"At the beginning of the year, we asked experts on how we can go easier on ourselves. They gave us 52 ways to do less in life, from day-to-day tasks to longer-term planning. We also wanted to know what you'll be doing less of in 2026. Here, nine readers share their strategies. Don't stress, do less: 52 ways to make your life easier in 2026 Perhaps unsurprising given last year's bestselling self-help book in Australia was The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins and Sawyer Robbins, many readers learned to stop bending over backwards for others."
"Eva let go of being the emotional diplomat in every social situation. She now resists the urge to resolve every conflict, sustains 30 seconds of awkwardness in difficult interactions, and leaves others to clear their own mess, she wrote. As a result, she has more emotional energy. I realised that trying to keep everybody happy was counterproductive to me and my family's long-term wellbeing."
"Marion used to trawl through every flight and accommodation option to find the optimal combination. Now she just picks the first thing that works with her needs and budget. No one was waiting for the perfect option; I was putting that pressure on myself, said Marion. This has saved a lot of time and mental energy, and now travel planning, she wrote, has become fun again."
"Like many others, Maya's quick glance at her phone to read and respond to texts would turn into a scrolling marathon. To avoid getting sucked into her phone and to have more meaningful conversations with people in her life, she replaced texting with phone calls. This change meant Maya found a deeper connection with a first date after he became hard to pin down over text. We got to know each other so much more quickly, she said. While the relationship didn't work out, she has no regrets about making the switch."
Nine readers describe practical ways to reduce stress and do less in daily life and planning. One stopped acting as the emotional diplomat, allowing 30 seconds of awkwardness, resisting conflict-resolution impulses, and letting others clear their own mess, which preserved emotional energy. Another simplified travel by choosing the first acceptable flight or accommodation instead of seeking perfection, saving time and restoring enjoyment. One replaced texting with phone calls to avoid scrolling and deepen conversations, which accelerated acquaintance-building despite mixed outcomes. The examples emphasize boundaries, imperfect choices, delegation, and intentional communication to conserve time and wellbeing.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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