Trading Productivity for Presence: The Power of an "Unproductive" Weekend

Doing “less” for more energy and greater  wellness

After several long holiday weekends in a row here in Taipei, we are back to regular business, baby! 

What did you do with your holiday weekend?

Whereas I usually have MORE classes when no one else is at work and wants to move, I actually had a full Saturday and Sunday with zero on the books.

Staring at that blank canvas,  my first thought was, “Should I see friends? Meal prep? Do strength workouts? Read? Shop? Clean? I have to make the absolute most of this weekend!”

During the weeks, I live by my color-coded Google calendar traveling between a bunch of different locations each day. And for many of us living fast paced lives, leaving the house  we constantly try to fit in a trip to the store here, a stop at the bank there, and on and on.  Maximize time,  be productive, stay efficient, do more, more, more.

For years, that’s exactly how I approached wellness, too. I'd try to craft the perfect workout plan, get my nutrition on track, be in bed early, journal, stretch, read… do it all, and as quickly as possible. Until, inevitably, one thing would collapse and it felt like the whole system came to a halt, leaving me feeling like a failure.

So as I faced this beautiful, empty weekend, I felt that familiar pressure: What are all the things I need to do to make the most of this time?

But then, a different thought popped into my head: "Do less."

Instead of filling my social calendar, I kept things loose. A low key hang with a friend with real, in-person eye contact instead of looking at screens felt nourishing. I took a stroll in the afternoon with no purpose and made a point of looking up, noticing the little things I always miss in my rush like a wind chime tinkering on a balcony and the interesting designs on the doors of homes.

And what happened? I felt more present. I felt rested not just on a physical level, but on a deeper mental and emotional one.

While I love the high of accomplishing a great deal, I was reminded that chasing "more" often has the opposite effect, leaving me feeling "less than."

This is something we see all the time on our wellness journeys, isn't it? Piling on more habits, more rules, and more pressure only adds stress and makes us feel like we're failing when we can't keep up.

Now, can you or I throw away all our to-do lists and do nothing? Unlikely.

But maybe we can get clear on what truly matters. We might find some things on our plate that can be taken away to allow for a little less productivity and a lot more presence. Less overwhelm and more clarity. Less self-criticism and more confidence.

So my question for you is this: If less is more, what could you trade getting less of, to get more of what you truly need?

It's funny, but giving myself that gift of "less" is what refilled my energy for the week ahead. It’s that clear, grounded energy that makes an hour of dancing feel like pure joy, not just another thing to check off the list.

If you’ve been craving a space to spend your energy with joy and presence, I’d love to see you on the dance floor in class or online at home !

Keep moving!

xx,

Katie