Doing less | mindfulness meditation

The Value In Doing Less

Published On: March 31, 2021

Categories: Meditation, Wellness

Even in the midst of a life-changing pandemic, we are still “encouraged” to do more. To “take advantage”  of this time at home and to see what you can accomplish. We’ve all seen the quotes going around about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the plague, Taylor Swift released 2 new albums. Leaving us to ask ourselves “so what great work will I accomplish??”

Yet, the question that we don’t ask ourselves enough is what can I let go of?

When we check in with ourselves, we start to realize that there are things that we need to do for ourselves (body, mind and soul) and they might not be one of the many items on the pandemic lists of 2020 that have been floating around.

I don’t know about you, but I did not bake any sourdough bread while in quarantine. In fact, the only baking that I did was at Christmas. And I bake something at every Christmas so this was business as usual for me. Except that I baked less this time.

Ah, doing less. What comes up for you when you think about doing less?

Does your inner critic pipe up with all of the things that you “should” be doing the moment that you decide to sit down and take some time for yourself?

The Purpose Behind Doing Less

Telling someone to “just do less” may sound easy, but the reality is it can actually be very hard. Especially if you are the type of person who likes to keep busy otherwise they feel unproductive and lazy.

But the thing is, that’s not actually true. While we might think that #doingallthethings makes us productive and that the alternative is just laziness, we’re actually able to feel some sense of accomplishment and joy in what we do – by doing less.

Making the conscious choice to do less, for its own sake, can be startling and transformative.

Just imagine what it would be like to have a real and unhurried conversation in the middle of the workday with someone you care about? What would that feel like?

Imagine completing one task at a time and feeling calm and happy about it. Imagine waking up in the morning and engaging in a gratitude practice – simply for being alive and that the sun is shining.

When we make the conscious choice to do less, we mindfully choose the things that matter to us. Almost immediately we can start to feel a sense of ease.

Choosing less, means being aware of what you are doing. This new awareness means that the mindless doom scrolling starts to happen less. We stop trying to multi-task (which doesn’t even really work) and we do just this one thing. And then we do the next thing. And the next.

Slow Down to Do More

This new attention that you’re bringing to your work? Means that you are no longer running around from task to task. You feel more focused and able to complete the task that you sat down to do. Because by doing less, you’ve already eliminated most of the distractions that keep you off task.

Mindfulness can help you to tap into and connect to yourself. To start you on the process of noticing when you are taking on too much, when you need to let go and to start asking what’s needed now?

A Mindfulness Practice for Doing Less

For this practice you don’t even need to get up from your desk. It’s called an Intentional Pause and it’s a deliberate slowing down and pausing in between tasks.

Finish writing a blog post? Great! Stop, take a moment to check in, take a few slow breaths, notice what’s going on inside and outside of you, and then gently move to the next task.

That’s it. That’s the practice.

I like to do this one throughout my day. Choosing moments of stillness helps me to connect into myself which always helps me to make the best business decisions that are right for me.

Getting into the car after grocery shopping? Take an intentional pause after you sanitize your hands before shifting the car out of park.

Moving from the “office” to the next room in your house. Pause, check in and then go.

You can do this practice over and over again.

Every time we practice pausing we learn how to be still and how to be with ourselves. Which is a great skill to develop for ourselves.

a mindfulness practice for doing less

STOP the panic, mindfulness, meditation, therapy
STOP the panic, mindfulness, meditation, therapy

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

Charlene Gethons

Hey there, I'm Charlene!

I help creative entrepreneurs with chronic illness create a sustainable business that fits their lifestyle without letting imposter syndrome take over.

Charlene is an entrepreneur, psychotherapist and mindfulness coach living with chronic illness after she was hit by a bus.

🌈 As a registered psychotherapist, I know the power of therapy and the importance of having therapeutic skills in our back pocket. 

Sometimes, though, we need more support between sessions or while on a waitlist. That's where skills come in! 

They can be a game-changer in managing our mental health. 

Discover the skills I've learned as a psychotherapist and how they can enhance your coping abilities in today's podcast episode. 🧠💪 #SkillsForWellness #TherapySupport #MentalHealth
Are you tired of letting self-doubt hold you back? It’s time to break free and take action! 🚀 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In my podcast episode, I reveal how mindfulness meditation can help you overcome self-doubt and build resilience. 🌿💪 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Discover the power of sitting with your thoughts, embracing your fears, and making friends with your inner critic. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Let’s silence those doubts and unlock your true potential! 🌟 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Tune in and let’s conquer self-doubt together! 🎧✨ #OvercomeSelfDoubt #Mindfulness #Resilience
Hey there! 😊 As an entrepreneur and solopreneur, I make countless decisions every day. But you know what? I've always struggled with self doubt and anxiety. 🤔 

In today's post, I want to share with you how mindfulness meditation has helped me overcome those doubts and insecurities. 

Grab a cup of tea or coffee and join me in my virtual living room. Let's talk about how to embrace self doubt and find peace within ourselves. 🧘‍♀️🌿 #MindfulnessMeditation #OvercomeSelfDoubt #EmbraceYourJourney
Ready for the deal of the year? 

I wanted to let you know about an incredible thing happening this week that’s going to help take your business to new heights.

I've teamed up with @iamdanifairhurst and a whole bunch of other AMAZING entrepreneurs to bring you the Bold Biz Growth Bundle - a curated collection of 70+ courses, workshops, templates and other resources designed to supercharge your business growth and success! 🤯

Inside the bundle, you'll find my program, Silencing Your Inner Critic, alongside a treasure trove of resources, tools, and strategies from online biz experts. From mindset magic to sales secrets, there's something for everyone.

But here's the best part: you can snag the entire bundle for just $47!

Ready to invest in your business's future? The Bold Biz Growth Bundle is live right now but be fast as cart closes on Tuesday, 19th March. 

Click the #affiliate link in my bio for all the details.
🌻 Embrace Confidence and Overcome Shyness 🌸💪

Are you tired of feeling shy and socially anxious? I get it, I've been there too. But guess what? Mindfulness meditation can help you overcome those barriers and build confidence from within. 🌟💫 

Say goodbye to self-doubt and hello to a more empowered you! 
🌺💪

On today's podcast episode I share all about how mindfulness meditation helped me to get out of my head and into my life. 

Shy Charlene could never do half the things that Mindful Charlene has been able to do
 #confidencebuilding #overcomingshyness #mindfulness
🌻 Acceptance is not about seeing only the positive side of things. 

It's about embracing the reality of this moment, the good and the bad. Sometimes it's hard to see the positive, and that's okay. 

By practicing acceptance from a more neutral standpoint, we can let go of the pressure to always find the silver lining. 

Remember, two opposing things can be true at the same time. Let's practice acceptance and find peace in the present moment. 

#Acceptance #Mindfulness #RealityCheck
🌿 Hey there, fellow entrepreneurs! 🌿

Feeling overwhelmed with anxiety and burnout? I've got something special just for you - introducing my 7 Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge! 🧘‍♂️🌟

In just 10 minutes a day, this challenge will guide you through mindfulness practices and meditations designed to help you quickly calm your mind and find peace amidst the chaos. 🌺

Featuring soothing guided meditations and insightful video trainings, this challenge is your ticket to a calmer, more centered you. 🧘‍♀️✨

Say goodbye to stress and hello to tranquility with my 7 Day Mindfulness Meditation Challenge. Let's embark on this journey together! 🌿💫

Click the link in my bio to get started today!
#Mindfulness #Meditation #SelfCare #EntrepreneurLife🧘🏻‍♀️💕🙏🏻
This week on 🎙️ Calm Amidst the Chaos🎙️, I share a little bit about what it’s been like being a high achiever who now has a traumatic brain injury. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I speak vulnerably about the shift from being a in a “race car” to now driving an older model with a faulty gas gauge and all that that entails. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
And how mindfulness has been a game-changer for me during this time. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Since learning mindfulness I’ve created the tools, practices and strategies to help me navigate the difficult and challenging times. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ To help me to deal with the anxieties and stress that come along with running my own business. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨To meet the sadness and the moments when I am feeling disappointed, frustrated and depressed as a result of my life being turned upside down in a moment - twice. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
✨ To continue to show up and serve every day because I know just how truly valuable this information is and that everyone needs to know it. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It is my goal to help other entrepreneurs with chronic illnesses and disabilities to heal their anxiety so that they can prevent and manage their burnout. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Join me on my podcast this week as I share my journey of rebuilding and finding strength in the face of adversity. 🌟💪 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Click the link in my bio to sign up for my FREE 7 day mindfulness meditation challenge so that you can start to build your meditation toolkit to prepare for difficult and challenging times. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#Rebuilding #FindingStrength #NewBeginnings  #Mindfulness #PresentMoment #CalmAmidstChaos #traumaticbraininjury #highachiever
🌟 Life can change in an instant, and it's not always easy to navigate the new reality. Today, I'm sharing my journey of rebuilding after a traumatic brain injury. Join me in my virtual living room as we talk about resilience and finding joy amidst the chaos. 🌈✨ #MindfulnessJourney #Rebuilding #FindingJoy
Did you know that in addition to online courses I also have been brought in to lead a mindfulness workshop at other companies/organizations?
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Over the last 7 years I have helped people learn how to quickly calm their mind when they are feeling stressed or anxious. All by using nothing but your breath. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I’ve taught at TD, AMEX, the TDSB, and BIAYR. I’ve even led a meditation (virtually) from the inside of the ROM during the pandemic!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Each workshop I’ve taught has been tailored to the population and setting that I was going to be speaking at. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
The common denominator is reducing stress so that you can prevent burnout. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Want to learn more about how we can work together? Send me a quick email at the link in my bio.