Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown, is a short but powerful read.

McKeown’s concept of essentialism includes shifting away from the habit of saying “yes” to everything in order to truly focus on the few areas where you can make the most meaningful contribution. The hardest part of this can simply be the aspect of allowing yourself to not do it all, or what McKeown refers to as JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out. When you experience JOMO, you experience the relief that comes when you empower yourself to not take on every project, every experience, every invitation, and very news story. Instead, you allow yourself the mental and physical space that is needed to perform your best and accomplish the most high-quality work towards goals that matter to you. This, in turn, results in better productivity, enhanced professional outcomes, and, perhaps, a more meaningful life.

McKeown’s lessons for leading a “less but better” work-life have always felt applicable in a hyperconnected world that seems to value busy-ness, but in our “new normal” world where people are trying to balance massive life changes along with continued uncertainty, McKeown’s idea of essentialism has all but become a necessity. Many of us are trying to balance new ways of work with childcare and homeschooling, while others are struggling with managing basic needs. We’re grappling with wanting to stay informed of massive world events while being bombarded with a 24/7 hours news cycle. Many of us feel the safest way to connect with our loved ones is virtually, but social media can be a stressful and opinionated place. Out of all of these daily decisions, how can we pare down our choices to essential ones that contribute to, rather than take away from, our well-being?

Here are some tips from the book that you can begin to apply right now.

·        Take note of what you feel are the very most important things that you can and should be doing with your time, talent, and resources. This applies to both your personal and professional life. When you have a clear idea of your priorities and the things you want to focus on, then you can better discern what tasks are essential.

·        Have a daily routine, and schedule your essential tasks. Make sure to also schedule empty room for both flexibility and quiet time, and resist the urge to have a packed planner.

·        Take a moment to pause before you say “yes” to another commitment. Many of us agree to requests impulsively or habitually. Just because you can fit something in doesn’t mean you should.  Consider how the request aligns with your bigger work and life goals, as well as your personal well-being. As McKeown writes, “The reality is, saying yes to any opportunity by definition requires saying no to several others.” If say “yes” to a commitment, what are you going to have to say “no” to as a result? Consider a variation of this phrase when you need to take a pause before committing: “Thank you for thinking of me for this! Is it okay if I look at my current schedule and get back to you by tomorrow morning?”

·        Practice saying no! On a related note, even if you do take the pause, it can feel extremely difficult to decline a request from someone you truly care about or if you feel obligated to cooperate. It’s even harder in service-driven roles, where responsibilities are inherently giving in nature. Saying “no” is a skill that can be learned. Tips for an effective “no” include maintaining a steady and neutral in your tone and being honest with your reasoning.

·        Focus on your sleep. Yes, your sleep! The book stresses the importance of high-quality sleep so that we can achieve more in less time. Rest and recovery is critical to high performance.

“If you take one thing away from this book, I hope you will remember this: whatever decision or challenge or crossroads you face in your life, simply ask yourself, ‘What is essential? Eliminate everything else.” – Greg McKeown

Interested in more?

·        Greg McKeown's website, with a number of resources related to Essentialism

·        Tim Ferris's interview with Greg McKeown on the topic of Essentialism and integrating it into your life (Additionally, you can scroll down and find Tim’s podcast on ways to gracefully say “no” to requests).