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The Luxury of Doing Less (and What to Stop Doing)

Feb 02, 2025

Read time: 3.5 minutes

The most impactful things you do are often the things you don’t do.

The distractions you don’t indulge in. The toxic people you choose not to engage with. The clutter you refuse to hold on to. The opportunities you turn down to make room for the right ones. The relationships you leave behind because they no longer align with your values. The fights you walk away from to preserve your peace.

While these choices may seem small, they can have a transformative effect on your life. In many cases, the things we choose not to do bring us greater clarity, focus, and fulfillment. 

Today, I want to explore the concept of doing lessand I invite you to reflect on the counterproductive behaviors that may be holding you back.

The Power of Saying No

It’s easy to feel like saying “no” is a weakness or that we’re missing out on something. But the truth is, saying no can be one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself.

When you say no, you’re not just rejecting something. You’re creating space—space for the things that matter.

Whether it’s saying no to a project that doesn’t align with your goals or turning down an invitation that doesn’t fit your values—each “no” is a step toward a more intentional life.

Here are two examples to help illustrate my point here.

  1. Two years ago, I turned down an opportunity to create a video series on a small network that would air on Ruku and Amazon Fire. Although the idea was intriguing, it would have required a lot of work that I did not have the capacity for at the time, and deep down, I knew it would only distract me from my true priorities.
  2. Just a few months ago, I was offered the opportunity to audition to host someone else’s YouTube channel. They would do the scripting and editing, and I would record. On the surface, it sounded simple, but I said no for various reasons—including the fact that it wasn’t aligned with my long-term vision.

I’m sharing these with you to show that saying no may not always be the easy thing to do. But if it doesn’t align with your values or the things you’d rather prioritize—saying no can be one of the most powerful things you can do.

As a solopreneur, this can be a dicey game—a true balancing act. Should I say yes, or should I say no? But I’ve learned something valuable while building my business. Doing more is not always the correct answer.

The Things We Resist Letting Go Of

We all have things in our lives that we resist letting go of, even when we know they are not serving us.

It might be a bad habit you’ve been holding on to for years. Maybe it’s a relationship that’s draining you, but you’re afraid of the fallout if you step away. Or it could be opportunities you keep saying “yes” to because you’re scared of missing out.

Letting go of these things isn’t easy. It feels like there’s always a reason to hold on. But the truth is, the longer we hold on to what isn’t serving us, the more we block ourselves from the clarity and growth we need to move forward.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of things on your plate, this is the reason why. You’re likely holding on to too many things—whether mental clutter, habits, professional opportunities, or relationships that no longer serve you.

And here’s the emotional cost: holding on to these things often leads to stress, anxiety, and burnout.

I want more for you than this.

Your First Step Toward Doing Less

Alright, so how do we start doing less?

It’s simple but not easy. To start—here are two questions I want you to ask yourself:

  • What are some things that, if you stopped doing them, could improve your life?
  • Why haven’t you stopped already?

(Consider using these as journaling prompts for the week ahead)

Once you have clarity around this, pick one thing and stop doing it.

Now, I know that’s easier said than done. But take a moment to think about what would happen if you stopped doing this one thing. Would it free up more time? More energy? More clarity?

Stopping one counterproductive action can feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s an incredibly powerful exercise. You’ll be surprised by how much more you can accomplish—and how much more peace you’ll find—when you stop doing what’s not serving you.

The luxury of doing less is creating space for what matters to you.

You don’t need permission to say no. And you certainly don’t need to apologize for choosing to be distraction-free.

That’s all for this week.

Protect your mental space—prioritize your values, and I’ll see you next Sunday.

 

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help:

1. The Declutter Kit: The most straightforward way to approach decluttering. I share 8+ years of expertise, proven methods, and actionable strategies. This course will help you save time, conquer your clutter, and prioritize your values.

2. Get my Core Values Worksheet: Step-by-step guide to help you identify your values (free).

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