includes businessmen and politicians. Realizing that the income will be enough for several more generations to come, they decide to “live for themselves.”
Five reasons to “live for yourself”
- Striving for harmony;
- Desire for maximum self-expression;
- Inconsistency with personal goals;
- The desire to improve health, get rid of stress;
- Awareness of one's own incompetence.
Downshifting: PROS
Downshifters are independent individuals who do not limit themselves to strict time limits and requirements. They set their schedule only at their own discretion.After drastic changes, a lot of free time appears. Here downshifters decide for themselves how to use it: work at night and sleep until lunch, travel and live in exotic countries and much more.
If a person does everything right for himself, then he will soon feel a surge of new strength, the absence of a terrible mood and constant lack of sleep.
Personal and professional growth appears. After such life changes, a desire to self-develop arises.
Downshifting: CONS
Man is a social being. We communicate, work, continue our family line. Psychologists confirm that human society is capable of preserving itself only at the species level.This fact is not immediately realized if the individual fails to enter into the uniform rhythm of society. Against this background, a false impression is created that avoiding everyday problems will help personal growth and lead to peace of mind.
If a person decides to move away alone, then over time there will be a feeling of isolation from the world around him. This is why many downshifters return to their old lives. An excellent example will again be German Sterligov, who lived with his on the farm for about 4 years. After that, he returned to life in the metropolis.
Is it so easy to be a downshifter?
The man chose a carefree “life for himself”, found harmony and... But is everything so rosy? Let's figure out what problems downshifters face, especially at the beginning of a new life.
Material side
This is the first and most basic problem that will stand in the way. Stable income has an important advantage - confidence in the future. Many downshifters cannot boast of this.Initially, it is very difficult to switch to a new status, especially if you had stable high earnings in the past.
Public opinion
As a rule, the attitude towards such people in society is not the most positive. Most people are unable to understand how a person could leave a stable income and choose a carefree life in the provinces.Loss of status in society
Many downshifters lose all contact with relatives and stop communicating with friends against this background.Old habits
It will be very difficult for conservatives to switch to a new stage of life.Western and Russian downshifters
Downshifting is, first of all, a social phenomenon. Therefore, it will depend on the mentality of the country. What is the difference between our and Western downshifters? Let's try to figure it out.According to the observations of psychologists and sociologists, a calm attitude towards a career and earnings directly depends on the standard of living in the country. This phenomenon initially developed in the West. Statistics show that the majority of downshifters today live in the United States and Australia.
A Western downshifter is predominantly a member of the middle class with a stable high income. He can afford to lose part of his earnings and rebuild his life.
There are very few downshifters in Russia - about 5%. Basically, they are represented by very rich people. After all, not everyone can afford to cut their income even a little. Our inhabitants prefer to go with their families to the Russian hinterlands and take up farming in Tula, Voronezh and other regions.
Other countries are also popular among Russian downshifters: Thailand, Turkey, Bulgaria, etc.
Conclusion
Downshifting is an interesting and multifaceted social phenomenon.Some choose this life forever, while for others a short period of time is enough to gain invaluable experience and move on. Of course, this does not solve absolutely all problems, however, it can help in discovering your unknown sides.
Don't forget about the difficulties that come along this path. Not all downshifters are ready for a significant reduction in material wealth and, in some cases, life without the usual comfort.
Do you think such drastic changes are necessary of one’s own free will?
The concept of downshifting is becoming more and more part of our daily lives. And if earlier downshifters were considered people who were far from the realities of life, now there is a trend emerging when quite successful managers and businessmen decide to leave their jobs and go in this direction. This is a good alternative to the “office” lifestyle.
Downshifting(English: downshifting, switching a car to a lower gear, as well as slowing down or weakening any process) is a term denoting the human philosophy of “living for oneself,” “giving up other people’s goals.”
If we talk about the literal meaning of the concept “downshifting” (from the English downshifting), then this word means giving up a highly paid prestigious job in favor of a free lifestyle. But in general, it implies a way of life in which a person chooses exactly those activities that he likes at the moment.
And here there can be a lot of options: independent travel around the world (look at finding cheap travel packages), living in rural areas, working as a freelancer, studying certain issues that are important to an individual, spending time with family or like-minded people, digging in garden beds, writing memoirs, diving or drawing, etc. . - in general, any business that evokes joy and delight in the soul of a downshifter.
Advantages of downshifting.
Freedom is considered the main advantage of this lifestyle, and in every sense of the word - freedom in time, freedom in actions and deeds, freedom in desires. It is precisely because of the lack of this very freedom in everyday life, when you cannot stop for a second because of the fear that you will not succeed in something, that many successful people decide to become downshifters.
At some point, a reassessment of values occurs, and a person no longer wants to “live for others” and “achieve goals that are not interesting to him” - this is when some individuals say to themselves: “I’ve had enough! You need to live for yourself!” But, at the same time, downshifting cannot be called an extreme degree of freedom from any “earthly” obligations. Rather, it is a certain way of life of a person, when everything is done joyfully and voluntarily, regardless of the type of activity: be it independent travel, or working as a teacher in a rural school, or creating a beautiful flower bed.
Disadvantages of this lifestyle
Majority downshifters They find only one drawback in their lifestyle - some financial constraints. But when they decide to become a downshifter, they are well aware of what they are missing out on and do not regret it.
People who live by these principles are ready to experience financial difficulties in exchange for the opportunity to be themselves and live exactly the life they want, and not be guided by stocks, the dollar exchange rate, the new policy of the company’s management, the boss’s mood, etc. In addition, any lesson can be organized in such a way as to achieve a minimum of costs: and in independent travel you can hitchhike, and dig the beds with an old shovel, and ask your neighbor for seeds for flowers, and write your memoirs on cheap gray paper.
But as a reward you can get unlimited freedom not only thoughts, but also actions!
“I spoke briefly about the path that led me to minimalism in life and an insatiable thirst for travel. Now I wanted to answer the question “What is downshifting” as fully as possible and take a slightly broader look at its causes and features.
Downshifting is the abandonment of a busy and frantic race in quarries, the rat race and office work in favor of a quiet and measured life with a subsequent decrease in income and consumption levels.
True, in the post-Soviet space this concept is not as widely known as in the West. And the reason is very simple: our people have not yet had time to get enough of the benefits of a material consumer society, since periods of social stability and prosperity in our countries are a very precarious matter.
The reaction of the majority to your personal choice still sounds like a reproach or condescension to a bad whim. We have few downshifters who could form the backbone of any movement. More often these are retired office workers who, after 3-4 months of traveling around India and South-East Asia, return to their cozy offices.
At one time, I was exactly the same: searched, tried, retreated and gave up. I was drawn to stories about living on $2 a day and crowded Indian trains. Even for the same psychos, I wrote an article about how it is possible. And every time, after another similar homeless experience (for example, a night on the island), I returned to the cozy, warm offices and lived in hope until the next vacation.
However, I was inspired by historical examples:
The first known downshifters
- Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha. Leaving his family, the royal throne and a carefree life, the prince went in search of the truth. He wandered for a long time, but very effectively! The result is teaching, followers and over 2,500 years of experience. Had he disappeared back then into the wilds of history and the genealogies of the kings of the Shakya clan, few would remember his influence today.
- St. Nicholas the Holy is one of the first downshifters of Kievan Rus. Having received power, a mansion and servants from the princely family, he became disillusioned with the worldly and became an Orthodox monk, because he was more interested in relationships with God than in diplomacy and the needs of the fatherland.
- Roman Emperor Diocletian, who gave up his throne to grow cabbage
- Count Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy with the idea of simplification and approaching nature.
- Uncle Fyodor, who left the city to live in the village. His wild charisma, despite his young age, inspired even his parents. Do you remember the final phrase of one of the curdled milk cartoons? “If I had a second life, I would spend it here, in Prostokvashino!”
Of course, these stories are very interesting, but I was even more inspired by the living carriers of the idea. Someone quit a hated job for hobbies and hobbies; and some simply went into wild trash without earnings and any understanding of what would happen next. When traveling you can often meet both the first and the second, but I have not yet figured out which of them is greater.
Downshifter's mug
But I realized very clearly that...
Downshifting has its pros and cons
And for the most part, both the pros and cons are dictated personal experience one or another downshifter. There is no objective division here: they say, this is good, but this is not. Everything is purely individual... However, when operating general characteristics, all adherents can be divided into 2 camps: creators and slackers.
To answer the question “who is a downshifter” in more detail, let’s describe these 2 types in a little more detail.
Creators
Most often, people who fall into this camp are not running away from the system, but going towards a specific goal. For example, those who leave their homes in favor of eco-villages, work and life in the village, or for the benefit of some personal project. These are healthy and open individuals, without bad habits, smoke-filled voices and red eyes. Their motivation lies in close communication with their family, self-development and careful consideration of the environment.
Among them you can often meet measured travelers, impressive in the scope of their interests and deep view of the world. You can meet settled citizens whose meaning of life is creative work on the earth. But despite the external differences, they are all united by a meaningful attitude towards their own goals, which subsequently leads to upshifting, i.e. improving living standards. The common phrase about finding something you love and not knowing what work is for the rest of your days is about them.
They earn money by their own labor and do not sit on anyone’s thin necks, therefore they evoke persistent reverence in those around them.
And there is more...
Slackers
This category can sometimes be confused with the first, especially if downshifting adherents suddenly find themselves in a common pot, for example, at the same table somewhere. However, they differ from the former in their manic passion for freebies. Who would you like to meet to eat for free? Who would make eyes at someone to buy it? return ticket? Who should I approach to get free hashish? They are furiously infuriated by entrance fees to attractions, transport prices (no matter how low they are) and any mention of work and effort.
Some of them rent out a room-apartment in Moscow, which adds a certain degree of self-importance to the insatiable thirst for freebies. They are the ones who can most often be found drunk and stoned to the point of green snot. The worst thing is when the attitude of such adherents is transferred to you...
The most interesting thing is that I myself sometimes encounter characteristics of the second type, but I am not able to see this right away. Especially after I suddenly find out the prices for entrance tickets in Sri Lanka or China.
The stories of these “second” ones are most often relished by the media for the edification of yuppies and hamsters: they say, don’t meddle, freedom is dangerous... do you see how many people suffer from excessive drunkenness on the beaches of Bali? And these are still flowers... For example<и далее по списку>. It is clear that such emissions are the easiest way to attract attention, because few people will suddenly be interested in a Russian peasant who suddenly moves to Belize to build a house. You never know what envy will arise?
Downshifting in Thailand or Goa?
I often come across publications about how yet another manager from Russia (mostly from Moscow or St. Petersburg) suddenly becomes disillusioned with serving the golden calf and decides to give up everything for a quiet and leisurely life somewhere in warm countries. Mainly or Thailand. I don’t know why our compatriots are so attracted to these two directions, but the fact is obvious.
Of course, many settle here, disappear, rent a small, modest apartment (especially if the property is in the capital) and don’t give a damn. More precisely, they blow, but exclusively with charas and exclusively for spiritual and educational purposes (as they explain to themselves). This contingent, despite the whimsicality of forms and expressions, is quite quiet and relaxed and causes almost no trouble. I often cross paths with him and we even build friendly and good-neighborly relations.
It’s worse if a person starts to go off the rails. And then the entire black side of Goa or Thailand devours it with enormous appetite. Drugs, substances, relaxation, sex tourism, and complete irresponsibility. In such conditions, rolling down is a great pleasure. And despite all the downshifting, the acquired speed reaches enormous proportions. And the result is overstays, deportations, a crooked conscience and wasted money.
Influence
Nevertheless, no matter what type this or that adept belongs to, his “reduction in turnover” is very unprofitable for industrialists and sellers. The level of consumption is decreasing... Just remember the hippies! In my opinion, they had a huge impact on the social sphere, culture and politics. In those 60-70s, full of idealism and the spirit of freedom, hippies and their worldview were a reaction to the slowly decaying bourgeois morality and unhealthy tendencies to resolve conflicts in foreign countries by military means (for example, in Vietnam).
Nowadays, everything happens a little differently. And the scale is much more modest. Well, purely technically, downshifting has now become easier. All around, freelancing and earning opportunities via the Internet. Young idealists no longer needed status trinket; they began to be attracted by a free lifestyle and the ability to use the Internet in such a way as to make a profit from it.
This is how the “new rich” appeared: a special caste of entrepreneurs leading a minimalist lifestyle and managing very good capital. True, I am sure that soon this trend will have its own reactionaries, forcing us to think about the truth of our efforts and the consciousness of our choice.
Sometimes there are questions online like “how to become a downshifter”? As if there were any detailed guides for this. Any label is nothing more than an approximate model that describes certain trends in the most general approximation, nothing more. Therefore, if you decide to simply reduce your consumption level and replace the bustling metropolis with rural silence, you can safely be called a downshifter)
I think general questions like “what is downshifting?” and “how I came to him” are more than fully revealed. Perhaps a little later I will have an addition, or some new understanding that will inspire me to write a new article.
No similar articles
(also used synonym Simple living). Those who consider themselves to be downshifters tend to give up the desire for the generally accepted benefits promoted, such as a constant increase in material capital, career growth, etc., instead focusing on life for the sake of oneself and/or family.
In the classical sense, downshifting is always a choice between income and stress and mental comfort for less reward. Typically, when leaving business or a stressful job, people pursue goals such as having more time for hobbies or family.
The ideology and term spread at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries in Western countries, and later the phenomenon penetrated into Russia. Ideological parallels with hippie culture, New Age philosophy, and Buddhism are obvious.
Downshifting appears to its followers as a protest against the ideals of a consumer society, and adherence to it is justified by a number of serious shortcomings inherent in the latter - mainly by the denial of the need for human development as an individual (according to Marx - the 3rd degree of alienation - “alienation of a person from his human essence”) . There is another point of view on downshifting, according to which this phenomenon has nothing to do with achieving harmony in life and mental comfort. Opponents of downshifting consider the desire to make a career, become successful and financially independent as natural human needs. And not at all by goals imposed by society, as downshifting represents.
The word “downshifting” comes from the English downshifting - “to engage in a lower gear.” Downshifters are people who deliberately give up a solid position and a high salary in favor of home evenings, hobby work, Saturdays in their country gardens or emigration to Goa - to each his own. Such people are also called escapists, from the English escape - “escape”. The term “downshifting” first appeared in 1994, in an article by the New York Trends Research Institute in Gerald Celente. It has become common in Britain, Australia and the USA.
There are many cases in history when people sacrificed their career, social status, and wealth in favor of self-improvement. For example, about 2,500 years ago, Prince Siddhartha Gautama (Gotama) (known as the Buddha) left his home, family and property to become a monk. He renounced his inheritance and devoted his life to studying how to overcome suffering. Orthodox monasticism can also serve as an example.
Notes
see also
Links
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
See what “Downshifter” is in other dictionaries:
downshifter- The word hero of the year according to M. Kronhaus Despite the cacophony and politically incorrect resemblance to Down, he is recognized as the hero of 2007. And although the word came into use last year, it was this year that it acquired especially important meaning. It is triumphant... Dictionary 2007
downshifter
downshifter- 1) transferred to a lower position 2) left a high position... Dictionary of Foreign Words edited by I. Mostitsky
downshifter- The term “downshifting” comes from the English down shift “downward movement”. This is the name given to people who deliberately refuse a solid position and a high salary in favor of... Well, in general, anything, family, hobbies, travel, just... ... Dictionary of modern vocabulary, jargon and slang
Word 2007- The choice of the director of the Institute of Linguistics of the Russian State University for the Humanities Maxim Krongauz nano 1) downshifter ... Dictionary of 2007
Books
- Russian science fiction 2018. Volume two, Nemytov Nikolay, Alexander Artie D., Angelov Andrey Petrovich. In ancient times, a certain Theophilus, wanting to gain wealth and power, gave his soul to the devil for the fulfillment of his desires. The devil gave Theophilus a magical Living Book and placed it on it...
From the article you will learn (contents):
2. When did downshifting appear? Who introduced the concept of downshifting?
4. Video. Interviews with downshifters - former successful PR managers, directors, businessmen.
1. Downshifter who is this? What is downshifting?
Words downshifter And downshifting come from the word downshifting(English). Word downshifting V English language means changing the car's gear to a lower speed, and in a broad sense means slowing down the pace of any process.
Downshifting is a new lifestyle in which people give up the constant race for a career, material wealth, stop helping others achieve their goals, and begin to live THEIR full life, free up time for themselves, for their loved ones, begin to embody THEIR, and not other people's, goals and dreams.
Downshifters are adherents of the downshifting lifestyle. According to surveys, more than 30% of people in America, more than 26% in Australia, and more than 15% in Europe have already taken steps in the direction of downshifting.
In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, these figures are much lower (1-5%) and downshifters are only available in metropolitan cities. The higher the standard of living in a country, the more people are thinking about reconsidering their attitude towards earnings and career.
2. When did downshifting appear? Who introduced the concept of downshifting?
Downshifting appeared at the end of the last - beginning of this century. I think its appearance is due to the fact that people tired of the ideal of consumption imposed on them by society: YOU NEED TO FINISH COLLEGE - THEN GET A HIGHLY PAYING JOB - WORK HARD - TO BUY A HOUSE ON CREDIT - TO PAY FOR COLLEGE FOR A CHILD - WHO WILL AGAIN HAVE TO WORK HARD, etc.
And after the crisis broke out and people lost their homes, loans for which they had been paying off for decades, many realized the failure of this model. You work hard, get paid a lot, but you don't even have time to spend it. to spend time with family, to devote time to your dreams and hobbies.
Therefore, people began to look for work that would took less time, albeit with less income. This is how the idea appeared downshifting.
Term downshifting first used in her article “Life in Low Gear: Downshifting and a New Look at Success in the 90s” journalist Sarah Ben Breathna December 31, 1991 in The Washington Post.
3. Ideas and lifestyle of downshifters in different countries.
A downshifter is usually someone who has become disillusioned with the “career race” and realized that a person does not need such a big house as is commonly believed in his circle. And you don’t need such an expensive car.
home the idea of downshifters is the rejection of “other people’s goals” that are imposed by society, rejection of the values of the “consumer society”, rejection of “monetary slavery”, when your the employer actually buys your time = your life.
Another important one the idea of downshifting is to simplify life. The transition to living in harmony with nature, oneself, and loved ones. Thus, the idea of downshifting can manifest itself in searching for the meaning of life, achieving peace of mind, harmony in life.
In this sense The first downshifter can be called the Roman emperor Diocletian(IV century), who, after a serious illness, unexpectedly left the throne, retired to his estate and began growing cabbage. These are his words:
Ah, if you knew what kind of cabbage I grew, you wouldn’t call me back!
IN different countries The lifestyle of downshifters is different and downshifting manifests itself in different ways. In Australia, downshifters most often change their place of residence, move closer to nature. In the UK, downshifters pay special attention to the environment, grow organic products, recycle waste, and use alternative energy sources. In Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, downshifting manifests itself in moving to countries where you can live closer to nature - Thailand, India and others eastern countries.
INTERESTING VIDEO about famous successful businessmen, directors, PR managers - downshifters.
They voluntarily gave up successful businesses and successful careers and became downshifters, moving to India, Thailand and other eastern countries. In the video they explain why they did this.
I wish everyone to find exactly the place to live where they can feel like a truly happy person!
You don’t have to go far to find yourself and a job you like!
I myself also consider myself a downshifter, because my family and I left the metropolis to be closer to nature.