Downshifting: importance, types and countries for residence

It is believed that it is impossible to run away from oneself. But to hide from excessive fuss is quite real. Someone does this from time to time, going fishing or mushrooms. Others turn this process into a lifestyle whose name is downshifting.

The term “downshifting” came to our life from the automotive market. The English word downshifting translated into Russian means "switching the gearbox of the machine to a lower speed." But at the end of the last century, it received a different definition and meaning. This is a total speed drop for life. In simple words - moving to a lower level with less stress.

People who call themselves downshifters quit their prestigious job and go into another reality. But do not confuse them with loafers. They do not stop getting their bread. But they do this as much as necessary in order to earn a living and other necessary needs. They are no longer interested in a career, home, car. All they want to find is themselves in this world. Therefore, they go towards themselves and the sun with a pure heart and cold mind.

Downshifter is not a hermit. He continues to work. But it does not do the same as before. Takes on small projects. This is essentially self-employed person. Deleted, part-time job, a small position with a minimum set of responsibilities and modest profits - all this quite suits the downshifter. At the same time, it continues to develop. Takes time to self-education, hobbies. Most often travels. But he no longer goes to a luxury hotel, but is content with an inexpensive hostel, a tent on the shore of a reservoir or in a forest, a house in the village.

Downshifter runs away from civilization and at the same time remains a part of it. He takes from her the most necessary. For example, a laptop or tablet, so that you can earn your daily bread. Others grow this bread on their own plots. There are many successful businessmen or top managers of large companies among downshifters. These are educated people, purposeful, able to think outside the box. Therefore, they usually have several options for how they build their new lifestyle.

In addition to the fact that representatives of various industries and service sectors are becoming downshifters, they are also people of different nationalities. Each country has its own ideas about this way of life. For example, for strict British downshifting comes down to solving environmental problems. They grow environmentally friendly products, organize campaigns to protect the environment. The main idea of ​​Australians is not to stay long in one place. This applies to both home and work. Most of our compatriots are sent to warm countries. They leave there with their entire families.

First of all, you need to understand that the downshifter has a strong character and many skills. Your other distinguishing feature should be purposefulness. You dreamed of becoming a lifeguard on the beach from early childhood, and want to change your expensive suit to shorts? Not afraid to depend on the vagaries of the weather and the favor of fate? For happiness, is your internal state important, and not the state of affairs on the stock exchange or stock market? Then you can try.

But before that, still better weigh the pros and cons, Define your own predisposition to downshifting. The psychological prerequisites of this phenomenon are similar for all his followers. They get tired spinning like a squirrel in a wheel. They worry about the fact that they do not have time for themselves, their friends and relatives. The main philosophy of such people lies not in avoiding reality, but in its transformation.

Such decisions are not made spontaneously. They need a mental approach. Here is a small plan of action to be taken, before parting with a brilliant past for a good future.

• Need to understand what exactly do you want to do: just travel, work in another country, live in a village, create an eco-farm and so on.
• Calculate all revenue options - remote work, part-time work in local cafes, hotels, handymen, renting out real estate, interest on deposits.
• Reduce debit and credit. Calculate all real incomes and expenses, so as not to stay on the shores of another’s sea with nothing.
• It’s nice to create a small financial backlog in case something goes wrong at first.
• Choose region for further residence.
• Carefully study all the features of the selected country or villages from climatic conditions to religion, customs and laws of the people you want to join.
• Be sure to discuss your ideas with family and friends. If you want to take them with you, you must agree on everything “ashore” in order to subsequently minimize the likelihood of conflict situations, however, as in the case when you leave them at home for a while or forever.

The following is the dismissal from a bored job. Just do not loudly slam the door. Leave it ajar. There is always a chance that you will need to return or ask for help from former colleagues.

So, you have arrived in your paradise. Warm sea, fresh air, environmentally friendly products. All these charms of life can be accompanied by unpleasant consequences. Primarily consider the climate. Not every person is able to easily endure the change of time zones and climatic conditions, but downshifters are already not 17 years old, they know the taste of life, the smell of money and the possibilities of expensive clinics, salons, and so on.

Yesterday’s millionaire’s conditions can quickly bore him. In addition, you have to adapt to the traditions and laws of the new country. Another challenge may be the problem of children's education. Are you sure that they want to live away from the lights of a big city and all its possibilities? Often, it is children who become the reason that people return to their usual circle.

But there are other scenarios.

• Everything suits you. Your wardrobe, consisting of a pair of shorts and three T-shirts - the limit of your dreams. You enjoy life and the world around you. However, after a while, the refrigerator is completely empty. There is nothing to buy a shirt for, but on the street, as luck would have it, it has become colder, and there is no way to earn the necessary amount. Paradise turns into hell, and you are forced to return to the stone jungle.
• You enjoy everything that happens to you in a new place. But after some time you understand that such an image of pastime cannot become your full life. Downshifting for you is nothing more than a new type of vacation. Rested, tanned, full of strength and energy, you return to your favorite job.
• Another option: you will never cross the threshold of a disgusting office, but you will find another way to make money. In their own country and in a familiar environment, it is easier for the majority to do this than in a foreign land.
• And here is a more attractive option. You do not need to look for work. You have enough of what you managed to earn over the past few years or decades. Therefore, you are engaged in a hobby or charity, but nevertheless in familiar and familiar conditions from childhood.
• Ideally, you don’t have any thoughts of turning the river back and entering your native water twice. You stay in a new place forever or change your place of residence as you wish to see one or another corner of the vast globe.

One of the most common goals for downshifters is traveling. Many of them do not leave their home to sit in one place. Moreover, it is not necessary to cross the ocean every month. And in one particular country, one can for a long time find new tourist routes for oneself, which means getting fresh impressions, new knowledge and skills. It makes the inner world richer. But before choosing a country, determine the degree to which it suits you according to several criteria.

• Climatic conditions. We have already talked about their significance and consequences of influence.
• Cost of living and earning opportunities. In some states, you may not be able to work as a guide, for example. In others, it’s just predatory taxes.
• New Life Ticket Price. After all, you won’t get to Australia by hitchhiking.
• Visa regime. In some countries, the stay of foreigners is strictly limited. Take care in advance that you do not have to pack your bags in an emergency or, worse, be deported.

The list of countries to which downshifters are sent is very wide and varied. Here, and the Dominican Republic with its paradise beaches, and Chile, attracting affordable prices, and Ecuador with its mountain peaks, and Georgia, famous for hospitality, and almost European and at the same time very calm and provincial Cyprus. But we will conduct a comparative analysis of the most popular areas.

This state of Southeast Asia, as well as others, such as Vietnam or Indonesia, has long been favored by downshifters. A rather low standard of living dictates very attractive prices for food and accommodation.The ocean, numerous entertainments, including exotic ones, attract people from all over the world there. Especially Russians who enjoy there what they are deprived of at home - the sun all year round. Plus - visa-free regime of border crossing.

You can live there without paperwork up to one month. After this period, you only need to go back and forth to the border with any nearest state, thus again receiving a “ticket” for 30 carefree days.

This country is closer to us geographically. So, the flight there will cost much cheaper. In winter, you can buy a plane ticket from Moscow to Antalya for 3-4 thousand rubles. By the way, it is recommended to choose this time of year for moving. In the absence of a large number of tourists, life there becomes more measured and cheaper. However, it is still more expensive than in Asia.

But the standard of living, as well as the level of education among Aboriginal people, is higher. Do not forget that despite the fact that it is a secular state, most of its inhabitants are Muslims. And this will have to be reckoned with.

They go there for spiritual enlightenment. This country also attracts lovers of a healthy lifestyle. Yoga, vegetarian cuisine - all this, like a magnet, attracts thousands of people from all over the planet. In addition, endless beaches, warm climate, bright sun. However, do not forget about the significant disadvantages of this state. The first is paid visa. The second is bad internet. And finally complete unsanitary conditions.

This direction is more likely for those who have enough money not to think about how to earn it in a foreign country, but simply to spend it for their pleasure. The cheapest destinations include Bulgaria, Montenegro, Serbia, Hungary, Romania. A plus can be considered the absence of a Schengen visa, the registration of which is a troublesome business. And its validity period, especially if you receive it for the first time, is very short. You can find a suitable job there, and the language barrier will not be a big problem, as many local residents learned Russian at school.

But the French Riviera, the Greek Islands, Spain, Italy, Germany and even more so the UK are more suitable for people with high incomes.

Perhaps, as in this country, downshifting is developed only in the USA. These states are, in principle, considered the founders of this area. Therefore, there you will find many like-minded people. But the main minus is the price of the flight. Moving to the other end of the earth will cost a pretty penny. What if you still want to return?

The vastness of our vast country for those whose dream is to move to the village and live on subsistence farming. Such people often choose the Voronezh region with its rich in black soil crop. The Krasnodar Territory is very popular. There is also fertile land, and still warm and close to the sea. You can meet downshifters in the immediate vicinity of two capitals. Strange as it may seem, Moscow and Leningrad regions are attracted by their proximity to megacities, well-developed infrastructure, the opportunity to visit their usual environment at any time, meet with relatives, friends, and, in principle, have good rear areas for retreat. At the same time, housing there is cheaper than in St. Petersburg or Belokamennaya, and it’s quite realistic to organize a successful economy.

There is another “elite” type of downshifting, which is, perhaps, widespread only among our compatriots. Some go to restore family estates, and not necessarily their own. Businessmen are turning into modern landowners. But for this you need to have solid savings. Creating and maintaining an eco-farm is also a popular activity among our downshifters. According to some reports, now in Russia only about 400 various similar settlements are officially registered. They are scattered throughout the territory of our largest country in the world - from Altai to Kaliningrad. These are the new Russian landowners, and less wealthy financially, but by no means poor on ideas connoisseurs of clean air, water and natural food.

In this way, downshifter - a person who works only to have enough money for the pleasures he seeks. Such an individual is not overworked for the sake of fame and career growth. It does not matter where a person does it or how. The main thing is that he is free from the prejudices imposed by the society of ideas and lifestyle. But at the same time he knows the price of everything. He is ready to invest his strength and knowledge, but exactly to the extent that he needs to live comfortably for him personally. He is not a beggar and does not sit on the neck of wealthy parents or other relatives. Prejudice is alien to him. He does not care what others will say. If you are like this, then join this unusual army of talented and really extravagant people who are not afraid to slow down just to go down the career ladder and become closer to their true dream.