How doing less can make you more happy

Jebelli is a British neuroscientist who argues persuasively that we need a lot less hours at work, and a lot more doing little or nothing: such as walks in nature, baths and naps, and daydreaming. This is akin to giving more space and time to the imaginative right side of the brain, and less to the left side, which he calls the “executive network”.

His picture of the stages of work burnout could be helpful to you, with stress being followed by cynicism, then “dehumanisation”: an “emotional hardening” towards other people. I’ve seen this all too often in my workshops with NHS doctors: see more here.

A recurring theme from some of the teachers I follow, such as Neil Douglas Klotz, is how human psychology and physiology are still geared to primitive times, when life was more slow, simple and communal than now. This helps to explain why accelerating modern times are so tough for many of us.

By now, you may be grinding your teeth, and complaining that you can’t afford to work less. But what choices underlie your belief? Could you simplify your lifestyle? In the money chapter of my book Not Fade Away, one of my top tips is to lower your break-even, as below:

Lower your break-even. This means reducing your outgoings so that the minimum monthly income you need is less. Ways to do this include moving to a smaller house so you free up capital or reduce your rent or borrowings; paying off debts, especially credit cards; making lifestyle choices which mean you spend less, such as selling your car and joining a car club. There are several benefits to this strategy: one is that you have more freedom and power of choice, since you don’t need so much income. And a less expensive lifestyle will almost certainly be more environmentally sustainable.

Another obstacle to doing less is our addiction to doing lots. Many of us are workaholics, and even more of us are hooked on screen time and social media, as the book Your Brain on Nature demonstrates.

Despite these challenges, I endorse Jebelli’s invitation to relax and daydream more, and decompress your brain. More joy and happiness could be just around your corner!