“besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone.
the wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials.”
~ Lin Yutang
Life can be complicated. We’re all busy. Too much to do, too little time to do it. Work. Family. Business. Friends. Commitments. Life. Too many demands on your time and all with conflicting agendas.
Sound familiar?
It was while reading the latest edition of Flow that I came across the phrase ‘just do as much as you can‘.
I read that phrase and there was a lightbulb moment for me. A sense of joy to know that others were embracing the do-less-go-slow concept. That I’m not alone and not lazy. And the realisation that I wanted to commit to this concept for the next 12 months.
If I’m honest with myself, I’ve been doing this for the last 12 months already. The last 3 months out of necessity, not choice, as my health and energy levels plummeted to all-time lows.
Letting others do for me, and not insisting on doing everything myself. Giving my inner perfectionist permission to leave the mess. Not spending my every waking hour in helper mode. Delegating more at home and freeing up my time for things I love and excel at. Just doing as much as I can.
it’s time to slow down
I can hear you all inwardly screaming “But how do I do that? I’ve got too much to do and not enough time to do it!”
Here are 11 ways to get you started:
Make a conscious decision to do less. Focus on what is important, what needs to be done and let the rest go. It might take some practice but keep at it.
Find pleasure in what you are doing when you are doing it. Chose one task to do mindfully today, like, folding the washing. It’s fresh from the line, crisp and clean, and most importantly, now folded.
Disconnect from your technology. The constant interruptions of messages and calls, and being at the mercy and demands of others. There are benefits to being unreachable.
Be present when you are with others. Without close contact with other people, we grow into cold, lonely beings. Make time every single day to spend with loved ones. Listen. Share stories. Share moments. And you won’t end up with a single death-bed regret.
Learn to say “no”. Alexandra Franzen has even written a 5 step script to saying the perfect ‘no’ if you’re stuck on how to do it graciously.
Eat slower. Savour the flavours, the texture, the taste. And take the time to eat proper food at a sit-down dinner with your family. Ask about their day and talk about yours. It’s important.
Drive slower. Notice the sights when you drive. Wave to passers-by. Allow yourself to enjoy your inner Miss Daisy.
Stop multi-tasking. Focus on just one task. If you find yourself tempted to wander, stop, breathe and come back mentally to what you are doing.
Take a moment to breathe. There will be moments when the stress and overwhelm will hit. This is when you stop and take a moment to breathe. And if you need to, take another breath. Continue breathing until the feeling has passed.
and just do as much as you can
2017 is my year to embrace the simplicity, to find time to unwind and to slow down the pace of life.
want to join me?
photo credit: mariateresa toledo Un bosco, un sogno.. via photopin (license)
