IDEAS FOR A WASTE OF TIME

Why it matters
Belgium reaches its Overshoot Day as early as March. That means we consume more than our fair share of the planet, often at the expense of people elsewhere. Every purchase is a vote for the world you wish for. Ethical brands, repaired goods, second-hand finds—they all reduce exploitation, cut pollution, and push markets toward fairness and sustainability. Slow Up invites us to pause and ask not “What can I buy next?” but “What is enough?” Less rush, fewer purchases, more care. Not as sacrifice, but as relief from the constant impulse to buy more, cheaper, faster. 

Where to start
‍During Slow Up, try a simple experiment: don’t buy anything you don’t truly need. Slowing up your consumption can be surprisingly simple. Late-night scrolling, flash deals, the pressure to buy now? Press pause. Wait a few days. If the desire fades, let it go. If it stays, choose with care. Repair before replacing. Look for second-hand treasures at the Kringwinkel.

Why it matters
Swap screen time for real time. Our screens promise connection, but often deliver exhaustion. Endless news cycles, notifications and doomscrolling keep our nervous systems on high alert, while real rest stays out of reach. Slow Up is an invitation to loosen that grip. Going offline is not about disconnecting from the world, but about reconnecting with your body, your surroundings and the people near you.

Where to start
You don’t have to completely disappear online or delete all of your apps. Maybe during Slow Up, it feels good to put your phone aside for 25 hours. Or begin smaller: leave it in another room for an hour, turn off notifications, or notice the reflex to scroll when you’re bored or tired. Replace the habit with something slower and tangible: a ‘zwijgen is geen optie’ podcast, an article on the correspondent, a real conversation, a book, a moment of doing nothing at all. Notice what happens when your attention is less divided.

Why it matters
Strong, inclusive communities are the antidote to isolation and exhaustion. When we take the time to share skills, host events, and create spaces where everyone feels welcome, we strengthen social bonds and local resilience. Slow Up reminds us that making time for each other is one of the most powerful ways to build care, joy, and connection.

Where to start
Use the 25 hours of Slow Up to make time for others. Organize a sleepover at school and finally meet the other parents. Play board games with neighbors on the street. Host a potluck, start a walking group, or create a small skill swap. Even simple gestures—a coffee invitation, a shared meal, a friendly conversation—reinforce the social fabric. Every connection matters. Together, we build communities that are not only caring, but resilient and ready to face challenges together.

Why it matters
In a world that moves fast, we rarely stop to ask what truly matters to us. Slowing up creates space to reflect. What do you care about deeply? Cleaner oceans, animal welfare, less discrimination, a liveable planet, human dignity? When we take time to name our values, our actions become more intentional. Not louder or faster, but more aligned. Change starts when concern turns into conscious choice.

Where to start
Begin by pausing. Write down a few things you find important and ask yourself how they show up in your daily life. You might start learning more about an issue, adjust small habits, volunteer your time, sign a petition, join an action group, or support an organization that works on your behalf. There is no single right way. Every step counts. By acting in line with your values, you move from worry to care—and from care to meaningful impact.

Why it matters
Work shapes our time  and energy -Over 80,000 hours of your lifetime is spent at work. Not everyone has the freedom to change jobs, reduce hours or “follow their passion”. For many, work is about survival and stability. Slow Up is not about judging individual choices, but about questioning a system that demands constant acceleration while often offering too little rest, security and meaning.

Where to start
If you have room to act, you might protect your boundaries, rest without guilt, support fairer practices at work, help make life/work balance a topic that can be discussed at the work floor or stand in solidarity with those who have less flexibility. If you can, pivot your current role toward causes you care about or champion positive projects at work. Organizations like The School for Moral Ambition prove that aligning work with values isn't just feel-good fluff—it's powerful. Picture thousands of people channeling their talent into climate action, fighting inequality, or defending human rights. The ripple effects would be massive. Dare take a moment to reflect about this.

Why it matters
We live in a culture of “more”: more work, more speed, more consumption. But when nothing is ever enough, people burn out and the planet is pushed beyond its limits. Redefining “enough” helps us move away from constant pressure and toward balance, care and sustainability. Not less for the sake of less, but enough for a good life.

Where to start
Pause before adding more. More tasks, more purchases, more commitments, more to-do’s on your citytrip. Ask yourself: Is this really needed?
Practice choosing quality over quantity, rest over rush, presence over performance. “Enough” will look different for everyone, and that’s okay. Each time you choose it, you step out of the race and make space for what truly matters.

Why it matters
Your money doesn’t rest when you do. Even while it sits in your account, it helps shape the world through the choices your bank makes. Some banks invest in care, community and the future of the planet. Others still fuel extraction, inequality and short-term profit. Switching banks is the easiest way to make a positive impact: slowing the flow of money toward harm and redirecting it toward what sustains life.

Where to start
There’s no need to move all your money at once. Start small. Open a savings account with an ethical bank like vdk bank, Triodos or another certified sustainable bank. Use tools like FairFin to understand where your money goes and compare options at your own pace.

Why it matters
Each year, an estimated 100 billion garments are produced worldwide, while there is already enough clothing on this planet to dress the next six generations. Fast fashion keeps us in a constant cycle of wanting, buying and discarding, often at the expense of people and ecosystems far away. Slow fashion asks a different question: How can I wear my values?”

Where to start
Slow Up offers a gentle pause. Maybe this is the moment to finally mend that torn sleeve, sew the button back onto your coat, or rediscover clothes already hanging in your closet. Staying within planetary boundaries would mean buying no more than five new clothing items per year. For many of us, that feels far removed from reality. That gap between intention and behaviour is real and human. We are surrounded by cheap, trendy options, designed to make us buy more, faster, without thinking.Wearing your values is about slowly learning to step out of the rush, and dressing in a way that feels more aligned, more intentional, and more kind to the world we share. When you do buy new, support fair and transparent brands, for example via platforms like COSH!.

Why it matters
Every meal shapes more than your health. It shapes ecosystems, our climate and livelihoods. Fast, convenient food often hides real costs: depleted soils, polluted water, loss of biodiversity and unfair working conditions. Slow Up invites us to pause and recognise these planetary boundaries. Choosing plant-forward, seasonal and locally grown food helps restore balance, supports fair food systems and reconnects us with the natural rhythms we depend on.

Where to start
During slow up it might be fun to organize a plantbased picnic or try out a new recipe. You don’t need to change everything at once. Eat more plants, avoid food waste, visit a package free bulk shop like Robuust or Ohne. Get involved in local CSA initiatives via boeren en buren. Explore tips, guides, and recipes from ProVeg, or Fork Ranger. Cook, eat and enjoy together with friends or family. Every small, mindful choice helps slow the pace of our food system and keeps us within planetary limits.

Why it matters
The world can feel heavy. News cycles show what’s wrong, and it’s easy to get stuck in fear or exhaustion. Art and creative expression remind us of what humans are capable of:  imagination and beauty. Taking time to taste, listen, read, or enjoy art refills our own energy. You cannot pour from an empty bottle.

Where to start
Slow down and make room for beauty in your day. Listen to music, read a poem, visit a museum, or simply notice small moments of beauty around you: light falling softly through a window, dew trembling on a spider’s web, the first signs of spring pushing through the soil, an insect making its careful journey across a leaf. Share it with others if you like. Even a few moments of wonder restore joy, spark hope, and remind us why we keep showing up for each other—and for the planet.

Why it matters
The world feels loud and divided, and it’s easy to retreat into certainty or conflict. Slow Up reminds us that slowing down also means listening more and pointing fingers less. Taking the time to understand others, especially those with different views, builds empathy, strengthens communities, and opens space for solutions everyone can live with. Thoughtful depolarising conversations are a quiet act of care and connection.

Where to start
Start small and gentle. Try talking to someone you don’t usually speak with: a neighbor, colleague, or a friend with different perspectives.  Ask questions, really listen, share experiences without judgment. Explore programs like Klimaatcontact, or join local discussion circles that bring diverse voices together. Even a single mindful conversation can ripple outward, showing that curiosity and understanding are stronger than division. Train yourself to see disagreement as an opportunity for empathy and learning rather than conflict!

Why it matters
Protests are ways to make your voice heard and show care for people and the planet. They build solidarity, amplify shared concerns, and invite decision-makers to notice that change is needed. Every participant, no matter how small their action, adds to the collective call for a fairer, more humane world.

Where to start
Not everyone feels comfortable joining a traditional march. That’s okay. Slow Up shows that protests can take many forms. A sit-in, a bed-in, or even slowing down at home for 25 hours can be a powerful statement. Think Ono & Lennon style—peaceful, creative, and inclusive. Everyone can join, from wherever they are. By registering on our website, you’re counted as a participating member.

Why it matters
Work shapes our days, our energy, and our wellbeing. Unions have always been essential for protecting humane limits at work—fair hours, safety, respect, and dignity. When workers come together, they gain collective power to make workplaces healthier and more just. Slow Up falls right after Labour Day, a perfect moment to reflect on the value of rest and fair treatment at work. By joining a union, you help ensure that these boundaries are respected—not just for yourself, but for everyone.

Where to start
Find out which unions are active in your workplace—ABVV-FGTB, ACV-CSC, ACLVB-CGSLB, or others—and see who among your colleagues is already involved. Learn what each union focuses on, from pay equity to workplace safety, and explore local events, meetings, or resources. Even a small step counts: reach out to a union contact, attend a meeting, or raise one workplace issue that matters to you.

Why it matters
Climate change is urgent, and systemic change often requires systemic pressure. Legal action—through court cases, regulatory complaints, or strategic lawsuits—can hold governments and companies accountable for practices that harm people and the planet. Around the world, climate litigation is rising fast: since 2015, the number of climate-related cases has more than doubled, addressing everything from planning permissions to financial disclosures and advertising standards.

Where to start
You don’t need to be a lawyer to contribute. Support initiatives like KlimaatZaak, or other strategic climate litigation projects. You can help by donating, amplifying cases publicly, or offering research or administrative support. Explore what’s already happening: pick a climate issue you care about, spend an hour researching ongoing legal cases, and see how you can contribute. If you know a lawyer, challenge them to volunteer some time.

Why it matters
Cooperatives flip the script on capitalism—they're owned and run by members who share risks, benefits, and decision-making power. They pool resources for shared value, build community resilience, and prioritize sustainability over profit maximization.

Where to start
Explore existing cooperatives like Plenty or Ecopower (community energy), Coop Centraal (retail), Neibo (telecom provider), or RICO Lab (ethical neighborhood store). Get involved, volunteer, or start your own around a local need. Take action this week: visit a cooperative you're curious about, chat with members about how it works, or plan your next date at a cooperative bar or brewery.

Why it matters
Public debate shapes how we understand the world and what we believe is possible. When conversations slow down, there is room for nuance and complexity. Speaking up doesn’t have to be loud or confrontational. It can be thoughtful, personal and rooted in listening. By sharing experiences and perspectives, especially those that are often overlooked, we help create a more humane and inclusive public space.

Where to start
Start small. Talk about what concerns you with someone you trust. Share an article, an insight or a personal experience and let it become a conversation, not a debate. Join an online forum, contribute to a collective project, or volunteer to speak at a local event if that feels right. Highlight voices that are often underrepresented. Break complex issues down in simple language. Share what you feel comfortable sharing, in your own way. Like Chloé Mikolajczak or Félicien Bogaerts, you don’t need to shout to be heard. Sometimes, speaking up is simply creating space for a conversation that matters.

Why it matters
Learning is a form of slowing down. Taking time to understand how our economic, social and ecological systems are connected helps shift the story from inevitability to possibility. Many of today’s crises are not accidents, but outcomes of ideas we stopped questioning: endless growth, efficiency above care, speed above meaning. Learning gives us language, context and imagination. It helps us see that what feels personal is often systemic, and that alternatives already exist.

Where to start
Start gently. Learning does not have to be productive. Lie in bed for a day and watch documentaries like The Cost of Growth, The True Cost or Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet. Let the bigger picture sink in. Read books that name what is being lost and what could still be protected, such as Archief van Mogelijk Verlies, Outgrow the System, or Elemental: How We Will Live on a Warming Planet by Arthur Snell. Follow your curiosity, take notes if you feel like it, talk about what moves you. Learning is not about having all the answers, but about opening space for better questions.