I’m constantly pruning my life of activities that drain me. For example, I’ve started the horrible habit of over planning my weekends, missing out on the spontaneity that makes life great.
A simple framework helps me quickly brainstorm ideas: Delete, Simplify, Delegate. Spend 5 minutes developing as many ideas as possible under each category:
Delete: Does the activity need to be done at all? What would the impact be? Can this activity be done less often?
Simplify: What is the minimum that needs to be done on this activity? What would you do if you only had an hour (or less) to work on this activity?
Delegate: Can I throw money at this problem to outsource? How can I create a growth opportunity for someone else? Note: Do not delegate anything until you determine if it can be deleted or simplified first.
Then circle the most impactful. Here is an example for my weekend conundrum. Try it. Rope a friend in to help. I’d love to hear how it works for you!
