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What would happen if we reduced any excess in our life by just half? It’s not that hard to do when you think about, just one small decision at a time. I call it “The Half Principle”.
About 6 months ago, I decided it was time to lose the baby weight. Since my son is in kindergarten, I was well overdue to take care of myself and feel healthier. This was the second time for me to get a hold of my eating habits and my health. Last time, as I have done once before in my life, my theory was to reduce what I eat by half, increase my fruit & veg and not drink my calories. This works well for me.
Case in point: I had coffee recently with a colleague. She chose to eat an entire low fat muffin and a flavored non-fat latte. I ate half of a pecan twist and had a green tea. Guess who had less calories in the end (I looked it up)? Guess who was just as satisfied? 
Is more really better?
This “Half Principle” of mine works on a lot of things. In our western culture, we are consumed with more, more, more (many times we also give up quality for quantity). Does it make us happier, more successful or just plain better people? I’m not sure, the jury is still out on that. It’s the idea that if I have more of (insert favorite food, car, clothing, etc. here), I’ll be more satisfied. Is that truly the case?
Let’s take activities on the calendar. If we are more involved in volunteer work, communities and meetings for our business or career, does that make us more successful or just busy? Does it make us happier? Again, I don’t have an answer, just asking a question to the universe.
I have empty space, fill it, QUICK!
Are we really so afraid of having down time, or not eating all of our plate (.. when there are starving children in Africa…) that we just keep filling our lives up? What sort of hole are we trying to fill? Is it working, or are we trying to find fulfillment where there isn’t any?
What if we took a risk?
What if we looked at our calendar and cut out what doesn’t belong? Is there a client that needs to be graciously let go because they suck half the energy we have for all of our client base? Is the calendar so packed up that there isn’t room to think, feel or just relax? What is the risk of weeding out half of the stuff we think we need? If half of what we have and do was cut out, would people view us differently, snub us?
I double-dog dare ya.
Look at your life, business, whatever and see what you can cut out. What’s the worst that could happen? Are you wiling to take the risk? Is there room in your life for new things to come in?
What if every decision we made was more conscious and selective? What’s the best that could happen? Is it possible that less is more? You might be surprised. 
(photo by vrogy)
Brandie, thank you for a timely article. You stepped on my toes a bit–as I was finishing my extra caramel Caramel Macchiato and raspberry apricot scone. It’s been a season of excess for me and you’ve inspired a season of change for me–a season of half.
Brandie,
I just love this type of question because it gets people to think about what they are really doing with (and in) their lives.
I like your point of why be busy is it just to “fill time” but it isn’t something that makes you happy.
I also was thinking about a similar idea the other day when I was watching that movie, Last Holiday with Queen Latifah. I was thinking about years ago I would spend ALOT of time watching every calorie and not really enjoying it all the time. Now, I am more relaxed about my eating. For instance after that movie I fixed myself a milkshake (I have been wanting one for about a week and just hadn’t made one). When I got about half way finished, it satisfied my “craving” and then I gave the rest to my husband.
Thanks for this wonderful article.
I will take you up on your challenge to see what other things in my life I can take off my calendar that just “fills space” but doesn’t result in quality for me.
Sincerely,
Teresa Morrow
Teresa Morrows last blog post..Amy Sherman Book Blog Tour - Distress Free Aging
Thank You Brandie, this was very thought provoking for me
I think my morning bagel could easily be cut in half.
Now, for being choosier about clients - I do say no to people who I perceive to be ‘energy suckers’. I like to leave a coaching hour feeling jazzed, not drained.
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Hi Brandie,
I’ve been kind of a lurking subscriber for a couple of weeks now and I’m really enjoying your blog. This post really fell in line with some thinking I was doing yesterday.
It was Sunday afternoon and I didn’t feel like blogging or researching for blogging or really anything having to do with the computer. I have a 9 to 5 so most weekends and evenings are spent working online and not much else. Yesterday I wanted to watch TV and read fiction.
The problem was, I felt really guilty not being busy. Like you said, are we even leaving ourself room to think. And I don’t think I am anymore. The thing is, half the time when I am “busy” at the computer I’m not even really being productive. I think it’s quite possible that, in my case, less is more.
What if I spent half the time I do on the internet, but spent that entire time doing productive things? Then I’d have all that other time to paint or read or… just think. Plus, my time online would be put to better use as well.
If I was, as you said, “conscious and selective” about my time then I could spent two hours blogging and two hours enjoying the sunshine. Instead of just sitting in front of my PC like a zombie for four hours because I should be getting things done.
My question to you is, in order to live in the “less is more” mentality, do we all have to become better planners? I know I can lose weight if I eat half a bowl of ice cream instead of a super-sized one. But if I want to get more done in half an hour than in two hours, don’t I need a rock-solid to-do list and the self-discipline to stay away from YouTube and Twitter?
Thanks for getting my thoughts going,
Sara
Saras last blog post..Entertainment Ground is Ready for Take-Off
I recently (while having a little hissy fit
took *everything* off my desk and put it on the floor behind me. I wanted to see what I really needed at my fingertips.
You can imagine what happened - I don’t think I even need half of that stuff everyday.
I’m finding storage for the things I do need occasionally and working to keep my desk as clear as possible.
I like the eating half portions idea, too but I don’t eat all that much, so maybe I should cut down on wine instead.
Ann
I really like this “half” principle. I’m going to try this for 21 days and see if I can incorporate that into my lifestyle.
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