Do Less and Touch Grass

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Our days are full of countless tasks and endless responsibilities. We have come to accept feelings of exhaustion as normal and expected. We even have adages to describe these experiences: “spreading ourselves thin” and “burning the candle at both ends.”

Though our intentions are good, living life this way often translates to a subpar performance on most of our daily duties. If we take on too much, we simply can’t do it all. What’s the solution?

Do Less

Do less. It might sound impossible, but doing less is actually a realistic solution to burnout. This is not a new idea.

In the 1800s, Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian philosopher and mathematician, developed what would come to be known as the Pareto Principle, or the 80/20 rule. Simply put: Investing in the most important tasks—the top 20 percent—will yield the most significant impact (80 percent of your results). In other words, curating your daily goals to the essentials, meaning those that align with your core values, will allow you to be more successful and feel accomplished. Not only that, doing less actually creates space to live in the moment, connect, and clear your headspace. Instead of “doing” things, you are “being” present. Doing less is tantamount to self-care. It is a kindness to ourselves that we all deserve.

Doing less is not easy. It takes effort. It is an intentional choice every day, sometimes multiple times a day. It requires planning and actually goes against what we think we should be doing. That is because our society is set up to reward tangible accomplishments that we can see.

But what if we reward ourselves for accomplishments that we can feel? Instead of checking off endless tasks to feel productive, try giving yourself a gold star for taking a bath, reading a book for pleasure, calling a friend, going outside, or taking a walk. If we reframe our goals to be inclusive of self-care, we can reclaim our sense of fulfillment beyond those that are rewarded in a capitalistic society. This kind of productivity has real value. These types of daily accomplishments can release dopamine and serotonin levels in your brain and reduce stress, helping you to feel better and more successful.

Touch Grass

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"Touch grass" has become common slang. I liken it to the much older phrase “stop and smell the roses.” Both may sound silly or cheeky, but they are vital pieces of wisdom.

In today’s handheld device-laden world where we fall down rabbit holes of clickbait, experiencing a temporary high from satisfying our curiosities, it is easy to forget the value of nature. But going outside has proven powerful effects on your brain and your mood. According to one report, just 15 minutes outside can reduce stress by dropping your cortisol levels and increasing the production of “feel-good” chemicals (serotonin and dopamine). Being in nature can also produce a calming effect on the mind.

But touching grass is more than just a literal concept—you don’t actually have to touch grass. The concept of “touching grass” is all about unplugging and being mindful. If nature isn’t your thing, maybe getting creative or playful is. What you do really isn’t important; it’s more about how you do it. The "touch grass" mentality is making the deliberate choice to be present with yourself.

Do Less and Touch Grass

Combining these two practices creates a sense of balance. “Do less and touch grass” gives you permission to be kind to yourself and reward yourself when you are. It is the embodiment of self-care and a reminder that our needs matter.