The feelings of disassociation this brings can be unsettling, particularly when things go wrong: the car breaks down and you have to walk to the nearest garage (where’s that?) or the weather stops you from getting into town. So why not take a closer look at where you live – that is, the area you can comfortably cover by foot – and familiarise yourself with the resources and richness it has to offer?

A good place to start if you want to become an expert in your area is by looking into its history: find out about the events that shaped it, and how it became what it is today. Did anyone famous live there? Was it renowned for a particular trade? Local History Online is a great resource. Before cities became the sprawling giants they are today, everyone lived in smaller borough which were largely self-sufficient. Has any of your area’s distinctive character remained since those times?

There are many ways to get to know your area better but the obvious starting point is on foot: next time the weather’s good and you’ve got a  spare hour, take a walk around it with a camera, noting anything that looks interesting or unusual, then do some internet research to find out more about it. Visit streets you haven’t taken before and try out shops and cafes that are new to you. If you don’t have a local pub, invite friends round to brave the nearby establishments, until you find one that works for you.

Getting to grips with your area is also great way to feel more connected to the local community, better informed about local goings on and far more in control. With a general election looming in the UK, now is also the ideal time to get into local politics: make sure you know who the candidates are in your area and what they are (or aren’t) doing to make it a better place – local newspapers are a good way to keep informed on these matters. That way you’ll feel in a position to shape your area’s future.

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Six Senses is a highly regarded, luxury resort group that promotes slow life and environmental conservation throughout its spas in Thailand, The Maldives, Vietnam and Jordan.

The book’s title – SLOW LIFE – doesn’t irk from its contents either. This particular SLOW LIFE stands for Sustainable, Local, Organic, Wholesome and Learning, Inspiring, Fun, Experience, and it’s a philosophy that shimmers from its very cover.

In its beautiful delta square perfect bound form, the book considers every aspect of your life that you can slow down, including our favourite, Slow Travel. While including its own Six Senses Spas within its “eco experiences” chapter, this book is far more than a self-promoting accolade. The jorg&olif team have already had a love affair with it.

There are wonderful refreshing sections from The Slow Home and Office for powering down at work and Slow Parenting – in which creativity is given its own space and time to Slow Food with various raw and organic recipes delectably  teasing you and inspiration of ‘from waste to wealth’, and Slow Style which looks at wholesome beauty and fashion and the innovative designers pioneering the change.

We adore the presentation of the section Local Knowledge which through gorgeous imagery and informative prose uncovers the species that share our world, including the many threatened animals and plant life.

The book doesn’t shy away from the big issues or startling facts either. Unlike most books of its time, the issue of climate change has been dealt with in an unusually unhurried way within the first chapter entitled A Sustainable Planet, inviting the reader to think more. It also invites you to participate at its own resorts through volunteerism.

There’s mesmerising photography throughout that keeps your heart warm and your mind calm – it’s the perfect book for winding down and capturing a few moments of alone time. Don’t forget to make a slow hot chocolate or slow cocktail to accompany the captured mood.

Visit your local book shop (ISBN 9789814217385) or wander over to the Six Senses website for further inspiration.

Images: Kiattipong Panchee, Ulli Schonart and paintlight, and courtesy of Six Senses.