Doing Less, Living More: Embracing Stillness in a World Obsessed with Productivity

How to Get Less Done in More Time

Embracing Stillness in a World Obsessed with Productivity - By Angie Follensbee-Hall

Reading time: 3 minutes

"This is the time to be slow, Lie low to the wall,
Until the bitter weather passes." —John O'Donohue

Do you experience a kind of seduction in getting things done?

You know what I mean, that satisfaction that only comes from crossing things off a to-do list?

Oh, it can be so sweet...

I am the kind of person who sometimes adds already finished items to my to-do list just to cross them off to feel even more achievement. I do this even though I already did the work, and no one will see the list but me.

Who am I trying to impress?

In these moments I have to sit back and remind myself that my value is not related to productivity.

I have to remind myself that there can be great value in doing nothing at all.

But we live in a cultural pressure-pot of achievement, evident through our vast array of productivity methodologies: to-do lists, calendar reminders, notifications, agendas, planners, workflow charts, and on and on...

The sad truth is you can always take one more phone call, respond to one more email, commit to one more project, and say yes one more time. For myself, this constant hamster wheel only makes me feel overwhelmed and stretched a little too thin (like Bilbo Baggins says "like butter scraped over too much bread.” )

Time is one of our most precious personal resources. Once it is gone, we can’t ever get that time back. So how do you want to spend your time? Where do you place your attention?

I have to wonder–what would happen if we prioritized happiness, contentment, and presence of mind over getting things done? Over accomplishing one more task, achieving one more goal?

Would we feel more spacious? Lighter? More curious and open to inspiration?

If we get less done, will we have more time?

Maybe these five considerations will help us to get less done in a day, but to feel more connected, alive, and grounded in the living world.

1. Make a “NO” list.

This is a list of things you are just not willing to do anymore. A few things on my “no” list are: NO to listening to the news (a quick scan of headlines is fine), and NO to answering emails after 7 PM and before 6 AM.

2. Pause before you respond.

There is no need to make a decision, write a response, or call back when someone asks you for a favor. It is ok to say “I’ll think about that and get back to you.” What I know about myself is this: if it’s not a quick “yes” then really my answer is “no” and the hesitation is in trying to convince myself otherwise.

3. Be ok with changing your mind.

You don’t have to stick with the plan if it’s time for a new direction. Sometimes we stay with something because we worry about letting someone down, or we can’t accept that our goal has really changed. I have found a lot of peace in being ok with changing my mind.

4. Embrace empty space.

I think the fear of boredom, or the feeling of not knowing what to do next, makes us overcompensate with meaningless tasks. Our days are so over-filled with things that we have forgotten how to be bored.

5. Accomplish less.

We often overestimate how much time we need to spend on tasks to glean the benefits.

I can see this in my morning practice routine. I prioritize a 10-minute weight-bearing routine, and I do it every single day. Sure, I could do a longer routine, but I know I can always make time for 10 minutes, and I am seeing incredible benefits with less quantity. This leaves me with another 10 minutes for a mindfulness combo of meditation, mantra, and pranayama.

And if I’m short on time that day, no problem, I shorten up the whole practice. I apply this same principle to my creativity practices, whether that is writing or art making. A few times each week is all I need to stay active in my creativity. I also end my “office” work days (those days like today when I am on my computer) by 2 PM. This allows me to prioritize walking and an afternoon meditation which reset my brain with a little empty space.

Remove the things that remove you from your life–the things that weigh you down and the things you really don’t want to give your attention to anymore.

If doing less means you can enjoy more, isn’t it worth trying?