Downshifting is more popular in Europe, Australia than here. In the "capitalist" countries it has become almost a mass social phenomenon, while in our country there are only isolated cases. But it would still be good to understand its causes, and the very essence of this phenomenon.
Translated from English. downshifting means reducing the car's speed, shifting to a lower speed. If we translate this term into the psychological channel of social life, then downshifting is a decrease in the social pace of life, a slowdown in one's life. Downshifting is a way of life focused on oneself, one's family, on getting pleasure from one's life, rejection of the imposed standards of society, focused on consumerism, the accumulation of material wealth, the intensive development of one's career.
At the heart of downshifting is the desire for psychological well-being. The fact is that most of our time is occupied by work. And when there is absolutely no free time left for family, friends, or yourself, when you are constantly under the burden of responsibility, prolonged stress and fatigue, then the idea arises to quit everything and start living differently, more calmly and comfortably, even to the detriment of the material part of his being.
But we all strive for psychological comfort to one degree or another, why don't all of us become downshifters.
The psychological reasons for downshifting are very diverse and individual in each individual case. Let's try to summarize them:
1. All the same crisis of 30 years. By this age, many have managed to achieve a certain career growth, but not so high that they do not work at all thanks to the earned capital. And since the crisis of 30 is characterized by a reassessment of values, the satisfaction of only one area of social achievements becomes too insignificant. At this time, a slowdown in one’s social life begins (switching to a lower-paid job, but with a smaller work schedule and less stressful, or freelancing), and sometimes even “resocialization” (moving to a suburb or village).
2. Midlife crisis. First, there is a tendency to reject their age-related changes. And by all means, this age category is trying to become younger, even if it's rash actions, such as moving to Goa.
Secondly, at this age there is a passionate desire to take up the business of one's life. Often, by this age, life experience, self-esteem, and material resources have been sufficiently accumulated. And I remember the dream of my childhood or youth, there are all the opportunities to realize it. So it's quite common for successful businessmen to sell their businesses and do whatever they want (start painting, singing, opening vegetarian restaurants, etc.).
3. Setting for health and spiritual growth. So mothers who worked hard when their children were young compensate for the lack of love and attention by choosing to work less and spend more time with their children and family. Such women are more concerned with the health and spiritual development of their family than with social conditioning. Although this attitude is increasingly dominant in many men.
4. Low social identification. The fact is that in addition to personal identification, there is also a social one. I am a citizen of Ukraine, I am Ukrainian. And since the phenomenon of downshifting is more developed in the west, it can be assumed that downshifters identify themselves more with the inhabitants of Western countries, and not with their own. Research in this area is still too small to understand the causes of this phenomenon. But it can be assumed that frequent trips to Europe and the desire to meet Western standards affect social identification. And also the low level of stability, both economic and political, affects the social identification of its citizens.
I would like to end my article on the phenomenon of downshifting with Herzen's deep thought: "You cannot give external freedom more than it is inside."
Source estet-portal.com
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