How we get things done is important. And sometimes more is not necessarily — well — more. Sometimes more is doing less.
Clutter is a common experience for us. Whether it is physical, emotional, possessions, relationships, or what you do, ineffectiveness can come from too much on your plate of life.
While this theme and experience shows up in areas of wise living, productivity, and Christian life planning, or the Christian life in general, this is a common experience for all in our times.
Perhaps you recognize the swirling tornado of life’s efforts or options:
- Work Loads: Whatever our work, there is for many the “doing” side but also the items not directly related. Our busy-ness shows up in other elements such as meetings or email that fill margin.
- Home Life: With online tools, there are more opportunities for choices. Whether the sports opportunities for kids, a restaurant to enjoy, or just trying to choose grass seed, we now can spend a lot of time researching a multitude of options.
- Relationships: Social media has given opportunity to stay in contact. But what is the filter for discerning when too many is too many. Is staying in contact with the most people really the best?
- Hobbies: There are many options for things for us to do. Do I deepen my guitar playing or explore a curiosity in learning piano? Do I re-read a Christian classic or get to a new book I haven’t read?
And the list could go on in various ways. What am I to be doing? How much? Is more better? If not, what should I cut?
Thinking About Doing Less: God’s Economy
One of the key things I had to learn (and continue to learn) as a follower of Jesus is how God’s math is not mine. The way things work out best is not always by what we understand directly or even by experience.
One of the key things I had to learn (and continue to learn) as a follower of Jesus is how God’s math is not mine.
One place we see this is with John the Baptist. He is leading a vibrant ministry with great fruit. People are coming to him and he is bringing them to God. In the midst of this, his cousin, Jesus, comes on the scene with a pretty amazing moment.
Was a family rivalry about to erupt? Or a concern that God’s work was giving way to some grandstanding?
No, instead of guarding or becoming defensive, John the Baptist comes to a different, counter-intuitive idea. Various translations express it differently but it comes to “He must become greater; I must become less.”
In Jesus’ teaching around the lost sheep, there is the sense that we may put our main resources to pursuing the one and leaving the 99. It is not always for the most that we are to work.
Despite being the one that is whole and holy, Paul reminds us that Jesus’ example is one of emptying himself in his coming.
God’s view can be very different than ours. And in trying to do more, or lacking the discipline to cut or reduce, we often experience not just busy lives but cluttered souls.
Impact of NOT Doing Less
As we live and steward our life in our bodies, not surprisingly, what we do with them affects what we experience. Doing less can be about our schedules, priorities, relationships, as well as literally the physical clutter.
An interesting research-based article on the impact of clutter on one’s physical and mental health provides some great things to think about. Among the impacts are the interconnection of physical health, mental health, neuroscience, and into more specific topics there.
Using the theme of decluttering, the article above notes (with short descriptions of the impact that are worth checking out):
- Decluttering can reduce stress
- Decluttering can help you sleep better
- Decluttering can boost your productivity
- Decluttering can help you eat better
- Decluttering can help you lose weight
Those sounds pretty good. So where do we go from here?
Where to Get Started Doing Less
Here are some questions that may assist you:
- Which of the reasons above is most out of alignment for you? (Even read the impact in the article for more info.)
- What people or causes would God impact through you if you didn’t have that hurdle? (The more specific, the better.)
- In that area, what is one way you can begin doing less, declutter, or bring your life into rhythm?
- Cutting: Removing something to do something else (like get to bed earlier).
- Trading: For example, less of a hobby or activity to spend some time with God or take a sabbath.
- Add: Put something in that adds to your health, like exercise or silence and solitude with God.
God is not calling us into a “do it all” life. But there may be struggles, even in decluttering, of where the cross is in change, dealing with negative thinking or coping when the bad happens.
No matter the experience, live in the words of Christ (Matthew 11:28): “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Yes, sometimes doing less is doing more.
What are your ideas or experiences on doing less or decluttering life/home?
Image Credit: Photo by Pixabay
