I came across this Instagram post recently and it really struck a chord with me.
Not because it promised a new routine, habit or life overhaul but because it focused on less, not more.
In a world that constantly tells us we need to add, upgrade, optimise and hustle, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
Here are a few ideas from it that really landed, and that feel especially relevant as we move towards 2026.
1.Do the “Wheel of Life” exercise
Rate yourself from 1–10 in these areas:
Health, career, finances, partner, family, friends, fun, community and spirituality.
The areas where you score lowest aren’t a failure, they’re simply information.
They’re where your energy and care may be needed most this year.
2. Fix your sleep habits (seriously)
Sleep is the ultimate force multiplier.
When it’s good, everything feels more manageable.
If your sleep is off, gently bringing it back into balance is one of the kindest things you can do for yourself.
3. Declutter your physical and digital space
Clutter creates stress, even when we don’t consciously notice it.
Try this: choose one small space each day — your desk, inbox, phone storage, or a single drawer.
By the end of the week, you’ll feel lighter.
4. Create a ‘stop doing’ list
We often obsess over what to add: new habits, new goals, new routines.
But progress often comes from subtraction.
Ask yourself: If a calm, capable CEO took over my life for 2026, what would they remove first?
Start there.
5. Curate your information diet
Your diet isn’t just what you eat — it’s what you consume mentally too.
What you read, watch and listen to shapes how you feel.
Choose content that educates, inspires and steadies you, rather than overwhelms you.
6. Close your “open loops”
To declutter your mind, write down everything tugging at your attention — unfinished tasks, unanswered messages, lingering to-dos.
For each one, decide to:
• Do it
• Schedule it
• Let it go
It’s like closing all the open tabs in your brain.
7. Reclaim your mornings
The first hour of your day sets the tone for everything that follows.
Protect it gently but firmly.
Simple rules that help:
– No phone in the bedroom
– No screens for 30 minutes after waking
– Water before coffee
– Write down your top three priorities
– Eat some protein within the first hour
As we head into a new year, this feels like an invitation to pause rather than push. To reflect with kindness, not criticism.
To plan in a way that’s sustainable, I like to think more "way of life" than one-week blitz. For me, the focus will be on better sleep and bedtime routines. What will yours be?
If any of this resonates, maybe read it again slowly. Sometimes growth isn’t about doing more it’s about doing less, better, and with intention. Happy new year to you all.
Laura
