Less is MORE

We’ve all heard the saying, “less is more”, but what does it really mean? Most will tell you it originates from the minimalist’s approach. Some believe the phrase almost carries a negative undertone that implies “underachieving”. Less money won’t give you more money to spend or save. Less time doesn’t provide you with more opportunities to be productive or spend time with loved ones. Less food certainly doesn’t mean more food to eat. So when is less ever more? Think about some of your biggest personal challenges. Challenges that were extremely difficult to get through. How did you persevere? Did you persevere? Applying the “less is more” strategy could be your saving grace.

Now, imagine you’re recovering from an injury, or postoperative procedure and you’re in constant discomfort. As a clinician, I advocate to all of my patients to take this approach with their individual rehabilitation program. When a patient has pain and is looking at a long road to recovery, sometimes rehab challenges can seem insurmountable. Using the less is more approach with rehabilitation helps the patient to understand that less exercise is more productive than doing nothing on those days where things seem too challenging. All too often we’re caught up in the milestones of life and forget to recognize that time and patience is sometimes needed for progression, and all the effort in the world won’t change the outcome. These are the instances to pause and consider doing just as much as you can, and then modifying your expectations to meet the challenges that life throws at you.

Tips for success:
• Keep a journal. This will help you keep track of your progress.
• Focus on today, forget about yesterday, besides you’ve got a journal.
• Be intentional with your effort.