9 Hours…
That is how long I spent staring at my phone yesterday. And not because I was working as I like to tell myself. But because I was going down yet another meme spiral leading me nowhere but distraction.
This year, I am not doing a resolution. I’ve instead chosen a word to guide me.
Why I Don’t Like New Year’s Resolutions
I do not like New Year’s Resolutions. I like fitness-related ones even less, despite the fact they have put a lot of money in my pocket over the last decade plus.
It’s not exactly a unique or original thought to say, “Why wait for the new year? Just start now.” It’s a tired point, but that doesn’t make it any less worth considering.
The number of failed “resolutioners” is staggering. Possibly because people overestimate their abilities, possibly because they don’t have a plan. Myself included—I still cannot do the splits, which was my goal for 2023.
A New Approach: Themes Over Resolutions
Instead of rigid resolutions, I stumbled upon the concept of having a “theme” based on a word. (Thank you, The Daily Stoic, for the idea.)
Just a single word can cover so many different goals. Plus, it has the added benefit of letting you know exactly what fits under its umbrella.
I asked Auri (the name I gave my chatGPT) to give me three random words so you can see how easily this works. It came up with:
- Light: Becoming physically lighter, being a source of light for others, or just taking life less seriously.
- Movement: Exercising, traveling more, moving a relationship forward, or even moving where you live.
- Truth: When you’re late to work, don’t blame an imaginary accident. Be honest—you woke up late.
My Word for 2025: Less
Choosing my word for 2025 took weeks of reflection. Every option I came up with felt too contrived or cliché, like it wouldn’t truly challenge me.
Then it hit me. My fatal flaw was glaringly obvious: excess.
Working to excess, reading to excess, sleeping to excess, worrying, arguing, researching—excess everywhere. I don’t even want to harp on the pros and cons because I know exactly when the good crosses into the bad.
The First Target: My Phone
I am so deep into excess with one specific area: my phone.
It’s been so easy (and convincing) to tell someone “I’m working,” when the reality is that I’m looking at yet another Wifejak meme or messaging a Berserk hype video to my group chat with the boys.
My Accountability Plan (Blackmail)
This year, I created a financially costly plan with three friends to inhibit my desire to sleep in and help them achieve their own goals (posting content and eating healthier).
Here’s how it works:
- If I don’t text my friends a picture of me walking my dogs before 7 a.m., I owe each of them $5.
- If I fail more than five times in one month, I send $200 to organizations I despise.
- If any of us fails five times, we all pay. We succeed together, or we fail together.
Broadening “Less” Beyond My Phone
- Worry Less:
Worrying feels productive, but it’s not. It paralyzes you. Now, I prescribe myself worry time. When I catch myself spiraling, I say, “Not now—you can worry about that at dinner.” By dinnertime, the worry is often gone.
- Cuss Less:
I’ve always had a sailor’s mouth. It’s colorful, but not a trait I want defining me. Now, I’m replacing lazy expletives with better expressions—or just removing those empty words altogether. - Read Less:
I hit 112 books in 2021, but how many truly added value? Now, I focus on quality over quantity. “Fun” reading is limited to bedtime, so it lulls me to sleep rather than stealing work hours.
- Consume Less:
Media, busywork, unnecessary information—it all adds up. By consuming less, I create space for what truly matters: producing, connecting, and being present.
The Takeaway
“Less” might not be the right word for you, but the idea is universal. Take a moment to reflect: What’s holding you back? What’s consuming more than it’s giving?
Find your word, your theme, and let it guide you to focus on what truly matters.
Bonus: How to Do LESS and Get MORE Healthy
While you’re at it, check out this video for a simple way to do LESS while getting MORE healthy. (Here’s a hint: You probably have way too much plastic in your life.)
Watch the video HERE
