The Case For Not Doing The Most

PSA: Rest is Productive!

There was a time - not that long ago - when I believed that being busy equalled meaning. That a full calendar was proof of purpose. That a day packed with appointments, content, errands, and “just one more thing” was how I showed up in the world. I didn’t question it. I just kept going.

This post is about the quiet strength of scaling back. It’s about reclaiming the space between. It’s about listening to your body and your spirit. Let’s get into it…

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The Myth of More

For most of my adult life, I believed that “more” was the goal. More output. More projects. More emails answered before 9am. More events. More invitations said yes to. And in the world around me, doing the most was seen as admirable. Productive. Successful. Even when it left me feeling hollow and severely burnt out.

There’s a strange sort of praise we give to people who are always “on.” Who show up everywhere. Who reply instantly. Who post online daily. We’re told it’s discipline, drive, dedication. But at some point, I started to wonder: who does that story actually serve?

Because “more” is rarely just more joy, more rest, or more meaning. It’s usually just more noise. More comparison. More things to hold, manage, perfect.

Around the time I founded MIRROR WATER, I started to unpick the spell. To notice how “the most” creeps in, disguised as opportunity. It tells me I should be doing more, sharing more, being more. Perhaps it’s also the reality of living “online” and the fear of needing to stay relevant… because you’re entire livelihood literally depends on it.

It’s not always easy - but I’ve learned that I can do less and still be proud. That I don’t have to earn rest with exhaustion.