Refuse from good work, change a city apartment to a bungalow in an exotic country or a house in a remote village … Each of us sometimes has a desire to drop everything and leave. And every year there are more and more people with similar thoughts. In this regard, a specific direction arose - downshifting. A follower of this direction is called a downshifter. Who is that? Downshifter is a person who escaped from civilization and became a voluntary hermit. Let's take a closer look at the specifics and main points of this lifestyle.
Downshifting - what is it?
This term defines the life position in which a person renounces civilization and lives quietly for his own sake. That is, voluntarily refuses the generally accepted benefits (career growth, increase in material resources, etc.) and lives quietly with his family (or independently) away from the metropolis.
Of course, this idea cannot be called innovative. It originated in those ancient times, when no one knew who such a downshifter was. For example, Gautama Buddha left his wealth and set off to wander in search of answers to eternal questions. So did the emperor Diocletian of Rome. Having recovered after a serious illness, he abandoned the throne and left for a country estate on the seashore. An equally striking example is the artist Gauguin. For the sake of painting, he abandoned the career of a bank employee. And the first downshifter in Russia was Leo Tolstoy. The count left his estate for a quiet life. It turns out that the downshifter is still not the antonym of a workaholic. Many rank him as lazy people and loafers. It is not true. In fact, this is a very active person, doing what he likes and enjoying it.
In the West, they talked about downshifting in the 70s of the last century. In our country, he appeared at the beginning of the 21st century. It was then that the first communities and blogs of downshifters formed on the Internet. Since then, this phenomenon has only gained momentum: according to psychological studies, about 5% of people looking for work are more inclined towards options with a decrease in employment and a decrease in career growth.
Main reasons
Now you know who a downshifter is. Let's find out the reasons why people begin to lead a similar lifestyle. Psychologists distinguish the three most common:
- Deterioration of health.
During a serious illness (especially if there is a likelihood of a fatal outcome), a person reassesses values. It comes to him that life is only one, and it must be lived as you want, because every day can be the last.
- The exhaustion of the body.
The rapid climb up the career ladder can lead to great disappointment. A person realizes that he receives not pleasure from work, but continuous stress. This is the main reason why top managers become downshifters.
- The pursuit of harmony.
The escape from civilization can be called an attempt to return to one's own “I” and spend more time with the family. A man refuses a career, as he understands that this path will lead him to a dead end.
How to become a downshifter
No special effort is required for this. It is enough to quit work and start enjoying life, doing what you like. But not so simple. A modern downshifter is a former resident of a metropolis with a higher (sometimes more than one) education, aged 21 to 45 years. He has already managed to make a career or earn good capital, well, or is a child of wealthy parents. Money is not very important for him, but this is only because he has it, and he does not lack them.
35-45 years old - this is the age of many Russian downshifters. In most cases, these are people who managed to organize a business in the 90s or have an inheritance in the form of money or real estate that can be sold or rented out.
The conclusion is obvious: downshifting is not a pleasure for the poor. Of course, you can escape from the benefits of civilization, but you really want to eat every day. So in the absence of a solid bank account, you will have to work. After leaving, some downshifters get a simple job. Moreover, they are terribly afraid of losing her and being left without money, and this forces them to spend much more time and energy on work than before. Not everyone can stand such a test. Therefore, many return to their homeland or city.
Scale of distribution
The higher the standard of living in the country (average and higher), the more people rethink their attitude to income, earnings and career. Therefore, the most popular downshifting acquired in Australia and the United States. According to recent studies, 26% of Australians and more than 30% of Americans have already taken their first steps in this direction. In Europe, these figures are half as much. Downshifting in Russia has only 4-5% of the followers. Such a low percentage is explained by the fact that the standard of living of Russians is already not too high.
Danger to society
Of course, they pose no danger to society. But, perhaps, everything is not so good for the companies from which they are going to leave. There are two points here. First, as a rule, a good, or perhaps one of the best employees, leaves the company. Even worse if it's a top manager. Secondly, there is a risk that a lover of freedom will infect 2-3 employees with his ideas, and they will follow his example.
Famous Russian downshifters
- Amalia Mordvinova. She left the cinema and left with three children in Goa, where she enjoys the warm climate and life. Fully dedicated to raising children.
- German Sterligov. He was considered one of the first Russian oligarchs. In 2004, he sold his business, a house on Rublevka, and left with his family in the village. He teaches his children at home and is engaged in agriculture. He often comes to Moscow and continues to build financial pyramids.
- Peter Mamonov. In 1995, this famous musician and actor left Moscow for the village of Efanovo. Nevertheless, he continues to actively give concerts and act in films.
