The term downshifting was first used in 1994 by the Trend Research Institute in New York to refer to the behaviour of a group of people who were willing to reduce their salary in order to work less and have more free time. This phenomenon is so widespread in the United States and Australia that it has become a social phenomenon much studied by sociologists. Downshifting is associated with the simple life because it consists of giving up a lifestyle based on earning money and consumerism to live a more relaxed life with more free time to devote to oneself, one’s family and hobbies. People who choose this lifestyle do not put their career first, but rather their personal growth, and believe that the obsessive pursuit of money does not lead to happiness.

The basic concept of downshifting is “less is more”:

Less work and stress, more free time. In short, downshifting is a slow lifestyle.

How to use this page.

Click on the announcement you are interested in. Check the date of the publication (some volunteering opportunities might be already out of date). If the announcement is still valid, look for the ‘contact details‘ section. There you can find free ways to get in touch with the hosts (website, e-mail, phone numbers, application form). Send the host/organization a message and wait for a reply.

DOWNSHIFTING 🐢

If you would like to contribute to this section feel free to send us a message ✍️📧