When Less Is More

In this world, everyone always seems to want more. More money, more fame, more time…more, more, more. However, more isn’t always good for you. In fact, there are several instances in which less is better. Do you find that hard to believe?

It won’t be once you go through this list. The following are some examples of things that you may want to cut down on versus trying to stockpile in the name of happiness:

Processed Food

It’s easy to get caught up in grabbing your food on the go, but the more processed and ready to eat something is, the more preservatives and unnatural fillers it has.

While that may not seem like a huge deal, it’s like the difference between drinking muddy water and water that has been put through a filtration system. One is good for you and the other, well, not so much.

Have you ever looked at a nutrition label for the foods you eat? Take the time to do it just once and you may be shocked to see the things that you’re putting in your body (most of which you probably won’t be able to pronounce).

Not only are these substances not exactly healthy, but you may be sensitive to them and not even realize it. For example, according to an article on NaturalNews.com, approximately 10% of all consumers are sensitive to sulfites.

These can be found in alcoholic beverages as well as many different convenience foods like chips and crackers, as well as lunch meats and pizza. You may be in this 10% which could be affecting your quality of life and not even know it.

It’s always best to choose natural (and organic) foods as often as possible. Pick ones that are in their fresh from the farm state, or at least choose items that have a small list of natural (and understandable) ingredients. The fewer chemicals you take in, the better you’ll likely feel.

Stress

worryingly businesswoman on the phone

This is pretty much a no-brainer, but it’s still a point that is often ignored. Some people thrive on stress and think that they wouldn’t achieve success without it. While it’s true that a certain amount of stress can push you to reach new heights, it is possible to cross the line and essentially overdose on it.

If you don’t find a release for your stress, you’re like a balloon being filled beyond its limits. Eventually you will find yourself in a position when you can’t take any more and then you’ll explode.

This may put you in a position where you say mean things that you can’t take back, or worse, you’ll do something you later regret. Either way, it’s no good for you and anyone else that is involved.

Take the time to regularly release some of the stress that you’re feeling so that your balloon doesn’t get too full. Find things to do that soothe you and relieve your tension.

Maybe it means going for a daily walk, or perhaps it involves taking a weekly night out with friends. Whatever it is, make it a point to do it so you don’t find yourself self-destructing.

Work

Most people put in 40-60 hours a week and feel that it’s necessary to meet the bills or achieve financial goals that they set out for themselves. While that amount is probably fairly reasonable for most people, if you have a job that often requires more hours than this, it’s likely that you don’t have a healthy work/home balance.

This is probably more prevalent with people who are self-employed or those that like to over-achieve. Both of these instances require a lot of work and dedication. Long hours become a regular expectation as you try to establish yourself and get where it is that you want to be.

While it may be understandable that you’d have to endure this type of schedule from time to time, if it becomes something that is more the rule than the exception, you may have a problem brewing. Not only do you likely suffer from greater stress because of it (which we’ve already covered), but your family life could be in jeopardy as well.

An understanding spouse can only ‘understand’ for so long before they become resentful and bitter towards always being second fiddle to your work. And kids don’t always make the connection and feel left out and unimportant. Heck, even the family dog may bark when you walk in the door because you’re there so little that he or she doesn’t recognize you.

Put in the time that you need to get where you want to be, but don’t become so consumed that you forget what is important. No one ever gets on their death bed and wishes that they would have spent more time at work and less with family. Let them know how much you love and care for them by making them a priority as often as possible.

Fun

young beautiful woman in depression drinking wine

Okay, before you freak out at seeing fun on the “less is more” list, wait until you hear the explanation first. There are a couple types of fun: helpful and hurtful. The one that is being referenced here is the hurtful kind.

This is the fun that you have that results in negative consequences. Maybe you drink too much on weekends which leads you to making unsafe choices. Or perhaps you engage in certain behaviors when you’re out with friends that can hurt you in the long run (like smoking, doing drugs or meeting partners whom you have unsafe sex with). This is the type of fun that you really need to reconsider and limit, if not eliminate completely.

Look, it’s a good thing to go out and have a good time to blow off some steam and create some positive memories. You just need to make sure that it’s a type of fun that can’t potentially harm you and make your life more complex and stressful than it already is.

Try to stick to activities that can only benefit you. For example, if you want to go out for a drink with friends, that is fine; just be responsible. Don’t drive drunk and don’t consume so much alcohol that you don’t know what you’re doing. Too many people are injured or killed in this senseless and unnecessary sort of way – don’t make yourself one of them.

Life is about walking that fine line of moderation. You want to have enough to be happy but not so much that it’s overpowering. Find that balance and your life will be more pleasurable than you could have imagined.

About the author

Christina DeBusk

Changing careers mid-life from law enforcement to writing, Christina spends her days helping others enrich their businesses and personal lives one word at a time.

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