The title should be: Minimalism Challenge: Less Tasks, More Life!
Less Tasks, More Life
Hey Steemit fam, I want to talk about something I think most of us struggle with but hardly say out loud: the fact that our daily schedules can drown us. It feels like there’s always something to tick off, something to clean, something to fix, something to chase. I get it we all want to stay on top of things. But honestly, is this endless list what living is meant to be about? I thank @mile16 for bringing the contest
That’s why I’m thinking deeply about “less tasks, more life.” And maybe you should too.
Let me show you what I mean by breaking down two days of my usual week, in order of priority, to see where I’m spending my energy.
Monday
Morning prayers and reflection (highest priority)
My job or classwork
Checking on family
Writing, journaling, or creating
Doing laundry, dishes, basic cleanup
Checking social media
- TV series before bed
Thursday
Morning prayers and reflection
Work or classes
Talking with close friends
Cooking something nice
Tidying up the house
Scrolling online
Watching random videos
If you look at that list, you’d think, “Well, all of these sound important.” But if I’m honest, not all of them deserve to stay every single day. Like scrolling social media it swallows up time without giving back much. Same with getting too hung up on housework. I mean, how spotless does a place really need to be if you’re the only one there to see it?
If I had to temporarily remove some things, it would be those endless social feeds and the unnecessary obsession with scrubbing every corner. Of course, hygiene matters, but the time and stress it takes to maintain a picture-perfect home every day is just not worth it. I’d rather clean well once a week than lose precious hours daily.
Then comes the deeper question: what if I had only three months left to live? Would these tasks still be non-negotiable? No way. I wouldn’t think twice about skipping a spotless floor or a mindless scroll if I knew my time was almost up.
If the clock was ticking down, these are the things I would keep on my list:
✅ Prayers and spiritual grounding — to keep my heart calm and connected
✅ Family time — the people who truly matter
✅ Meaningful talks with friends — to laugh, cry, and share stories
✅ Writing — to leave a mark, even if only for myself
✅ Experiences — seeing new places, trying new foods, making memories
Suddenly, things like folding clothes perfectly or cleaning the fridge weekly just fade away. They don’t hold weight when your eyes are open to what really matters.
And so I ask myself why wait for a death sentence before I live like that? Why not live now with those priorities?
There are some things I believe are vitally important to include, no matter what:
My faith and prayer life: keeps me steady in a shaky world.
People I love: they are the reason life is worth waking up for.
Health: body, mind, and soul. If I ignore my health, I lose every other gift.
Purpose-driven work: creating, helping, sharing stories.
Joy: I want to find moments of genuine happiness each day, however small.
When I picture my life revolving around just those things, it feels lighter already. I can almost breathe again.
If I were to cut out the less important bits, I figure I could save maybe two or three hours a day. That’s huge! Imagine what I could do with an extra two hours: read more books, visit someone I’ve missed, go for a peaceful walk, or even just rest without guilt.
Our culture celebrates being “busy” so much, but busy is not the same as fulfilled. You can be the busiest person in the world and still feel completely empty. I’ve had days like that, where I ran from task to task but felt no satisfaction by nightfall. That is not the life I want.
So I’m trying really trying to rewrite my own rules. Less tasks, more life. Less routine that drains me, more routine that feeds me.
Of course, I’m not saying we should all drop our jobs and ignore responsibilities. Bills still have to be paid, food still has to be cooked, but there’s no reason to become a prisoner to a to-do list. We can be intentional. We can prioritize. We can choose what deserves our time instead of letting society or social media push us around.
And if you’re reading this, I want you to pause for one moment. Look at your own weekly schedule. If someone told you today that you only had three months left, what would still feel essential? What would you do differently starting tomorrow?
Life is short, and it’s scary how fast it can slip away. I don’t want to wake up at the end of my time regretting that I spent more hours scrubbing tiles than making memories with people I love. I don’t want to realize I missed sunsets because I was too busy chasing another inbox zero.
So this is my gentle nudge to you, and also to myself: cut down your list. Save time for what matters. Make memories. Protect your peace. And if that means leaving the dishes overnight sometimes or ignoring a hundred memes in your feed, then so be it.
At the end of it all, I want to be able to say I lived not just that I worked or cleaned or scrolled. I want my life to be full of relationships, laughter, faith, and stories. That’s the kind of legacy worth leaving.
So here’s to less tasks and more life. Let’s do it together.
Thanks for reading. I’d love to hear how you would simplify your own days if you had the chance drop a comment, and let’s inspire each other. See you next time, and remember: live first, tidy up later. 😉
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@peachyladiva @kwinberry @ukpono @imohmitchel @samuelbrilliant