THE DISCIPLINE OF NO
Why subtraction makes your work, business, and life stronger.
Welcome to Issue #007 of Sojourn. Each week, I share two original essays to help you slow down, reconnect, and rebuild with intention (hence ‘sojourn’), in a private community that sees travel as a path to reinvention.
Travel used to be my escape.
Then I learned this: the right trip starts with no.
At Soneva, the welcome is simple: No News, No Shoes. You step off the boat, slip your sandals into a bag, and your phone feels suddenly loud. Dinner comes without plastic. Glass is melted into new plates on-site. Water is filtered there, not flown in. It’s luxury, yes—but by subtraction. That’s the kind of “no” you can use anywhere.
WHY “NO” WORKS
Fewer inputs = more presence.
Less stuff = clearer choices.
Simple rules = habits that stick.
You don’t need an island to feel this. You need a short list of things you’ll remove before, during, and after your next trip.
TRY THIS ON YOUR NEXT STAY
1) BOOK BY VALUES, NOT FEATURES
Pick one principle you care about (quiet, no plastic at meals, local sourcing). Choose a place that names it clearly on their site or socials. If unsure, email and ask me, happy to help.
2) FIRST HOUR, NO INPUTS
Bags down. Shower. Water or tea. 20-minute walk. No phone, no planning. This resets your pace.
3) ONE DAILY “NO”
Choose one: no shoes indoors; no news till noon; no phone at meals; no single-use water. Keep it all trip.
4) ONE LOCAL PRACTICE
Market at dawn, bathhouse, short craft class, easy forage, beach clean. Pay fairly, watch, learn. Let place teach you.
5) Bring one habit home
Pick the one that felt best. Tie it to a time or place (after coffee; after dinner). Do it for 30 days. Put a note on the fridge.
LIGHT SCRIPTS YOU CAN COPY BEFORE DEPARTURE
PRE-ARRIVAL EMAIL
“Hi [Name], I’m hoping for a quiet, simple stay. If possible: a room away from noise, water in glass, no newspaper, and no TV on at arrival. A kettle/tea tray would be perfect. Thank you.”
AT CHECK-IN
“I’m doing a low-input trip—no news, minimal phone. Any spots on property that are especially quiet in the morning or at dusk?”
AT RESTAURANTS
“Could we skip bottled water and single-use items? Tap (filtered) in glass is great.”
PACK A TINY “NO” KIT
Paper + pen (for the first hour)
Earplugs or soft playlist
Book or printout (so the phone can stay away at night)
Reusable bottle + small tote
IF YOU’RE TRAVELING WITH OTHERS
Pick one shared “no” (no phones at breakfast, shoes off indoors). Keep the rest personal. Make it easy, not moral. Celebrate the feel, not the rule.
BRING IT HOME, KEEP THE SPIRIT
Shoes off at the door.
No news in the first hour.
No single-use water for 30 days.
One quiet corner (chair, warm light, no screens).
Small, visible “no’s” give you a stronger yes: more attention for the people and work that matter.
REFLECTION
What will you remove on your next trip?
Which moment of “less” made you feel most like yourself?
What one habit from the road will you keep for 30 days?
Travel doesn’t have to be an escape. Used well, it’s a start.
If this helped, share it with someone planning a trip.
~Ana