Accomplish More, Do Less: Find Your True North

by Laurie Erdman

Like the average Care2 reader, I have a lot of things going on. This year I’ve made hundreds of pots, been working a day job, practicing daily yoga, writing for Owning Pink, writing for my own blogs, cookings lots of healthy meals, serving on a non-profit board, returning to school . . . Oh heck, you get the idea – it’s a long list of commitments. At least once a week someone asks me, “How do you do it all?” My answer is always the same – I do less.

Whhaaat? I know it sounds ironic, but one of the tools in my radical self-care toolbox is “doing less.” But how is that possible when I am doing more than I ever did? Even I was confused by this paradox.

Those Were the Days

To understand how I discovered this paradox, we have to turn the clock back over the last fifteen years. Those were the days when I worked 60 plus hours a week and was defined by my job. I could never seem to do enough. I would sign up for book clubs or yoga classes as part of my self care, only to never show up because of work obligations. Eventually, I dropped out of all extra-curricular activities because they created too much stress in my life. The only exception was pottery. There was something powerful enough in clay that I found the self-love to protect my six hours of weekly studio time. Everything else, however, was up for trade to the almighty job.

Why did I live like this? Fear. I feared I would lose my job if I failed at the littlest thing. And that fear spawned a number of other fears about supporting myself, being a failure, etc. Were any of my fears true? Of course not. But I was too uncertain of my own worth and abilities to see the truth. I was stuck.

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Henriette M.

7:39AM PST on Feb 6, 2011

Thanks.

February 6
send a green star

E I T.

7:26AM PST on Jan 10, 2011

I needed this! Thx!

January 10
send a green star

Nancy S.

6:48PM PST on Jan 4, 2011

Nice

January 4
send a green star

beverly g.

4:50PM PST on Jan 4, 2011

thks for this article. intresting.

Carol C.

3:58PM PST on Jan 2, 2011

Noted. Thanks.

January 2
send a green star

Pat T.

2:42PM PST on Dec 27, 2010

This has happened to me and I am able to do
so many things that I enjoy and one big one is my practice helping people feel good and be rejuvenated which does the same for me and there is so much time to be with my family and friends and run and hike and go on line with my friends and family,read and write, garden learn new things,ride my bike,eat Organic food and love my life among many more experiences
pat