How can I do as little as possible today?

That was a question my coach offered in 2021 when I read Do Less by Kate Northup – this month’s book club pick.

That question may bring up some judgement in you about yourself or others who might start their day with this query.

Some of you are probably thinking “that sounds lazy!”

Like it’s a bad thing!

But like last month’s book by Cal Newport – Slow Productivity – argues... what if doing less is the way to accomplish the tasks that are most important to you?

So what does Do Less bring to the discussion of productivity and rest?

Do Less is written for women and moms, but I think anyone can take something from it.

Why it feels like it's written for women and moms is because Kate Northrup spends a lot of time talking about the menstrual cycle and productivity.

This was revolutionary to me in recognizing another aspect of living in a patriarchal society and an expectation that every day can be the same. Men don't have this monthly calendar, but for people who are menstruating just based on your hormones, you won't feel capable of doing the same things every day.

Having permission to say “I don't have to do all the things all the time. I can do more reflection at one period of the month”

Or

“I don't have to be outgoing, every week or every day, these things can come in cycles”

was novel for me... does it seem challenging to you?

So one of the biggest shifts that I got from Do Less was that it helped me to see approach my life in cycles or seasons.

For instance, Kate Northup talks through the four phases of the menstrual cycle and connects these to the four seasons, which makes it easier to remember:

🌱 The follicular phase is when you're primed to plan and initiate new projects. That’s spring energy.

☀️ Then when you ovulate, that's summer = when you're articulate and magnetic. You want to get out and be around people. Your hormones are literally trying to get you to meet new people and procreate.

🍂 The luteal phase is autumn. You turn inward and complete projects. And this is actually one of the longer phases, about 12 to 14 days.

❄️ When you’re bleeding is winter. This is when you rest and you reflect and you're more logical and intuitive.

So to put this into connecting to the ways you work... Take a moment and notice if you are someone who is more often in that spring energy–always starting projects and not necessarily finishing them?

This tendency can be softened by playing with connecting your month plans to the four seasons. I've especially found it can really help with flow and not trying to do too many things:

- You know when you’re willing to take on new projects (roughly a week in your ‘spring,’ although this is also a time when if you’re like me you have a lot of energy and may agree to too many things! So caution is also useful in the spring energy)

- When you’re willing to load up networking events (your summer week)

- And more importantly you know when you’re going to say “No” to new project or presentations because if it’s outside of that cycle (e.g., in your autumn and winter you’re wrapping things up and holding space to be intentional about what you want to accomplish in your next cycle).

This may sound too restrictive, I know it did to me at first. But through a book club and a committed group to trying to save the world without burning out, I found Do Less was one of those books that changed my life in really good ways.

Every day or week does not have to be the same, you can listen to your body and find rhythms that suit you.

Feeling at all curious? Send me a message to find out about the next book club dates and picks.