Learn how to build simple systems that save time and energy, reduce decision fatigue, and make your daily routines more efficient.
Productivity vs Sufficiency
Nowadays, people think a lot about productivity. But for me, the constant pressure to be productive all the time makes me feel stressed and anxious.
What I prefer to think about instead is sufficiency. I like systems and convenience in my environment and routines. In a way, I see this as the opposite of productivity—you don’t have to work harder, yet you still get good results. It’s all about putting systems in place to make things more efficient and almost decision-free. And when I succeed in an area where I’ve applied a new system, it really excites me and gives me confidence that I can do anything.
Do Now – Reap Benefits Later
I often ask myself: What can I do now that will save me time and energy later? Even with small things, like using dishes, I try to think through the steps.
For example, if I need a cup, what’s easier—taking a clean one out of the cabinet or washing the dirty one in the sink and using it?
At first, it seems easier to grab a clean cup because it’s quicker. But to get that cup back into the cabinet later, you’ll need to rinse it, put it in the dishwasher, and unload the dishwasher—that’s a three-step process. If you simply wash the cup that’s already in the sink, it’s just one step. It adds a step now but eliminates two steps later.
Those small decisions really add up over time. If you keep taking clean dishes throughout the day, you’ll end up with a big chore later. The same applies while cooking—if you don’t use small pauses to wash and clean as you go, you’ll be left with a huge mess afterward. It’s no wonder our mothers and grandmothers did this—it saved them time and energy.
A Single Decision Rule
Another question I ask myself is: What one decision now will help me avoid making decisions later?
For example, I take the same lunch to work every day, so I don’t have to think about what to bring. I make yogurt from raw milk, and if I don’t have anything else prepared, I always have that option.
Some people take this even further by creating a “uniform”—wearing the same types of clothes every day so they don’t have to decide what to wear. That might be a bit extreme for me, since I enjoy variety in my wardrobe. Still, I really like the idea of simplifying things as much as possible, and I’m always looking for ways to apply these concepts in my home and my life.
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