Saying that I want to do less and actually making decisions in alignment with this desire, I’ve learned, are two very different things. Perhaps you’ve already cracked this code and what I’m about to say is not, indeed, a revelation, but: a thought and a goal that you have while you’re being circumspect will not automatically manifest itself in your day-to-day activities. In other words, changing your mind takes time and conscious effort.

And now is the hard part: saying “no” to things. I don’t do no, very well, at least in certain circumstances. Meatloaf, a desire to run a marathon, and going to the ballet—these are what elicit an easy no from me. When someone reaches out with an assignment they’d like me to take on, and include the budget, that’s a hard thing for me to say no to. When I see one of my favorite comedians is playing Madison Square Garden and look into tickets for a “quick trip to New York for an awesome show on a Friday night, what could be the harm?,” that’s a hard thing to say no to!

But, I am currently in the season of saying “no” to commitments on my time.

Why?

Because magic happens in the calm.

In this season, a weekend spent at home allows me an hour or so to get lost in my planner reflecting on how I spent my time so far this year, what do I want to see more of, and how do I make that happen. A fall season intentionally low on invitation events and militant travel schedules can allow for a fall morning walking the neighborhood with my honey and reading the paper while drinking some coffee as the birds chirp. A Saturday without looming deadlines can allow for me to write a reflective blog post accompanied by a warm pot of tea and spinning tales about how life could be.

I remind myself that these only happen if I make the decisions to protect this time when I’m not lulled to complacency with a cozy blanket and a fall breeze. So I’ve been practicing saying no, one at a time. The goal is to intentionally shed the minor to-dos from the list, unsubscribe from the Ticketmaster emails, and lock down pockets of time to clear my mind and practice, as I am now in composing this post, putting my ass in the chair. One can only imagine what beautiful novels could result from such a morning a few weeks from now. I can’t wait to find out.

P.S. What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!