Practicing Essentialism

Doing Less But Better: Practicing Essentialism

Recently, I reread Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. I bought the book in 2018, and it’s interesting to see the concepts that show up in the book that have become actively integrated into my life. A mix from this book specifically and much from a constellation of connected content that attracts my attention.

The overlapping nature of following my energy means it’s hard to source and cite with specificity. And also, it’s the cumulative changes that matter.

Each time I’ve read the book, I take book notes or occasionally sketchnotes. I actually do this for almost all non-fiction books I read as a way to synthesize and capture the information. Looking back notes from this most recent reread helps me focus on the concepts and practices I’m feeling a desire to approach with more deliberateness and discipline.

Concepts like:

• Practicing discernment and considering what’s important now.
• How choices show up as actions.
• The power of editing with deliberate subtraction and designing instead of defaulting
• Adding buffer and slack into planning and taking action.
• And really leaning into single-tasking with one specific concentration in a time block.

Designing and practicing the model of essentialism that fits my life ebbs and flows. It also seems to pair well with my recent thoughts on if not now, when.

This is just a light touch on the concept of essentialism and how I’ve integrated and used book notes. Though I’ve thought about writing about it more, so let me know if you’re interested

Recurring into Never

Occasionally, someone will send me a meeting invitation that is recurring into never-endingness. In the first meeting or two, I’ll comment about how I prefer specific ending points that naturally support the opportunity to check in. I feel specific endings allow for deliberate beginnings and comfortable transitions.

Recently, in the WAIM Slack, a member asked if anyone was interested in gathering for a Substack working group/mastermind and I joined in. A place to brainstorm, share knowledge, and leverage for accountability would be helpful.

The original invite was for every other Friday into forever, but on the last Friday, she and I were chatting and ended up redesigning it. With specific topics for the rest of the year and an opportunity for people to opt-in to a Substack conversation that has a bit more structure and yet the freedom to follow the energy.

I have a tendency to create (or at least influence) the supportive structures I’m looking for and I’m excited about the upcoming sessions.