In a culture that constantly measures worth by busyness and productivity, choosing to slow down can feel like a quiet act of rebellion.
For UK-based creator Beth Moloney, transitioning to a slower pace wasn’t just a lifestyle choice – it became a pathway to emotional recovery and the foundation of a thriving full-time career. Known online to her community as @slowlivingugc, she has mastered the art of making the ordinary feel extraordinary, whether she is turning her morning coffee into a cherished ritual or taking crisp walks along the West Sussex coast.
In this interview, we talk about how a difficult period at age 19 taught her to go back to basics, the realities of setting digital boundaries as an online professional, and the excitement of celebrating major milestones- including her upcoming wedding.
We love the calm and cosy feel of your content! How did you first get into slow living, and what does it mean to you in your everyday life?
Slow living has always been a big part of my life. I can get overwhelmed quite easily, and within a culture where we’re constantly encouraged to be busy and productive, I realised that wasn’t where I thrived. For me, I’m fully flourishing when I slow down and really take in the little moments. It’s about finding joy in the everyday, whether that’s making my morning coffee, going for a walk, or having a cosy evening at home. It makes the ordinary feel a little more special!
Your videos make even the simplest moments feel special. Is that something you’ve always been drawn to, or has creating content helped you see everyday life differently?
To be quite vulnerable, I went through a really tough period in my life when I was 19. I remember feeling like I’d lost joy in the things I usually loved, so I decided to almost go back to basics. I started asking myself, what are the little things I do every day that I probably take for granted? And what if I made a little more effort to enjoy them? So I started romanticising the everyday. Creating slow-living content has only encouraged me to do more of that, so it’s become a really lovely little circle. I’m creating content around the things I love, while also making more time to enjoy them!
What does your ideal slow day look like? Are there any little routines or rituals you always look forward to?
My ideal slow day would start with a little lie-in. Then, naturally, the first thing on my mind is my morning coffee! I’m still working on perfecting my latte art, but it’s a little ritual I really look forward to. After that, I love heading out for a morning walk. I live by the sea, so there’s something so lovely about listening to the waves and seagulls. Once I’m home, I’ll jump in the shower with my favourite podcast playing, and now that the mornings are getting darker, I’ve been lighting a candle to make everything feel that little bit cosier. Then it’s time for my usual breakfast of avocado and eggs on toast before easing into the rest of my day. It’s nothing particularly extravagant, but those little rituals make all the difference!
How did you get started with content creation, and what’s been the most fun or unexpected part of turning it into something you do regularly?
I actually started by creating a page called ActualGirlMath around a year and a half ago. It’s no longer around, but at the time it was all about living luxury on a budget, which was something I was really passionate about. It was purely for fun, and I wasn’t making any money from it, but it taught me so much about what content people enjoyed, what worked, and what didn’t. Most importantly, it showed me how much I loved being creative.
Then one day I came across UGC (user-generated content) and thought, why not give it a go and see if I could turn it into my full-time job? As slow living was already such a big part of my life, it naturally became my branding. I couldn’t really pretend to be this loud, high-energy creator when that’s just not me! The most unexpected and fun part has been being able to bring my family along to experiences, trips, and restaurants I’ve worked with. It gives them a little insight into what I do, and we get to share those experiences together. I was probably a little naive starting out, but I genuinely believed that if I was passionate enough and willing to learn, I could make it work. And I’m so glad I trusted that feeling!
Being a creator can sometimes mean spending a lot of time online. How do you make sure you still find time to switch off and enjoy the moment for yourself?
It definitely does! At the start of my journey, I was online all the time. Checking my phone was the first thing I did when I woke up and the last thing I did before bed. Everything was so new and exciting, and I wanted to constantly be in the loop! But I quickly realised that wasn’t sustainable and I couldn’t keep going that way without burning out. So I made a conscious effort to bring my routines back and dedicate certain times of the day to checking emails, filming, and editing. It’s taken a little time, but I’ve found a much better balance between my work and personal life. I think it’s really important to remember that just because you work online doesn’t mean you have to be online all the time!
What’s something you’re really excited about at the moment, whether that’s a creative project, a personal goal, or simply something lovely happening in your life?
I have lots of exciting projects and collaborations lined up at the moment, so I’m really looking forward to seeing where those take me! It’s also coming up to a whole year since I started UGC, which is quite surreal when I think about how much has happened in that time. On a personal note, I’m getting married next year to my partner of five years, so we’re right in the middle of wedding planning! It’s such an exciting time for us both.
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