More/Less
A fresh start to a fresh year
If you enjoy this kind of writing, you can subscribe here.
Hi friends & travelers,
How were your holidays? Mine were somehow low-key and chaotic at the same time.
I took two weeks off to be with family (on both sides) who came to visit. We didn’t do much—mostly hung out and chatted, went on long walks, ate delicious food, and watched movies. (Our kids watched Lord of the Rings for the first time! Suddenly I’m old.)
I also managed to get a bit of household organizing and editing done… though not as much as I’d hoped, because a stomach flu arrived, entirely uninvited.
Honestly, coming back to work this week felt weirdly calming for my nervous system compared to the low-key chaos of the holidays. I think part of that is because the new year has me inspired to implement a calmer way of working and delegating—and so far, I’m feeling really good about it.
(I know, I know… it’s only the 10th. We’ll see how long this lasts.)
Instead of hard-and-fast goals for the entire year ahead, I made a More/Less list (inspired by Julia). I may still set monthly and quarterly goals—those feel more doable—but for the year as a whole, I’m setting my intentions with this little list:
More/Less
More:
Early nights.
Tiny kindnesses + connections.
Movies as self-assigned homework.
Mountain hikes with stunning views.
Flowers + gardens + Cotswolds.
Decorating + organizing.
Flea markets + France.
Date nights.
Field trips.
House museums + art studios + Belgium.
Strength training. Saunas.
Real books.
Sunshine.
Signature style.
Going with the flow.
Homemade cake.
Intention.
Noticing all that’s already here.
Belly breathing + belly laughs.
Dancing to soul music in the kitchen.
Soup.
Less:
Late nights.
Baseline stress.
Micromanaging.
Carrying everything alone.
Unorganized, unfinished spaces.
Forgetting to explore the place I actually live.
Hot yoga (+ other super intense exercise).
Self-consciousness.
Control.
Bland food.
Trends.
Phone scrolling—especially in the morning.
Losing track of friends.
Chest breathing.
Caring if my teenagers think I’m cringe.
Staying in on weekend nights by default.
Spending the entire Saturday doing recurring chores.
Waiting for someone to dance with me.
Instagram as a reflex.
Distraction.
Impatience.
Clutter.
What’s on your More / Less list right now? I’d love to hear.
Also, do you wanna have a say in where we go on the By Design trips?
I’m mapping out the next year or two of travel, and I’ve put together a 2 minute survey to gather ideas — no pressure, just would love your point of view.
Alright, time to go, it’s our tradition to make Friday night a family pizza movie night, and it’s my turn to pick what we watch. (I’m thinking Gentlemen Prefer Blondes… the music, the gorgeous costumes, Paris, and MM is always funnier than I remember…)
x Eva
P.S. A More / Less way of traveling is exactly what we’re leaning into on the June Cotswolds trip — lush gardens, artist visits, good food, and plenty of breathing room.
There are 2 or 3 spots left if it’s been on your mind.