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--- down:downshifting [2025/12/05 19:06] – [What is downshifting?] Simon Grant
+++ down:downshifting [2026/04/15 16:43] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-# Downshifting
+This topic is part of [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]] and [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]].
+====== Downshifting ======
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-## What is downshifting?
+===== What is downshifting? =====
 Downshifting is possibly the most important but least understood concept related to sustainability. It's about earning less and consuming less, and as such is only applicable to people with a reasonable disposable income - which means mainly (but not exclusively) people in developed, wealthy countries like the UK.
-Human activity is causing [ecological damage](/thna/the_nature_problem), and it's increasing. Two things increase human impact - population growth and economic growth. Global population is beginning to stabilise, but economic growth is still what all governments are chasing. But it's not possible to live in harmony with nature (which we need to do if we want to survive) AND have perpetual economic growth. Sustainable growth is an oxymoron. Downshifting is [steady-state economics](/stea/steady-state_economics) in microcosm. We can't slow down or reverse economic growth if the majority of people just want more, more, more.
+Human activity is causing [ecological damage](/ntre/nature), and it's increasing. Two things increase human impact - population growth and economic growth. Global population is beginning to stabilise, but economic growth is still what all governments are chasing. But it's not possible to live in harmony with nature (which we need to do if we want to survive) AND have perpetual economic growth. Sustainable growth is an oxymoron. Downshifting is [post-growth economics](pgec:post-growth) in microcosm. We can't slow down or reverse economic growth if the majority of people just want more, more, more.
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 <caption>
-‘The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling – they need us more than we need them’ – Arundhati Roy.
+_‘The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling – they need us more than we need them’ – Arundhati Roy._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-Image: [Polyp.org](http://polyp.org.uk/)
+_Image: [Polyp.org](http://polyp.org.uk/)_
 </caption>
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-## What are the benefits of downshifting?
+===== What are the benefits of downshifting? =====
 - Ecology: less 'stuff' consumed or required.
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 <caption>
-Gardening – save money, have healthier food and get more fresh air and exercise.
+_Gardening – save money, have healthier food and get more fresh air and exercise._
 </caption>
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-## What can I do?
+===== What can I do? =====
 **Work less, earn less, spend less**
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 <caption>
-Image courtesy of [Cait Flanders](https://caitflanders.com/).
+_Image courtesy of [Cait Flanders](https://caitflanders.com/)._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-Don't fall for '[green consumerism](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/buying-green-perfect-distraction/)'.
+_Don't fall for '[green consumerism](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/buying-green-perfect-distraction/)'._
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-See corporate advertising; give money to global corporations; get into debt with global financial institutions; work hard for global corporations to pay off the debt. It’s becoming the norm, but is that really how you want to live your life?
+_See corporate advertising; give money to global corporations; get into debt with global financial institutions; work hard for global corporations to pay off the debt. It’s becoming the norm, but is that really how you want to live your life?_
 </caption>
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 <caption>
-Extreme downshifting: a £3000 home with no mortgage – not easy, but not impossible either.
+_Extreme downshifting: a £3000 home with no mortgage – not easy, but not impossible either._
 </caption>
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 - People who take more than their fair share of resources are called successful; we need to change that – and call them selfish.
-## Further resources
+===== Forum =====
-## Specialists
+This topic belongs to the section [[gt:learning|Learning & personal development]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/learning).
+It is also in the section [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]] (Forum: [Wellbeing, home & relationships](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing)).
+===== Further resources =====
+- [Great Big Scary World](https://www.greatbigscaryworld.com/) - quitting your job to live your life, coping with financial worries, travelling without money
+- [The Downshifter](https://thedownshifter.co.uk/) - advice for people thinking of downshifting
+- [Down the Lane](https://www.downthelane.net/) - how to live a simpler life
+- [Low-cost living](https://www.lowcostliving.co.uk/) - advice on reducing living costs
+- [Couchsurfing](https://www.couchsurfing.com/welcome) - stay at other people's homes for free, people stay at yours for free
+- [Adbusters](https://www.adbusters.org/) - fighting corporate advertising
+- [Envisioneer](https://www.envisioneer.net/home.php) - how to build a £4k house
+- [Simon Dale](http://www.simondale.net/) - how to build a £3k house
+===== Related topics =====
+- [Low-impact shopping](lish:shopping)
+- [Free & open source software](foss:open_source)
+- [Self-employment](self:self-employment)
+- [Post-growth economics](pgec:post-growth)
+- [Small is beautiful](smal:small)
+- [Personal development](pers:personal_development)
+- [Low-impact living](lilv:living)
+- [Eco & carbon footprints](ecoc:eco_carbon_footprints)
+- [Hitchhiking](hitc:hitchhiking)
+- [WWOOFing](wwoo:wwoofing)
+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====