This is something I tried as an experiment and it did work for me. It’s super-easy to set up (and a bit hard to execute, of course).
Half it
For the parts of life that are too much, half it.
- Never get through your to-do list? Half it.
- Watch loads of TV? Cut to 1 movie instead of 2, or 1 episode instead of 2, or 30 minutes instead of 60.
- Drink too much? Drink on Friday or Saturday, not both. Drink 1 glass not 2.
- Working too much? Work overtime 2 days a week instead of 4.
This will feel dramatic. It will feel impossible. It isn’t!
If after a couple of weeks your to-do list still doesn’t get done half it again.
And so on and so forth.
Double it
For the parts of life that are too little, double it.
- Miss spending time with the kids? Spend both weekend mornings with them instead of just Saturdays.
- Poor diet? Cook at home 4 nights a week instead of 2.
- Lack luster and flabby? Exercise twice a week instead of once.
- Feeling so alone? Go visit a friend this week as well as your parents.
This will feel dramatic. It will feel impossible. It isn’t!
If after a couple of weeks you still don’t feel like you’re eating well, half your going out budget or double your groceries budget.
And so on and so forth.
Sometimes we need a big change to generate some energy for smaller long term changes. When I halved my to-do list for instance, first of all it created some space in my brain because it felt achievable. Then it actually was achievable. It felt like a holiday! Did anything terrible happen as a result of the things I didn’t do? No! Of course not! It’s just a to-do list!
Imagine halving the time you spent working extra – doesn’t that feel like a holiday?
Imagine halving the amount of TV you watch. What might you do instead?
Now some things you can’t half or double (like day care or office hours) but I bet there are a bunch of things you can half or double and if it makes you feel a bit scared/grumpy when you think about doing it, it could mean you secretly want to try. What would you absolutely refuse to half or double? Do you know why?
It can be a fun eye opener to do experiments like this. It doesn’t have to be forever and it’s very revealing.
Half what’s holding you back and double what you love! Try it!
Kim
Co-founder, The Clean Sheet