Less Doing, More Living Summary
5 min read ⌚
Make Everything in Life Easier
Everyone in this world suffers from stress. However, there are ways to relieve it.
In our summary of “Less Doing, More Living” we will teach you this simple philosophy that will reduce the stress in your life.
Who Should Read “Less Doing, More Living”? and Why?
Most people say that they do not have enough time to do everything that they need and want to do.
In “Less Doing, More Living,” Ari Meisel shows that everyone can spare some time by being smart with his or her tasks. He offers practical advice on using the time you have wisely and living a more fulfilling and productive life.
We recommend this book to anyone that feels that needs more hours in a day.
About Ari Meisel
Ari Meisel is an author, speaker, consultant and coach.
“Less Doing More Living Summary”
Nowadays, stress is the biggest enemy.
To eliminate it, use your time more wisely and spend it on activities and people that are the most significant to you.
We know that this is easier said than done, but with a little organization, everyone can achieve it.
Start by optimizing, outsourcing or automating your personal and professional tasks. This will free up chunks of time in each area of your life. A little time here, a little time there, and you will soon end up with a sum of the significant amount of free time that you can use any way you want.
Apply this step-by-step approach for tasks connected to your productivity, health, objectivities and even issues.
The “Less Doing, More Living” philosophy consists of three steps that you should take to conquer each challenging activity that you need to do.
First, reduce each task to is most minimal, fundamental form. Once you break each task down into small, manageable activities, sublet as big part of it as you can.
Next, use processes and software to automate everything that is automatable. Eliminating the human element as much as possible will take a massive load off your shoulders.
Lastly, outsource whatever else has left to an appropriate specialist or professional.
Complete the steps as we have listed them, so when you get to the third stage you have done the inefficient tasks. Outsourcing such inefficient tasks are not efficient and productive.
The “Less Doing, More Living” philosophy consists of “nine fundamental principles” that we will cover in the key lessons below.
Key Lessons from “Less Doing, More Living”
- “The 80/20 Rule” Set
- “Creating an External Brain”: Let Software Remember Things for You
- “Customization”: Personalize the Services You Need
- “Choose Your Own Workweek”: Plan for More Free Time
- “Stop Running Errands”: Get Someone Else to Handle Your Chores
- “Finances”: Muster the Knowledge to Maintain Your Budget
- “Organization”: Set Your Own Minimums and Maximums
- “Batching”: Put It All Together
- “Wellness.”
“The 80/20 Rule” Set
You have probably heard about the “Pareto Principle” many times before. However, just in case you have not, it is an 80/20 rule that argues that 80% of your results come from 20% of your effort.
This rule applies in all areas of life, to a wide range of situations.
For instance, 80% of a company’s profits come from 20% of its customers, in the stock market, 80% of gains come from 20% of investors, et cetera.
You can use the same principle to the time-efficiency in your life. Become aware that 20% brings 80% of your results. Track your time to prioritize your tasks.
Right now, tracking your time is easier than ever, since many available online tools allow you to do that.
“Creating an External Brain”: Let Software Remember Things for You
Do not waste your time looking for things they have lost. To avoid facing such problems, create a system that will allow you to find what you want, whenever you want it. This process does not involve memorization.
Trying to remember everything that you need and care about does not work. To make the job easier, turn to an external system that stores all the information you may need which will have the info available anytime you want it.
“Customization”: Personalize the Services You Need
Not all products that work for other people will be suitable for you. However, in today’s market, you can have products and services customized to your needs.
“Choose Your Own Workweek”: Plan for More Free Time
You can customize your work schedule, so it permits you more free time, no matter whom you work for: for yourself or someone else. Many online applications work as daily and task planners.
“Stop Running Errands”: Get Someone Else to Handle Your Chores
Running errands takes up time you could otherwise use more wisely. To avoid that, get others to do your tasks for you.
“Finances”: Muster the Knowledge to Maintain Your Budget
Know where your money comes from and where it is going. Handle your finances efficiently by using electronic tools.
“Organization”: Set Your Own Minimums and Maximums
Become more organized by limiting each activity you want to control. Do not only set upper limits but also set minimum limits that will define the fewest repetitions you have to carry out of activity.
“Batching”: Put It All Together
You lose focus each time you stop doing the task at hand and start doing something back. You need acclimation time before you can get into an activity. To minimize this acclimation time, batch similar tasks.
“Wellness”
To live a productive life, you have to stay physically healthy. Practice proper nutrition, exercise regularly and get an adequate amount of sleep.
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“Less Doing, More Living” Quotes
If you have good habits, technology can make them better. If you have bad habits, it will intensify those habits. Click To Tweet For any challenge, the first thing to do is optimize it. Break it down to its bare minimum, simplify it, and eliminate everything that’s not completely necessary. Once you’ve boiled the task down to its essentials, the goal is to break… Click To Tweet Three Steps to Less Implement the three Ds: delete, deal (including delegating), or defer to all tasks. Strive for ABD: always be done. Put your ego aside and recognize that sometimes the hurdle is you. Click To Tweet Pay attention to the vital few and ignore the trivial many. Click To Tweet Happily, there is an effective method to get to the heart of any problem called The Five Whys. You identify a problem and then drill down into The Five Whys behind it. Click To Tweet
Our Critical Review
In “Less Doing, More Living” you will find a list of many online tools for being productive and saving time. However, Meisel also shares a big chunk of impractical advice along with the right recommendations. Despite the drawbacks, the methods he offers are simple and easy to apply, so it is up to you to use them, and see if they work.
