Can Doing Less Help You Achieve More?

We live in a world that praises productivity. From the moment you wake up, there's a mental checklist ticking away - emails to respond to, meals to prepare, family members to care for. Even rest is often squeezed between errands or scrolled away on a screen. But what if the most powerful thing you could do for your health and well-being is... less?

In this week's newsletter, we're exploring the power of stillness - not as a luxury, but as a vital practice that helps you feel more grounded, clear, and connected to yourself.

Why Slowing Down Feels So Hard (and Matters So Much)

If the idea of slowing down makes you feel guilty, you’re not alone. Many of us have been taught to measure our worth by how much we do. Stillness feels indulgent, even unproductive. But your mind and body don’t see it that way.

Stillness isn’t laziness, it’s a reset. It’s the moment your nervous system gets a chance to breathe. It’s when scattered thoughts settle, stress hormones ease, and your body moves out of ‘fight or flight’ and into restoration mode. And the more overwhelmed or burnt out you feel, the more you may need it.

What Is Stillness?

Stillness doesn’t have to mean silence or meditation (though it can). It simply means creating space in your day where you're not trying to achieve, fix, or respond. It's about being present, without rushing to the next thing.

It might look like sitting quietly with your tea before checking your phone. Taking a slow walk without music or podcasts. Journaling without an agenda. Letting your thoughts wander without immediately solving or sorting them.

It’s less about doing nothing, and more about creating room to feel something.

What Stillness Gives You (That Constant Doing Can’t)

When you practise stillness regularly, a few beautiful things start to happen.

Clarity returns
When your brain isn’t bouncing between tabs - literal or mental - you start to notice what’s really going on beneath the surface. You might suddenly understand why you’ve felt snappy lately, or realise what’s truly been weighing on you.

Emotions become easier to manage
Stillness gives your feelings a chance to catch up to you. When you slow down, you create space for them to move through rather than pile up. That’s when you start to feel less reactive and more grounded.

You reconnect with yourself It’s easy to lose touch with your own needs when you're always responding to others. Stillness is where you get to check in. What do I need? What do I want? How am I really feeling? These questions often go unanswered in a busy life—but they’re the ones that matter most.

You build resilience
The more you practise slowing down, the more emotionally resilient you become. You start to respond instead of react. You can hold space for discomfort without spiralling. And when life feels overwhelming, you’ve built a habit of coming back to centre.

Simple Ways to Bring More Stillness Into Your Day

You don’t need hours of spare time or a complete lifestyle change. Stillness can be woven into your day in gentle, realistic ways.

1. Morning quiet time
Give yourself five minutes in the morning with no phone, no noise, just you, your thoughts, and maybe a warm drink. This tiny window can set the tone for the entire day.

2. Create space between tasks
Instead of jumping from one thing to the next, pause. Even a minute of breathing, stretching, or doing nothing helps reset your nervous system and your mindset.

3. Walk without input
Go for a walk without headphones. Let your thoughts drift. Notice what’s around you. These simple, unplugged moments help your mind settle in a way screens never can.

4. Let your mind wander
Allow yourself pockets of unstructured time. You don’t always need to be consuming, learning, or improving. Just being can be enough.

5. Protect your downtime
Stillness doesn’t have to be long, but it does have to be protected. Schedule it like you would anything else. It’s not selfish, it’s necessary.

Stillness Isn’t About Doing Nothing…It’s About Feeling More

When you allow space for stillness, you don’t become less, you actually reconnect with more. More calm. More clarity. More awareness of who you are and what you need.

In a world that constantly pulls your attention outward, stillness is how you gently return to yourself.

So if you’ve been feeling stretched thin, scattered, or just not quite yourself, pause for awhile. Not as an escape, but as a return. Your body, your mind, and your heart will thank you.

Until next time, take a deep breath and let the world wait while you take some time out.

The information provided in this newsletter is for general guidance and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your health and wellness routine.

Wishing you good health,

The Wellness Valet Team

Recipe of the Week: Golden Coconut and Ginger Stew with Sweet Potato and Spinach

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil or coconut oil

• 1 small onion, finely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

• 1 tsp ground turmeric

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed

• 400ml can coconut milk

• 250ml vegetable broth or water

• 2 handfuls baby spinach or chopped kale

• Juice of ½ lemon or lime

• Salt and black pepper to taste

• Optional: cooked brown rice or quinoa, to serve, Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.

• Stir in the garlic and ginger, cooking for another minute until fragrant.

• Add turmeric and cinnamon, and let the spices toast gently for 30 seconds.

• Add the sweet potato, coconut milk, and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the sweet potato is tender.

• Stir in the spinach or kale and cook for another 2–3 minutes until wilted.

• Finish with lemon or lime juice, then season to taste with salt and black pepper.

• Serve warm in a bowl - on its own or over brown rice or quinoa for a heartier meal.

This stew is grounding, hydrating, and rich in calming nutrients. Turmeric and ginger ease inflammation and support digestion, while sweet potato offers slow-releasing energy and a boost of beta-carotene. Coconut milk provides soothing healthy fats, and leafy greens provide magnesium - a key mineral for stress relief. It’s the kind of meal that invites you to sit down, slow your pace, and nourish yourself - perfectly aligned with the theme of stillness.