Could less be more?

Unstacked but not listless

I’ve been thinking a lot about what I wrote last week and my incessant list making. My need to be productive and making “good” use of time. We really do have the same 24 hours in a day as Beyonce, you know! 

I’ve started to see the phrase “habit stacking” more and more and all I can think is NO. If we are to bring social media into the equation as well, I have more things fighting for my attention span than I’ve fought to get through to the doctor for an appointment at 8 in the morning. 

It also sounds a bit like that thing women have been told they do for centuries. What is that again? Oh yeah, multitasking. A pretty sophisticated rebrand to make it seem more appealing for men, huh. Although the context of female multitasking usually equates to managing to clean the house, get kids to school and still have dinner on the table by the time your husband’s key opens the front door. The OG tradwife habit stack. 

I guess I’m not entirely being fair here. The premise, explained in S. J. Scott’s book of the same name, is to embed new habits you want to create with existing ones. So It can be something as simple as after brushing your teeth, you’ll stretch for 5 minutes. The habit of cleaning your teeth, something you don’t even think about doing anymore, will then help to remind and encourage you to adopt stretching into your routine. But I think I actually need to learn to un-habit un-stack and actually do less. 

Photo by Tim Koller on Unsplash

Emma Gannon

recently wrote about The life-changing magic of finding a hobby. “I needed to find something purely for pleasure, something I absolutely could not turn into a job.” She continues on to say how she’s found swimming to be an incredible pastime. One where phones are tucked away in lockers and minds stand still. As I think about how much I’ve spoken about the magic of swimming and the peace of mind it brings me, I realise there really is no original thought - but I’m glad. 

Something like getting into the habit of going swimming, doesn't need to have the pressure of being attached to another habit you’re already doing. It doesn't need to be something measured against other habits, chastising ourselves for our failure the one day we decide not to do it. We can have hobbies, things we dip in and out of - like a swimming pool, perhaps. 

When I need to reflect on the simplicity of life and finding purpose, it’s often

Alex Elle

I turn to. In Notes to Self, she writes that “each season of your life will have pockets of quiet. Lean into them. And instead of rushing to fill silence and stillness with noise and busyness, learn to embrace the still moments.” This is what I need to cultivate more of. If I am to keep making lists (which I will) then I need to make sure my days aren’t overfilled with tasks I simply can’t complete and that time for nothing is allowed. 

Today I thought about bringing my phone into the bathroom with me to listen to music while I shower and I decided not to. I sometimes struggle to lean into a quieter, slower pace. Times that often call for rest, if not of my literal physical body then definitely of my mind. Allowing my thoughts to meander by themselves. Uninhabited, if you will, by the overload and overwhelm of all the optimisation and productivity that’s practically begged of us in modern society.