It’s a common misconception that in order to have a successful online business, that you need to do “more”. You need to spend more time working, create more products, be on more social media sites, etc…
It might seem counterintuitive, but doing less can lead to you achieving more. Often, this is because you get burnt out from doing too much, and your quality of work suffers. Other times, you’re so focused on getting through your to-do list, that you don’t allow yourself time for creativity and new ideas. This can even be because you’re working on the wrong things.
Here are eight benefits of doing less to achieve more in your business:
1. You’ll Be More Productive
Becoming overwhelmed when attempting to accomplish multiple things at the same time is normal, but it can be avoided. This stress might cause you to procrastinate. You spend your time worrying about not accomplishing enough, and instead of getting everything done, you get nothing done.
When you have less on your plate though, you can be more relaxed about it. You aren’t worried about what you need to do. You can spend the time that you need to do each task and make sure that it gets accomplished. In fact, you’ll find that you get more done when you work in this state.
On top of that, you’ll be able to figure out what you should be working on. You’ll decide what’s best for your business, and will spend time doing the things that will help you the most.
2. You’ll Have Higher Quality Output
When you’re trying to do too many things at once, you don’t do a good job at any of them. You’re doing the bare minimum so that you can tick off that box and move on to the next thing in your to do list. But when you are doing less, you can spend a little extra time on what you’re doing, and be present for it. You can do a better job on the task. Everything you do will be better quality, and people will realize it. You’ll end up growing your business and having people like your stuff more.
Here’s a great example. If you’re trying to write five blog posts a day, you’re rushing through them to get them done. But if you’re only writing one a day, you have more time to think about it and make sure that the blog post says what you want. The people who will then read it will connect to it more, and will more likely heed to your call to action at the bottom. You’ll end up growing your audience more with people who really know, like, and trust you because of it.
3. You’ll Get to do More Things You Enjoy
If you’re trying to get everything done that you think you should be doing, there’s a good chance you’re doing a lot of tasks you don’t want to do. Why not figure out what it is that’s important to get done, and work on those instead? There’s a good chance you can just not do the tasks you really don’t enjoy. If that’s not the case, consider outsourcing it and having someone else do those tasks. This way you can do the things that you enjoy doing, plus you’ll have more free time.
4. You’ll Be Healthier
If you’re constantly working, your mind and body will eventually suffer. You’ll constantly be stressed, get run down and sick more often, and just not be happy. But when you focus on doing less, you give your body the chance to rest and recharge. You’ll also be doing things you like more, so you’ll be happier as well.
When your mind is happy, your body will usually follow. When you’re not as stressed, you’ll be healthier because of it. You’ll see that you get sick less often and in general feel better.
5. You’ll Be More Creative
When you have so much to do, you don’t have time to be creative. You’re doing task after task, trying to get as much done as possible. When you have some free time because you’re focused on doing less, things are different. You’ll have time to explore new business ideas, develop innovative solutions, and be more creative in your business.
6. You’ll Be Less Stressed
Stress can affect both your mental and physical health. When you focus on doing less in your business, you’ll have less to worry about. You’ll have less to stress about. You’ll have more time to accomplish each task. You’ll be able to take breaks and do things that you want to do in between. You’ll be working on the things that you want to be working on. You’ll be more relaxed, and less stressed.
7. You’ll Sleep Better
If you have a million things to do, you’re likely always feeling stressed and overwhelmed. If this is the case, you’re probably not sleeping very well. This means your body can’t get the rest that it needs.
When you’re working less, you’ll have lower stress levels, and have time to do activities that you want. This means that you’ll be more relaxed and will be able to fall asleep easier and sleep better.
Getting more sleep has multiple benefits that will help you. Some are: improved mental and physical health, and increased energy. You’ll also likely be more productive the next day as well as be in a better mood.
8. You’ll Be Happier
When you’re constantly working and trying to get things done, you forget about what’s important in life. But when you focus on doing less, you’ll have more time for the things that make you happy. This will make you happier. Plus, by getting a good night’s sleep, and being less stressed, you’ll also be happier.
Doing less doesn’t mean you’re lazy or not working hard enough. It simply means that you’re focusing on quality over quantity, and as a result, you’ll be more successful in the long run. So whenever you feel overwhelmed, take a beat. Then focus on doing less strategically. You will feel better in your mind, body, and soul if you take some time for yourself. You’ll also most likely find that your business will be better off for it!
Enjoy,