Doing less
A gift that keeps on giving.
What’s your relationship with doing less? With a lean focus that doesn’t include a long to-do list? Where you simplify and trust that less does bring big goals to the forefront? Now repeat these same questions for navigating your business. If you’re like a past version of me, the answers are different. As if the relationship with it doesn’t reflect how you generally navigate life (it does).
The past version of me would’ve said doing less means I’m not doing enough, not having a long to-do list isn’t right, and simplifying gets me further from my goals. Looking back at that version, I know these responses were fueled by anxiety not by truth. My truth doesn’t include navigating business in a way that has me doing the most, so I end up feeling trapped by it. It’s taken me years for it not to feel like this, though, and it hasn’t been all in one go, but I’ve been able to create a space I’m loving more and more by doing less.
It’s allowed me to continue being a creative and step into my leadership better. For ideas to keep coming through. For the space to change my mind or follow my intuition with less clutter and trust. It’s replenished my energy, keeping me going rather than depleting it. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.
This level of reverence for my business has made what I’ve wanted out of this season arrive and stay. What stays is always the most important part.
The thread of doing less is how this year became one for simplicity (I shared about it in this essay and this Reel). I first chose it to lessen anxiety and pressure. Then, so my business can feel and work the way I want it to. I reduced what was on my plate, simplified my offer suite to just one offer, got rid of goals that didn’t align, and have been dedicating a lot of energy to trusting the process. It’s only been the first three months of the year, and I can’t predict the rest of 2026, but as Q1 comes to an end, I can say it’s been so successful.
When I first started writing this essay, it was completely different. I was going to write from a place I’m no longer in (which is crazy because that was 2 weeks ago), but going away to London for a week, and disconnecting from daily life, made something finally land in my body that I’ve been trying to consciously catch up to. I’m not sure what yet, ironically, but I will. All I know is that this version of doing less definitely shifted something.
I hope that whatever goals you set for these first three months have gone well in the same way that my own have impacted me. That you’ve learned more about yourself and the capacity it takes to hold your vision. That as Q2 opens a new season, you can implement what you’ve learned, discovered, uncovered, and experienced forward.
I asked myself 6 questions to help me prepare for the next three months, and I want to leave them with you to support your own:
How do I feel Q1 went? Be honest with yourself.
What was I able to accomplish? This is about overlapping wins in business and life.
What did it help me learn? Anything that was really apparent, even the smallest things.
What am I taking with me? Things you want to continue doing.
What am I leaving behind? Whatever you want to let go of.
If you need support with doing less in a way that helps you grow in Q2, my strategy call Anchor Session is where we do it. This intimate chat is for the creative who’s so over feeling stuck and wants a sustainable strategy they can continue forward with.
Snag your spot here!
I’m Ylani Estwick, a fellow visionary who supports creatives step into their leadership and voice. In my world, we understand what’s underneath the strategy before creating it, because your experience is what informs it best. If you find yourself subscribed to The Cornerstone, thank you so much for your support!
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