What if doing more isn't always the answer?

Sometimes, social media and everyday life make us feel like we are not doing enough. There is a lot of pressure to always be busy and achieve more. This feeling can lead us to look for solutions by adding more tasks or activities to our lives, even when we are already feeling overwhelmed.

For example, if someone feels tired, they might add an exercise class to their day instead of cutting back on late-night computer use. They might buy expensive products to sleep better instead of reducing screen time before bed. This tendency to solve problems by adding more is called 'additive bias'.

Research shows that people often prefer adding things rather than taking things away to solve problems. When faced with many issues at once, like work deadlines or global events, our minds tend to look for more solutions, rules, or habits. This can make problems worse instead of better.

Studies have also found that we often recommend adding things, like meditating or exercising, for mental health. We think these additions are more effective, even if removing a bad habit, like smoking or drinking too much, might be simpler and more efficient. This bias can make us feel like we always need to do more to cope with life's difficulties.

Experts suggest that balancing 'doing more' with 'doing less' is important. Sometimes, the best solution is to step back, assess our options, and remove things that are not necessary or are causing stress. Taking breaks from consuming information and giving our minds space to process can help us be more creative and focus on what truly matters.