Recognize that every action, purchase, or time commitment has an opportunity cost, meaning it prevents you from doing something else. Use this awareness to prioritize and consciously subtract even ‘good stuff’ to make space for better things.
Actively challenge your mind’s inherent bias towards adding when solving problems; consciously look for opportunities to subtract, even if it feels less intuitive or takes more effort to consider.
When faced with a problem, especially when actions are ineffective or make things worse, pause, take hands off the controls, and let things be, as this pause offers the possibility of a new choice.
When solving problems, consider subtracting elements rather than always adding new ones, as removing unnecessary components can simplify learning and improve functionality.
To manage clutter and overwhelm effectively, focus on subtracting items and commitments rather than just organizing existing ones, because true relief and space come from having less.
To overcome the bias for adding, use a thought exercise: imagine you are forced to subtract something to solve a problem, as this can make subtraction strategies more obvious and help identify unnecessary elements.
To combat the ‘yes-damn effect’ and reinforce the benefits of saying no, implement the ’no-yay effect’: decline a commitment, then mark your calendar for the original due date with a reminder of your freedom, allowing you to experience the positive emotional reward of your decision.
When declining an invitation or commitment, reframe it as saying ‘yes’ to a higher priority, such as family time. To reinforce this positive choice, blind copy your spouse or accountability partner on the refusal email, making your decision visible and appreciated.
For parents, resist the urge to over-schedule children with numerous activities. Instead, consciously subtract commitments to allow kids time for rest, play, and social interaction, which can reduce anxiety and improve well-being.
When faced with severe limitations or disruptions, embrace them as opportunities to simplify your approach or discover new, more effective methods that might not have occurred to you otherwise.
When under pressure to act, especially in situations with high uncertainty, consider staying still or doing nothing, as it might yield a better outcome than guessing and acting.
In medical situations, especially concerning conditions like cancer, be open to ‘active surveillance’ or ’non-operative management’ (watching and waiting) as a valid and potentially beneficial approach, even if it feels counter-intuitive to ‘do nothing’.