Guardian Australia readers have revealed their personal strategies for embracing a simpler, less stressful approach to life in the coming year. From intentionally organising downtime to taking frequent micro-breaks throughout the day, these practical tips focus on reducing pressure and finding more enjoyment in daily activities.
Letting Go of Perfectionism
Many readers have learned to stop bending over backwards to please others, inspired by concepts like The Let Them Theory. Eva, one respondent, explained how she abandoned her role as emotional diplomat in social situations. She now tolerates brief moments of awkwardness during difficult interactions and allows others to resolve their own conflicts. This shift has conserved her emotional energy significantly. Eva noted that constantly trying to keep everyone happy proved counterproductive to her family's long-term wellbeing.
Simplifying Travel Planning
Marion shared how she transformed her approach to travel arrangements. Previously, she would exhaustively research every flight and accommodation option to find the perfect combination. Now, she simply selects the first suitable option that fits her needs and budget. This change has saved considerable time and mental energy, making travel planning enjoyable again rather than a source of stress.
Prioritising Meaningful Connections
Maya discovered that replacing text messages with phone calls created deeper connections in her personal life. What began as quick glances at her phone often turned into lengthy scrolling sessions. By switching to phone calls, she fostered more substantial conversations, including with a first date who became difficult to reach via text. Although the relationship didn't last, Maya believes they connected more quickly and meaningfully through voice conversations than they ever would have through messaging alone.
Intentional Downtime and Boundaries
Jane, who runs a small business, described how she constantly felt she needed to be available and productive. To combat this, she began deliberately scheduling downtime into her week, giving herself permission to disconnect completely from work during these periods. This has allowed her to rediscover hobbies like gardening and reading, or simply enjoy doing nothing without guilt.
Reducing Holiday Pressures
Emma shared her experience of hosting family members during both Christmas and New Year's Eve for nearly two decades. This year, she decided to stop playing host entirely, creating space to truly relax with her partner. The relief was enormous, freeing her from the pressure of trying to create perfect holiday experiences for everyone else.
Practical Daily Adjustments
Other readers offered smaller but impactful changes to their routines:
- Grace became selective with her gardening, letting some areas grow wild while focusing her attention on a smaller cultivated section she genuinely enjoys
- Bill scrapped lengthy to-do lists in favour of committing to just one important task each day, reducing pressure while maintaining productivity
- Daniela introduced frequent micro-breaks into her day after a transformative experience watching chocolate syrup coat her coffee cup in 2013, finding that these moments of observation recharge her energy
These strategies collectively represent a growing movement toward intentional simplification, with readers finding that doing less often means enjoying life more. The common thread throughout these approaches is the conscious decision to reduce self-imposed pressures and embrace imperfection in various aspects of daily living.
