Why I Take on More, Not Less, For A Simplified Life

An unusual contradiction from a well-loved children’s book.

Image created by author using DALL-E

Have you ever heard the saying, if you want something doing, give it to a busy person?

That person is usually me.

I’ve never really understood why this is the case until one night when we were reading “a Squash and a Squeeze” by Julia Donaldson to my son, the answer came to me.

If you’re not familiar with it, it's a delightful story about a little old lady who complains that her house is too small.

A wise old man suggests she bring various animals into her house—a hen, goat, pig, and cow—one at a time, which makes her house feel even more cramped.

However, when she finally removes the animals, she realizes her house is spacious after all.

Although this book is often praised for its clever moral about perspective and appreciating what you have, I saw a different message in it.

Sometimes, to understand what truly matters and streamline our priorities, we need to take on more than we’re used to.

I know this can sound crazy.

For me, it makes sense when I look at it in three stages:

Stage 1. Adding the animals….is like…. trying new activities or commitments

• Just like the old woman invites the hen, goat, pig, and cow into her home, adding more commitments, projects, or routines to your life can give you a sense of what works for you and what doesn’t.

• By experiencing the "crowdedness," you develop a clearer understanding of what truly aligns with your goals and values.

Stage 2. The feeling of overwhelm…equals…a catalyst for change

• The cluttered house is a metaphor for overwhelm in your life. When everything feels like "too much," it forces you to evaluate and decide what’s essential.

• This moment of discomfort is what pushes you to rethink and reorganize your priorities.

Stage 3. Removing the animals…is like… letting go of non-essentials

• Just as the old woman appreciates her house's newfound spaciousness after removing the animals, once you eliminate the non-essential tasks or commitments, you’ll recognize what truly matters.

• This newfound clarity helps you focus better and be more productive.

There are four practical ways to apply this idea:

1. Experiment with new things: Take on that extra responsibility, learn a new skill, or try a productivity hack. Don’t fear the temporary chaos—it’s part of the learning process.

2. Assess what feels overwhelming: Reflect on what’s contributing most to your sense of being "too busy." These are the metaphorical animals making your house feel cramped.

3. Declutter intentionally: Once you’ve tried enough and gained perspective, start removing the tasks, habits, or commitments that aren’t serving your ultimate goals.

4. Appreciate the space: As you pare down, notice how much more productive and peaceful life feels. This appreciation gives you a sense of control and direction.

The takeaway.

This approach reframes overwhelm as a productive process rather than something negative— which is an essential perspective for those aiming to develop a growth mindset.

It also helps you build your capacity, because you learn to handle more, then refine down to what's essential.

Sometimes the next step we need to take can be counter intuitive.

What do you think? Can you see this working in your own life?

Let me know in the comments.

Till next week.

-Selda

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