The Art of Doing Less
Creating Time for You: Setting Boundaries, Saying No, and Embracing Calm
Hey there, welcome.
I’m so glad you found your way here. Whether you’re running on fumes or just craving a little quiet, this space was made for you. Let’s take a moment together- no pressure, just presence.
What SelfCentred really means
I named this space SelfCentred on purpose. Not because I think everything should revolve around me; honestly, most days it feels like I’m orbiting everything else. And I know exactly what happens when I forget to look after myself: I run on fumes, say yes out of habit, and quietly fray around the edges.
Being SelfCentred, in our world, is about coming back to yourself. Making room for rest, nourishment, and the tiny joys that steady you. So that when you do show up for the people you love, you can actually be there - fully, kindly, and as yourself.
A quiet moment of rest in a softly lit room - the essence of gentle living.
Let’s be honest…doing less can feel like failure
We’re conditioned to believe we need to be “on” all the time. Answer the emails, keep up with the laundry, remember everyone’s birthday, do that weird breathing app, meal prep organic bliss bowls, and still be chill about it all.
It’s exhausting.
And frankly, not working.
Doing less isn’t laziness, it’s intentional. It’s the art of carving out space between the noise, stepping back from the endless “doing,” and reconnecting with who you really are when you’re not running on fumes. This is gentle living at its finest.
The myth of more = better
You’ve heard it before — either from someone in your life or your own inner critic:“If you just managed your time better…”
But maybe the problem isn’t your time management at all. Maybe it’s that you’re expected to cram too much into a 24-hour day that was never designed for this pace.
Productivity does not determine your self-worth…You don’t need to earn your rest.
So what does ‘gentle living’ even mean?
We’re not talking about some aspirational cottage-core fantasy (unless that’s your thing; no judgment, and honestly I’d love to have the time for it). We’re talking about this:
Saying no without needing a PowerPoint to justify it
Eating real food because you’re hungry, not to earn gold stars
Making your bed because it feels good, not because TikTok told you to
Reading a book on the couch instead of scrolling while your brain begs for quiet
Creating a home that feels like yours, not an Instagram backdrop
Gentle living is living in a way that supports you, not exhausts you.
5 Real-Life Ways to Do Less (Without the Guilt)
1. Cut the “shoulds”
Audit your mental checklist. How many of those things do you actually need to do today? Drop one.
2. Make peace with repeat meals
Meal prep isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about not having to think at 6 p.m. Eat the same thing for three nights if it works.
3. Schedule quiet time like a meeting
Yes, literally. Block it out. Defend it. Put your phone in another room.
4. Let your space be ‘enough’
You don’t need a total makeover. Light a candle. Tidy one corner. Cozy is cumulative.
5. Say no, kindly - but firmly
“No, not this time” is a complete sentence. Practice it until it feels less weird.
A peaceful solo moment with tea and a journal - a reminder that rest is productive.
Final Note: Rest is a form of resistance
You are not a machine. You’re a human being. A beautiful, complex, tired, hilarious, chaotic one.
Doing less doesn’t mean you’re giving up, it means you’re choosing to live on your terms.
And if that looks like slow mornings, soft clothes, reheated dinners, and a moment of peace between the madness? That’s more than enough.
Bec x
A cozy moment with a journal, coffee and candle, inviting a slower pace.