Find yourself making New Year’s Resolutions, year after year, but struggling to keep them for more than a month or two? Sometimes it can feel like we’re setting ourselves up to fail. In 2023, why not try a More/Less list?
Invented by New York Times illustrator, Julia Rothman, the More/Less list is a more gentle and positive way to map out your vision of what you want your life to look like in the coming year.
How to Make a More/Less List
It’s simple. Take a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle and write the two headings ‘More’ and ‘Less’. Then think hard about realistic ways you could improve your life. Your ‘More’ section can be things you’re already doing that you’d like to do even more!
You may want to draw little pictures of each item on the list to act as a visual reminder when you glance at your list. Stick it up somewhere you’ll see it regularly, like above your desk.
Why Does it Work?
Traditional New Year’s Resolutions like ‘lose weight’ or ‘get fit’ are very easy to commit to but very hard to stick to.
The More/Less format, on the other hand, is a more holistic vision of your life with positive, simple and actionable points to work from. Instead of ‘get fit’, you can put ‘yoga’ and ‘walking’ in your More list.
It’s also more easy-going and flexible, with more space for you to work towards goals without the fear of failure!