Less is more—a New Year’s Resolution
Can you aim high whilst setting the bar as low as possible? This is a question we have been pondering for a while now. It might seem a bit counterintuitive at first but bear with us. We have been talking a lot lately about finding purpose, meaningfulness, and fulfilment in your daily routine—and your daily life in general—shifting your perspective away from your future plans and ambitions, and focusing on what is in front of you in the present time.
We think this strategy is a better way of finding happiness and mental clarity, and we have covered this topic in the following articles:
Your Daily Routine—Imagine Sisyphus Happy
In Praise Of The Ordinary Life
But… 2020 is behind us and a lot of us are looking into 2021 and wondering what we could be if we did the things we know we should do.
Less is more (if it’s done consistently)
We recently had a coffee talk where we assessed the training we’ve been doing over the last year, and a theme arose—”less is more (if it’s done consistently).” We’ve found that with our Microworkout Program. The base of 25 swings, four times throughout the day—seems to keep you very fit. Then we added in running 3-8km three times per week—and that felt great. So, then we added some more stuff—a push, a pull, a squat, a press—paired with the swings on different days. That worked so well—why not add some more stuff—how about three exercises per day—then how about four? Well, more was not better. The evidence was clear that two exercises per day seemed to be the magic combination—at 50-60% capacity, combined with the three runs per week. It’s manageable to be consistent with it, you are able to recover, and you feel good in the rest of your life. Let consistency be your guide—if it feels sustainable to be consistent with your training, and you’re fresh for the next training—then that is the right amount.
Less really is more, if done consistently. And don’t get confused by us swinging kettlebells and running. This perspective can be applied to any goal—be it golf, walking, or anything else. Find a daily dose that is sustainable and aim at a goal that is important to you.
So let’s recap the coffee talkers guide to a sustainable New Year’s Resolution:
Firstly, aim high. You should aim for something that is important for you personally, and have this goal as your “Northern Star.” In the interest of meaning, fulfilment, and sustainability, it should be a goal that fits in with the rest of your life.
Secondly, set the bar as low as possible. Find the minimum amount of work to get you closer to your goal, and do that work on a daily basis. You should never be so worn out that you feel negative about your next training session.
Scott and Lennart’s Resolutions
Over a recent coffee talk, we discussed our ideas for our own resolutions. We both shared a desire to be fitter and healthier. To that end, Lennart is going to follow a triathlon training program, but also wants to get back to some sports he enjoyed in his youth, like golf and archery. The general idea is to do things he enjoys.
Scott’s idea of a resolution is to keep committed to his morning self-care routine and microworkouts—with a reduced interest in always going heavier and harder. The general idea is that the goal is health and wellness and that all training should support the other activities of life.
We hope you found some New Year’s Resolution inspiration that is right for you.
We wish you a happy 2021 and let’s aim for a great year!
Good luck on your journey,
Scott and Lennart