Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the endless demands on your time and energy? If you are anything like me, I enjoy crossing off items on my to-do list. Not sure why but it gives me a hit of dopamine. I use to be excited for a jammed pack calendar. But what if we could achieve more by doing less? This is the core idea of Essentialism, a philosophy that encourages us to focus on what truly matters. I just finished the book Essentialism written by Greg McKeown. I have been diving into the concept for over a week and thinking on ways an essentialist lives and how to incorporate more into my life.
The Core Idea of Essentialism
Essentialism is about the disciplined pursuit of less but better. It’s not about doing less for the sake of it but about eliminating the non-essential so that we can give our best to the things that are truly important. Imagine your life as a closet. Over time, it gets filled with clothes, shoes, and accessories. Essentialism is like cleaning out your closet and keeping only the items that you love and use regularly. What if you went through your commitments and crossed off what you truly didn’t need to do or want to do. This may mean, no you are not going to be on the decorating committee this year in your HOA or maybe no to the second book club. Essentialist are concerned with the choice of what they will give up if they chose to go.
The Power of Choice
One of the most empowering aspects of Essentialism is recognizing that we have a choice. Often, we feel obligated to say yes to every request or opportunity, but Essentialism teaches us that we can choose how to spend our time and energy. By being selective and intentional, we can focus on what brings the most value to our lives. An example that McKeown gives us is that he and his wife were going to enroll their son into a baseball program. They dreaded doing because they knew the commitment would be draining. Then, it occurred to him that he had a choice. He asked himself why not sign up for the program and he came up with not wanting to disappoint his son. He called his son in and said “I was thinking about not enrolling you into baseball” and his son “that’s fine, I am okay. Think about how many times we do something thinking if we don’t it will disappoint someone.
The Trade-Off Concept
Every decision comes with a trade-off. Saying yes to one thing often means saying no to another. Essentialism encourages us to consider these trade-offs carefully. For example, if you say yes to working late, you might be saying no to spending quality time with your family. By understanding the trade-offs, we can make more informed and meaningful choices. Learning to explore these trade-offs is key. It takes practice.
The Power of Focus
Focus is the cornerstone of Essentialism. When we spread ourselves too thin, we dilute our impact. But when we concentrate on a few important things, we can achieve extraordinary results. To apply this, try identifying your top priorities and giving them your full attention. You’ll likely find that focusing on less leads to accomplishing more.
Practical Steps to Becoming an Essentialist
Becoming an Essentialist doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a gradual process of making small, deliberate changes and we can make changes at any age. Start by:
Assessing your current commitments and identifying which ones truly matter.
Saying no to requests that don’t align with your priorities.
Creating space in your schedule for rest and or reflection. What ever suits you.
Regularly reviewing and adjusting your focus to stay aligned with your goals or what is important to you.
In closing
Adopting Essentialism can transform the way you live and work. By focusing on what truly matters, you can reduce stress, increase satisfaction, and achieve more meaningful outcomes. It’s about making the highest possible contribution to the things that really matter. I wish I would have read this 25 years ago. However, we are never to old to change or improve.
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