How to Do Less š© You Donāt Love
Throw out the to-do list AND the bucket list and do this instead.
I absolutely love the long days of summer. In fact, this ThursdayĀ is the Summer Solstice āthe longest day of the year.Ā
I love how that means I can take Lucy š out for late evening walks and that John and I can sit outside on the back deck and read our books until almost 9:30 while the sun slowly sets. Itās glorious.
BUTā¦ the problem with long days? Long to-do lists. Somehow because we know summer is fleeting, we feel obligated to cram it full with things to do.
Now, donāt get me wrongā¦ thereās nothing wrong with having some plans (I mean, you know me, I am a planner!) BUTā¦ when you have ten thousand things you want to do in the next 3 months it can make summer fly by waaaaaay too fast.Ā
And it can make summer feel stressful. So, this year letās do something different.Ā
Your Anti-Bucket List
Letās make a list of things you donāt want to do.Ā
Yes - what not to do.Ā
I came across this idea for an anti-bucket list when I was researching for the podcast a few weeks ago when we talked about how to feel younger and stop worrying about your age. And I absolutely love it.
After all, in my book On Purpose, I say:Ā
Knowing what we like is helpful, but knowing what we donāt like, what we donāt want to repeat, is more than helpfulā itās powerful.
Iām all for powerful. What about you?
So I started thinking about what would go on my own anti-bucket list. And I found myself flittering around the Internet looking for ideas, when I stumbled upon a fashion blog focused on women who donāt really love to shop.
Anyone else out there who hates to shop? Or is that just me? I am good to go into maybe 3 stores before Iām all out of gas and I just cannot possibly look at any more racks of clothes.
Anyway, I started reading the first article which began like something this:
Iāve recently decided to take the word āflatteringā out of my vocabulary. It doesnāt matter whether an article of clothing really fits my body - itās really about taking advantage of the latest trends.
Ummmm. Did I just read that right? You donāt care if the clothes make you feel fabulous/sexy/amazing/whateverā¦ as long as you are on trend? Sorry, but no.
And thatās when I realized item number one on my anti-bucket list:
1 - Stop Wearing Things I Donāt Absolutely Love
I may hate to shop, but I draw the line at wearing clothes that donāt make me feel amazing.
Which then basically lead me to my second item:
2 - Only Buy Products from Companies I Actually Like
My money represents powerābuying power. And that means I can actually choose to support people and companies who I like. Full Disclosure: I donāt think every company has to have an activism statement (for the most part, I think most of those are just PR bullš© anyway). But I can give my money to companies that do what they say and say what they do (one of my own core values).Ā
Which got me thinkingā¦ how do I want to spend my money? And that got me to item #3:
3 - Buy Experiences, Not Things
About a year ago I started a running list of the best moments in my lifeā¦ in other words, the things that have made me happy, the things that I revisit in my head when I need an emotional boost. Some of them are big (when I told John he was going to be a dad) and some of them are so small, you might miss them (driving on the Blue Ridge Parkway with all the windows down). The list is 8 pages long so farā¦ and do you know how many of these best moments are actually items purchased?? Almost none.Ā
There are a few, like when I bought myself my dream watch as a way to celebrate a crazy successful launch and when I bought my first house at the age of 23. But even these are more about the experience than the things.
Thereās lots of other things on my listā¦ but Iād like you to take a minute and think about your anti-bucket list. What would be on that list?
Quitting is not an endā itās the first step in refocusing and redefining your life. It allows you to reclaim lost time and is the biggest ally in making time bend to your will.
And thatās what itās really all about. I want to have more timeāor at least feel like I do.Ā
The Old Practice: Thinking about alllll the things I want to do/need to do which makes me feel like Iām running out of time.Ā
The New Practice: Focus on what Iāve gotā¦ and choose to let go of the rest. That makes for a happier life.
Resources To Help
How To Feel Like You Have More Time
Ever feel stressed for time? Yeah, put that on your anti-bucket list. On last weekās episode, I shared strategies on how to stretch and bend time so you can feel less rushed. Listen on your favorite podcast player or watch it right here:
Track Record of Achievement - last week I shared a download I created to help you implement those strategies to create more time for yourself. If you didnāt grab it, go do that now! It will make a huge difference in your day.
Hereās the truth: If you live your life trying to avoid disappointing others, youāll end up only disappointing yourself.
Stop filling up your calendar with things, start crossing some things off. After all, when you are at a buffet, sometimes you have to choose to skip a few of tasty-looking side dishes to make more room for the shrimp cocktail.Ā
Let go of what doesn't serve you and save room for the good stuff my friend.Ā
3 Random (Fun) Things
Hereās a few things Iāve been doing, thinking, or reading about this weekā¦
š³Currently Cooking: Iām completely obsessed with these Coconut Almond Energy Bites. Actually K and John are obsessed with themā¦ Iām just fully making them on repeat every other week because those two canāt stop using them as an afternoon snack. Theyāre super quick and simple to make. Hereās a couple of tips: Sub almond butter for peanut butterā¦ and wear gloves otherwise it can feel like itās a mess. (But totally worth it!)
šWhat Iām Reading: I just finished reading The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue and absolutely LOVED it. In the past month, Iāve read about 8 books (thank you vacation week!) but thatās probably one of my favorites Iāve read recently.Ā
šØFavorite Summer Treat: These have been my go-to evening treat. I love that they are mini size, so it feels like Iām having a decadent dessertā¦ and because theyāre all natural, they are guilt-free. #winning
Yes, feeling the stress of squeezing it all in and also needing to work a fair amount over the summer. I do have time off carved out though.