The Power Of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential

by Leo Babauta

My life is better when I simplify it, when I cut down on the noise and I’m able to enjoy the things I love.

used the concept of One Goal—I focused on only one goal at a time, and put all of my energy into it.

The only way to learn to focus on the present is to practice. This might be hard to do at first. Your mind will wander, or you’ll do a lot of “meta-thinking,” which is just thinking about what you’re thinking, and whether you’re thinking it the right way, and whether there is a right way…and so on, until you’re no longer in the present. That’s normal. We all do that.

Start Small. Follow this principle with everything you do: with any goal, with any habit change, with any change in your life.

Try to enjoy whatever you’re doing. Try to pay attention, instead of thinking about other things. Be in the moment.

Do nothing. Sometimes, it’s good to forget about doing things, and do nothing. Don’t be afraid to be lazy sometimes.

I look around at other drivers and wonder whether they really need to get to where they’re going so fast, and whether they’ll slow down when they get there.

If you don’t enjoy yourself, you’ll never stick with it. So try to have as much fun as possible.