More of, less of ...

Today is 1st of April. On this day in the year 1936, Odisha was carved out as a separate state. So, at the outset, I wish all my Odia friends on LinkedIn network a very happy Odisha Day (Utkala Divasa)!

April 1st also marks the beginning of the new fiscal year, FY 2025-26.

Many of the states in India are celebrating their respective New Year around this time of the year. Yesterday was Ugadi, the New Year in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. Day before was Gudi Padwa, the New Year in the state of Maharashtra. Puthandu - the Tamil New Year, Vishu – the Malayalam New Year, and Pana Sankranti – the Odia New Year are coming up a couple of weeks later, on the 14th of April.

At the beginning of a New Year, people often make new resolutions, fully aware that more than 90% of these resolutions fall apart. Why does this happen? The reason is simple. Resolutions generally take the form of ‘stop doing’ or ‘start doing’. Either of these introduces "discontinuity" in the continuous journey called ‘life,’ and therefore is painful.

Those who enjoyed, or at least managed, Calculus in Math might remember that a function is said to be continuous if it can be drawn on a piece of paper without lifting the pencil even once. Life is similar. Once you stop doing or start doing something, it induces discontinuity or discomfort of sorts that may be too big of a transition to handle.

So, how about trying ‘more of’ or ‘less of’ instead?

A couple of examples of the ‘More of’ or ‘Less of’ Approach:

Health and Exercise - I have been exercising a bit more all along. But maintaining good health is mostly about diet and less about exercise. For instance, jogging for an hour burns about 400 calories; one medium-sized samosa gives you the same, around 400 calories! So, this year, I have decided to do less of eating and therefore, less of exercising. Consequently, I will save some time that I can trade for more of sleeping!

Travel and Hobbies - The last couple of years, I have been traveling a bit more than I need to. I am going to do less of that this year. The time I gain will be worth spending in more of music – singing and playing the tabla.

Benefits of the 'More of' or 'Less of' Approach:

This approach has several advantages:

Gradual Transition: Unlike the abrupt changes demanded by 'start doing' or 'stop doing,' this method allows for a more gradual transition that is easier to maintain.

Flexibility: It offers more flexibility and can be adjusted according to your lifestyle and needs.

Positive Reinforcement: Focusing on 'more of' what you enjoy or 'less of' what you want to reduce can provide positive reinforcement, making it easier to stick to your resolution.

Does the idea of doing ‘more of’ or ‘less of’ instead of ‘start doing or stop doing’ resonate with you? If it does, are you going to give it a try?

By embracing this approach, you can make your New Year Resolutions more sustainable and less daunting, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life.

Wish you a very Happy (your respective) New Year!