Do FEWER Things!
by Stephen Doherty
May 10th, 2026
“Less … is the new more!” -Cleopas Mlilo
Being a lifelong Type-A personality, combined with an organic hyperactive physiological makeup – my pending retirement had the potential to be a grab-bag of hyper-kinetic activity, chaos, and endless bucket-list juggling. Surprisingly, it’s gone completely in the opposite direction as I’ve immersed myself into a narrow but deep array of rich and meaningful endeavors and pursuits.
I won’t bore you with the details because how we each define “deep and rich” is a personal choice, but the point is that depth trumps breadth in terms of contentment and joy – which drives happiness. By slowing down and focusing attention on fewer activities, I think we create richer experiences, stronger relationships, and a greater sense of peace and fulfillment.
A big obstacle to happiness in modern society is overstimulation. Smartphones, social media, emails, streaming platforms, and constant notifications continuously compete for our attention. Instead of fully enjoying moments, we often divide our focus between multiple distractions. This fragmentation creates stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Our brains rarely have an opportunity to rest or settle into calmness. Doing fewer things helps reduce this mental overload. When we intentionally simplify our schedules and limit unnecessary distractions, our minds become quieter and more emotionally balanced.
Slowing down just naturally improves the quality of everyday experiences. When people constantly multitask, even enjoyable moments lose much of their emotional richness. Meals become hurried, vacations become packed itineraries, and conversations become shallow because attention is already focused on the next task.
In contrast, doing fewer things allows us to become fully present. A morning walk feels more peaceful when someone notices the sounds of nature and the warmth of the sun. Time with family becomes more meaningful when phones and distractions are removed. The most ordinary moments become much more satisfying when we are fully engaged, present, and in the moment.
We all want meaningful relationships and authentic experiences, but busy lives often leave little room for either. Constant activity can make us feel disconnected from ourselves and others. Slowing down creates space for deeper conversations, reflection, gratitude, and genuine connection.
A quiet dinner with friends, an uninterrupted conversation, or simply sitting peacefully with loved ones often brings more lasting happiness than endless entertainment or material pursuits. I’m learning to savor life instead of rushing through it. I’m discovering that joy grows when moments are nurtured and enjoyed rather than hurried or cut short.
Doing fewer things can also reduce the constant pressure of comparison and achievement. Modern culture encourages us to chase more success, more possessions, more experiences, and more validation. Social media intensifies this mindset by exposing all of us to carefully curated images of other people’s lives.
This often creates feelings of inadequacy and the belief that what we do is never enough. Choosing a simpler lifestyle challenges this unhealthy cycle. It allows us to focus less on external validation and more on personal fulfillment. Happiness grows when we stop measuring life by how much we accomplish and begin measuring it by how deeply we enjoy our experiences.
Ultimately, our happiness is not found in living faster or accumulating more activity. True happiness often comes from presence, simplicity, and emotional depth. Doing fewer things does not mean abandoning ambition or purpose. Rather, it means becoming more intentional with time, attention, and energy.
In a world that constantly demands more, slowing down can become a powerful act of emotional wellbeing. By embracing fewer distractions and richer experiences, we rediscover something that modern life frequently steals from us – genuine happiness via the “less is more” axiom. I hope to see YOU … in the deep end of the pool!
“Much better to do fewer things
and have time to make the most of them.” -Carl Honore
