Why Doing Less Can Lead To More

I’m doing something I never thought I’d do.

Recently, my friend Dr. Liz Lasky—an incredible therapist and coach—shared on her Instagram stories that her one big goal for the rest of the year was to watch more television.

Period.

I’ll admit, I was a bit shocked. At first, I thought she was joking, but as she repeated it several times, I realized she wasn’t kidding at all.

Now, mind you, this is a woman who is a mother to a young child, a wife, and runs a busy, thriving business. And yet, her one major goal for the rest of the year involves doing something completely “unproductive?”

There was something about her declaration that made me breathe a huge sigh of relief.

As you may know, I’m 11 months postpartum, and to put it mildly, I’m still exhausted.

Some days, I wake up and can barely string two sentences together. I wonder where my creative energy has gone. My tank feels like it’s negative zero—and believe me, that’s as low as it sounds. But, like Liz, I’m also a mother to young children, a wife, and a business owner.

Could I, too, make a goal that involves simply lying down and doing… nothing? Is it possible that I also am allowed to just… rest?

After wrestling with this idea for a bit, I decided to set my own radical goal for the remainder of the month: to rest. That’s right—rest, however I need it, as often as I need it—no guilt.

It didn’t mean I wouldn’t get things done or check things off my list. But when I reached a point that I just couldn’t push through, I would kick up my feet and just lay.

Giving myself permission to rest, to not be constantly “productive,” felt almost rebellious in today’s society.

In a world where we’re encouraged to always do more, produce more, create more, it feels significant to say, “Forget it—I’m doing way, way less.”

This has looked like me staying in my pj’s all day during the week, going for a massage in the middle of a workday or laying on my bed under my covers, staring into space. Glorious!

As a result, I’ve noticed a huge shift: my mood has improved, I’m more patient with my husband, and I’m not beating myself up like I had been the last several months.

The biggest, perhaps most significant revelation is that I am starting to feel creative again. It seems like rest is actually the very thing I needed to start to fill up my tank.

Research shows that rest is needed for our physical and mental well-being. It helps our brains process information, boost creativity, and solidify memories, while reducing stress hormones, supporting brain function, and refreshing focus. Physically, rest allows our bodies to heal, lowers blood pressure, strengthens immunity, and restores energy.

In a culture that equates productivity with worth, it can feel radical to prioritize rest, but science tells us it’s actually one of the best things we can do for ourselves.

What about you? Is there a ‘do less’ goal you’d love to try but feels almost too rebellious?

Here are a few fun ideas: 

• Master the “I’ll Do It Tomorrow” Mindset – Lean into procrastination as a philosophy. Whenever something comes up, say, “Future Me has this covered.”
• Declare a “No Plans” Day – Literally, make it a rule that no plans are allowed. If someone asks you to do something, your answer has to be, “Sorry, I’m busy… doing absolutely nothing.
• Listen to a Podcast, But Only the Ads – Give yourself permission to ignore the content and just listen to all the random products you’d never buy. So satisfying.

Giving yourself permission to slow down could be the most powerful thing you do for your health and happiness.

I’d love to hear from you. Hit reply and let me know what feels like a radical goal you can set for yourself that is anti productivity?

Can’t wait to hear what you’re not working on! 😉

Love,
Erin

P.S. I love this movement practice inside The Movement, because it literally involves stretching in bed. The ultimate restful movement. Check it out!