Do Less in 2018

In about a week, everyone, including our planet, will be making a fresh start so join in and make next year about yourself.

Like everyone else around you, you’re probably taking a look at 2017 right now and doing a personal tally. There’s a few questions we like to ask ourselves at the end of a year, like Was I successful? Did I overcome any difficulties? Start new projects or hobbies? Did I take care of myself health-wise?

Let's do things differently this time

All excellent questions, but all aimed to check if there is anything more that we could have done. This year, we propose a challenge – pose yourself a new set of questions, ones aimed at checking if there is anything less that you could have done, to make yourself feel better.

• Did you worry about things you shouldn't have?
• What made you feel tired just by thinking about it?
• How much did you do for yourself and how much so that others would approve?
• Did you spend too much time doing things that now don’t seem as important anymore?
• Did you spend energy on any relationships even though you knew it was a one-sided affair?

Take a few minutes to think about each question and the answers you come up with. If you’re happy with the results - great job, keep it up! If not, here’s a few things to keep in mind going forward.

Forgive yourself 

Let's be real, no one is perfect, no matter how much the media would have us think otherwise. And you’re no exception. To err is human, remember? So when you do make a mistake (and you will), there are two things you must do. First, try to make it right and second, forgive yourself.

Loosen up 

Stress is the worst and the irony is that we only have ourselves to blame for feeling stressed out. If you can make yourself stress out, you can also make yourself relax. Is it a life-or-death situation? Will it implode if you don’t do something about it right now? If the answer to both questions is no, then relax.

Believe in yourself 

It’s important to remember that every journey begins with a first step and no one is the exception to this rule. So when you come across an overwhelming task, don’t look at the finished result or the whole thing all at once. Think about what step you need to take first and do that. Then repeat the process with every next step until you get there.

Be kind to others 

It doesn’t cost anything, and you never know, your tiny act of kindness could make their whole day or even better; it could remind them to be kind to others too. Look at you, changing the world, just by being yourself!

Expand your interests 

Say yes more often. When an opportunity presents itself, instead of thinking Why? think Why not? And if you can’t come up with a good reason to say no, then say yes.  

Have fun 

We saved the best for last :)

Start this New Year’s lighter and worry less about the stuff you can't change and the rest - do something about it!