In a day and age when we live almost constantly on a super highway of information and social media connectedness, every day life can become overwhelming. In the past, I would catch myself frantically scrolling my phone because I don’t want to miss any interesting news, friend’s posts or possible group activities that might be taking place.
The fear of missing out is a real problem. With so many ways to gather information and interact, we are faced with regular information overload. To add to the challenge, I have a personality that hoists onto a pedestal being an overachiever and an epicurean. In a nutshell, this means that I have an intense desire to taste EVERYTHING life has to offer and this desire is seeded in the irrational belief that I am somehow a superhuman being that is capable of actually doing everything.
Because of these traits, I have been prone to bounce from activity to activity, always believing that the next activity will be even more exciting, flavoring life with an array of elaborate and exotic spices.
The downside of this dramatic flair towards the never-ending rotation of exciting adventures is that life can easily become a series of “to-dos”. Always having something else to check off the list. And boy do I love my to-do lists. I love checking boxes so much that when I start my to-do list for the day, the first item is “Make to-do list” so that I can immediately find satisfaction in checking the box.
Something about checking a box leaves me feeling accomplished and the more boxes I check, the more accomplished I become and feel.
Or at least that is what I used to think.
As I watched from afar the lives of other amazing individuals, I started asking myself, how is it that they are so accomplished? How did they manage to tackle over 200 ultra marathons or how did they write 10 books and so on?
It finally occurred to me that individuals who accomplish so much tend to be rather focused. Writers spend a lot of time writing….not writing and dancing and taking karate and learning how to be master chefs, while also knitting a sweater, raising 2 kids, having a full time job…..you get the idea. And the latter describes how I was trying to live my life – to be a master of all. What I managed to become however was a master of none.
Less is often more as the old saying goes and I have found that to be very true in my life. Here are some strategies I have started incorporating into my life to focus my time and energy on my priorities:
- Less activities = More time to enjoy the activities I love
- By having 101 interests, time gets spread really thin. Finding a hobby or two that I really love allows me to maximize my time on my hobbies and really enjoy them and get good at them.
- Less productivity at night = More sleep
- I make mornings my productive time rather than burning the candle at both ends. This allows me to get to sleep at an early hour so I am energized for my morning and makes me even more productive. Bonus, it also reduces hunger, increases recovery, reduces stress and more!
- Less Intense Workouts = More Miles and More Overall Fitness
- Many people see each and every workout as a time to push the body to the limits. For sustainability, overall health, and definitely endurance running, this is not at all effective. By doing about 80% of my runs in an easy heart rate zone, I am able to get out and do even more miles. I also give my body time to build endurance while limiting unnecessary stress on my body. Consistency leads to maximum benefits. Pushing to the limits every day makes consistency difficult.
- Less Commitments = More time with Loved Ones
- Saving the best for last, less commitments leads to more time with my loved ones. This is also the hardest for me because I love to get things done! And jumping on the trampoline with my boys, or playing in the pool, or sitting together watching a sunset doesn’t often “feel” like getting something done. But the truth is building the most important relationships in my life are what bring the most value to life.
Life has a way of taking control of us and before we know it we are spending time on things that aren’t really adding value to our lives. It takes mindfulness and diligence to spend our time on the things that really matter. Taking time to think about where you can do less to gain more is critical and an activity that must be revisited regularly.
What can you do in your life to make less into more?
The journey continues……
