Why less is more
The term “limitless” has an overtly positive and freeing connotation – you might picture a bird’s unclipped wings as it climbs higher and higher, soaring through the cloud layer and beyond. But what if that bird kept flying higher? If it left our atmosphere, it would croak and spiral back down to Earth. That’s the part of the story that no one tells you.
Good ol’ Leo of Zen Habits has a thing or two to contribute when it comes to the presence, or absence, of limits in our lives. The way he sees it, we have the entire world at our fingertips – the other side of the hemisphere is within arm’s reach at any given moment.
The Internet is a magical thing, and allows folks like me to have a job. But if we cut down our time online and using our phones to only two hours per day, it would free up countless hours we could be spending reading a book, going on a jog, or having a good old fashioned conversation with a loved one. I think Reddit would be just fine if you took a day off.
You probably spend eight to ten hours at work per day. But how wisely do you use that time? Are you goofing off with your coworkers, counting tiles in the ceiling, or playing Candy Crush Saga on your phone?
If you only did this one thing
Leo proposes that if you only had a mere 6 hours at work, you’d put more emphasis on prioritizing your duties. You’d tackle the most important things first and make sure you got them done in a timely manner. Then, instead of discreetly distracting yourself, you could fully and openly enjoy the two hours you shaved off your workday.
If you had to eat fewer meals, you would make the meals you do eat count. If I could only eat twice per day, I don’t think Sour Patch Kids would make the cut. Less is more in cases like these, and we might be too oversaturated with anything and everything we want to realize what we need.
I think the point this sage of a blogger is trying to drive home is that in most cases, quality trumps quantity. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t understand where he’s coming from. Setting limits for yourself can be healthy. Think about it.
