If you’ve ever ended a day thinking, I was busy all day, but what the hell did I actually accomplish? welcome to the club. Modern work life, and let’s be honest, life in general has become a relentless parade of notifications, meetings, and to-do lists. And those days replicate – seemingly regenerating faster than Hydra’s heads. We measure our worth in how much we cram into our calendars. How many emails we respond to, and how quickly we can switch from a Zoom call to “quickly knocking out” a report.

But Greg McKeown’s book: Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less and Cal Newport’s Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World argue that this frenzy is not just unsustainable. It’s entirely backwards. The secret isn’t doing more, faster. It’s doing less, better. And it’s not about time management. It’s about priority management. Together, these books provide a blueprint for getting through those days by focusing on what matters. Reclaiming your life one day at a time from the tyranny of busywork.

Before diving into solutions, let’s acknowledge the problem: we’re addicted to busyness. Being busy makes us feel important. It’s a socially acceptable way of saying, Look at me, I’m needed! I’m in demand! But here’s the kicker: most of what we’re busy with doesn’t actually matter.

Greg McKeown compares our constant hustle to trying to dig a well by digging a hundred shallow holes instead of one deep one. Sure, you’re busy swinging that shovel, but you’re not getting any closer to water. Essentialism asks us to stop glorifying activity for activity’s sake and start focusing on what actually moves the needle.

Cal Newport takes this idea further by highlighting the cognitive cost of shallow work—the emails, Slack messages, and quick tasks that feel productive but barely scratch the surface of meaningful contribution. Shallow work might keep you afloat, but it’s deep work that builds the boat.

Greg McKeown’s Essentialism isn’t about living with fewer possessions or embracing some Zen-like existence of perpetual calm. It’s about a mindset—a disciplined approach to focusing on what truly matters. At its core, it challenges you to ask yourself one transformative question: What is the one thing I can do right now that will have the most significant impact? And, more importantly, it teaches you how to act on the answer by mastering the subtle art of saying no and the hard practice of eliminating the nonessential.

Let’s talk about no, that tiny, gut-wrenching word we all struggle with. For many, saying no feels like committing a crime against humanity. At least against your coworker’s request for “just five minutes” of your time. It’s uncomfortable because it carries a social weight. Saying no might make you feel like you’re letting someone down, missing out, or being seen as selfish. But McKeown flips this narrative on its head: every time you say yes to something, you’re actually saying no to something else.

Think about it: when you agree to a last-minute meeting that could’ve been an email, you’re stealing time from your most important work. When you accept a project that aligns with someone else’s goals but not your own, you’re robbing your future self of energy and focus. McKeown’s Essentialism argues that we have to reclaim our time and energy with the same ferocity a dragon guards its treasure. And that starts by asking, Is this activity the absolute best use of my time and energy? If your answer isn’t a resounding yes, it’s a no.

McKeown suggests practicing what he calls “the pause.” Instead of immediately committing to a request or invitation, step back and evaluate whether it aligns with your priorities. This moment of hesitation isn’t indecision; it’s clarity in action. It gives you the space to weigh the trade-offs and ensures that when you do say yes, it’s because the opportunity is genuinely worth it.

Identifying what’s truly important is only half the battle. The next step is where the real challenge begins. Cutting out all else. Why? Because the nonessentials in your life often come wrapped in sentimentality, obligation, or habit. They’re the meetings you feel you should attend, the tasks you’ve always done, or even the relationships you maintain out of guilt rather than genuine connection.

Eliminating the nonessential requires a ruthless commitment to your priorities. And yes, it’s uncomfortable. It might mean declining a client project that doesn’t align with your long-term goals or stepping back from a volunteer role that drains your energy. It might even mean letting go of personal relationships that no longer serve you or support your growth. But here’s the kicker: every unnecessary obligation you shed frees up time and energy to pour into the things that matter most.

Take the example of a founder juggling the demands of a growing startup. They might feel obligated to attend every networking event, respond to every email within minutes, or oversee every minor detail of their product development. But what happens when they step back and focus solely on their top priorities. Building the product, securing funding, and cultivating a strong team? The nonessentials fall away, and their time is suddenly spent driving impact rather than spinning wheels.

McKeown’s approach to elimination isn’t about recklessly cutting corners. It’s about thoughtful subtraction. It’s about recognizing that the more you focus on doing what matters, the less room there is for distractions that dilute your impact. And while the process might sting at first, it’s the only way to create the space you need to thrive.

Saying No to Say Yes

In the end, Essentialism is about making peace with the idea that you can’t do it all. That trying to is the quickest path to burnout. It’s about learning to embrace the discomfort of saying no so you can experience the profound satisfaction of saying yes to the right things. And, as McKeown emphasizes, this isn’t a one-time decision. It’s a daily discipline.

So the next time you’re faced with a request, an opportunity, or even a casual invite, remember this: every yes is a no to something else. Make sure your yeses are worth it. And don’t be afraid to let no do the heavy lifting for your priorities.

Cal Newport’s Deep Work takes the baton from Essentialism and sprints full tilt into the realm of focus. Once you’ve cleared the clutter, Newport says, it’s time to hone the single most underrated skill in modern life: the ability to concentrate deeply. And let’s not sugarcoat it. Our collective attention span has been pulverized into fragments by the endless parade of notifications, dopamine hits from social media, and the seductive illusion of multitasking.

What Is Deep Work?

Deep work isn’t just about working harder or longer. It’s about working smarter. It’s the uninterrupted, laser-focused effort you bring to tasks that demand your full cognitive ability. Writing a strategic report, designing a product prototype, or brainstorming a new idea? That’s deep work. On the flip side, half-listening to a meeting while answering Slack messages or scrolling through LinkedIn during a brainstorming session? That’s shallow work, and Newport’s here to tell you it’s the fast lane to mediocrity.

Why does this matter? Because, Newport argues, deep work is the key skill that will separate those who thrive from those who stagnate in the 21st-century economy. Shallow tasks can be automated, delegated, or outsourced. Deep work – the stuff that requires creativity, nuanced thinking, and true expertise. Is irreplaceable. It’s the difference between creating something remarkable and just checking items off a to-do list.

Newport doesn’t wag a finger at distractions because they waste time (and they do) he points out how they actively degrade the quality of your thinking. Every time you switch tasks, say, from drafting a proposal to answering a “quick” email you leave a trail of “attention residue.” That’s the cognitive equivalent of mud on your boots. It takes time to shake it off and refocus on the original task, and in the meantime, your brain is operating at half power.

Imagine you’re a chess grandmaster in a high-stakes tournament. Deep work is the mental equivalent of studying your next move with total focus. Now imagine trying to do this while pausing every five minutes to text your friends or scroll Twitter. Sure, you’re still at the board, but your strategic genius is shot to hell.

Newport lays it bare: distractions aren’t just annoying. They’re corrosive. They chip away at your ability to think deeply, innovate, and produce meaningful work. And in a world where everyone’s distracted, the ability to stay focused is your competitive edge.

Deep work isn’t some innate talent reserved for monks and über-productive CEOs. It’s a skill. A muscle that you can build over time. And like any muscle, it starts weak and gets stronger with consistent effort.

Newport suggests starting small. Dedicate an hour a day to deep work. No email. No Slack. No Instagram. Just you and the task that matters most. Over time, increase the duration as your ability to focus sharpens. Think of it like training for a marathon. You don’t start with 26 miles; you start with a jog around the block.

Consistency, not intensity, is the name of the game here. Deep work isn’t about grinding for 12 hours straight in a caffeine-fueled haze. It’s about creating sustainable rituals and boundaries that protect your focus. Block off your calendar, find a workspace that minimizes interruptions, and guard those deep work hours like your life depends on it.

And the payoff? Newport promises not just better results, but a profound sense of fulfillment. There’s a unique satisfaction in doing deep, meaningful work. A sense of craftsmanship that’s becoming increasingly rare in our swipe-left, move-fast culture. Deep work doesn’t just make you better at what you do; it reminds you why you do it in the first place.

For founders and leaders, the insights of these books are a lifeline. In a world where the loudest voice often gets the most attention, these principles teach you to ignore the noise and focus on what truly drives impact.

Leading with Clarity
Essentialism forces you to clarify your priorities. Not just for yourselves but for your teams. When everyone knows what’s essential, decision-making becomes easier, and effort aligns around the things that matter most. It’s not about micromanaging. It’s about providing a North Star that guides action.

Creating a Deep Work Culture
You set the tone for whether deep work is possible in your organization. Are you the type of boss who sends late-night emails and expects instant replies? Or do you protect your team’s time and encourage focused, meaningful work? Newport argues that creating a deep work culture starts with setting boundaries—both for yourself and for those you lead.

Let’s zoom out from the office and apply these principles to life in general. Busyness isn’t just a professional problem. It’s a cultural epidemic.

Do Less, but Better at Home
Think about your personal commitments. How many of them actually bring you joy or fulfillment? If your weekends are a blur of errands, social obligations, and scrolling TikTok, you’re probably spreading yourself too thin. Apply McKeown’s essentialist mindset. Ask yourself: What would your life look like if you focused on the relationships and activities that truly matter?

Protect Your Attention
Deep work isn’t just for the office. Imagine spending an afternoon with your kids without checking your phone or binge-reading a novel without guilt. These moments of focus and presence are where fulfillment lives, but they’re only possible if you protect your attention like the precious resource it is.

Here’s a big one: we like being busy and distracted. Busyness makes us feel important, and distractions give us an excuse to avoid the hard, messy work of thinking deeply. In a culture that values speed and surface-level achievement, slowing down and focusing feels almost rebellious.

McKeown and Newport challenge us to resist this cultural tide. To say no when everyone expects a yes. To turn off notifications when the world demands constant availability. To focus on depth in a world obsessed with breadth.

If you’re ready to reclaim your time and attention, here are a few actionable tips to get started:

1. Conduct an Essential Audit: List everything you’re doing. Work tasks, commitments, hobbies. Ask, Which of these truly matter? Eliminate or delegate the rest.
2. Schedule Deep Work Time: Block out at least an hour a day for focused, uninterrupted work. Treat it like a sacred appointment.
3. Turn Off Notifications: Seriously, your phone doesn’t need to ding every time someone likes your post.
4. Embrace the Art of Saying No: Practice politely declining opportunities that don’t align with your priorities. It gets easier with time.
5. Create Rituals for Focus: Whether it’s a dedicated workspace, a morning routine, or a pre-work meditation, rituals signal to your brain that it’s time to go deep.

The real genius of Essentialism and Deep Work is their simplicity. These are life philosophies that ask us to step back, evaluate what truly matters, and align our actions accordingly. They remind us that life isn’t a race to see who can cross the most things off their to-do list. It’s a journey of depth, meaning, and intentionality.

In a world that constantly demands more, the choice to focus on less but better isn’t just smart. It might just be the secret to living a life that actually feels worth living.