Creating an Essentialist Habit List: Less But Better

"Essentialism is not about how to get more things done; it’s about how to get the right things done." — Greg McKeown

We are often told we can "have it all." We should have a perfect career, a perfect body, a clean house, read 50 books a year, learn a language, and side-hustle. So we build a habit tracker with 20 daily goals. Day 1: We do them all. Day 3: We are exhausted. Day 7: We quit.

The pursuit of "more" leads to failure. The pursuit of "less but better" leads to mastery. This is the Essentialist Habit List.

What is Essentialism?

Essentialism is the disciplined pursuit of less. It is distinguishing the "vital few" from the "trivial many." In terms of habits, it means acknowledging that you have limited energy. You cannot do everything. You must trade off. "If I say yes to learning Spanish, am I saying no to learning Python?" Yes. You are. And that is okay.

How to Audit Your Habits

Step 1: Brainstorm

Write down every habit you think you should have. (Exercise, meditate, read, journal, call mom, clean, code, cook...).

Step 2: The 90% Rule

Look at each habit. Rate its potential impact on your current top priority from 0 to 100. If it is anything less than a 90, it is a 0. This sounds extreme. But 70s and 80s are dangerous. They are "good enough" to distract you, but not great enough to change your life. Delete the non-90s.

Step 3: Identify the Keystone Habit

Usually, there is one habit that makes the others easier.

• For some, it's sleep. (If I sleep, I eat well and exercise).
• For others, it's planning. (If I plan my day, I am productive). Focus on the Keystone Habit first.

Building the Essentialist List

An essentialist list typically has no more than 3 core daily habits.

Example of a Non-Essentialist List:

1. Wake up 5 AM
2. Cold shower
3. Meditate 20 min
4. Yoga 30 min
5. Journal
6. Read
7. Run
8. Green smoothie
9. ...

Example of an Essentialist List:

1. Sleep 8 Hours (The Foundation)
2. Deep Work 2 Hours (The Career Mover)
3. Exercise 30 Mins (The Energy Generator)

That's it. If you do these 3 things consistently for a year, you will be unstoppable. If you try to do the first list, you will burn out in a month.

The Joy of Missing Out (JOMO)

Essentialism requires you to be comfortable with missing out. "Everyone else is doing the 75 Hard challenge." "Everyone else is learning to bake sourdough." Let them. You are focused on your essential path. There is a quiet confidence in saying, "No, I don't do that. It doesn't align with my essential goals."

Maintaining the List

Quarterly Review: What was essential 3 months ago might not be essential now. Maybe you finished your big project. Now "Deep Work" can be replaced with "Social Connection" or "Rest." Your habits should serve your current season of life.

Pruning: Like a closet, your habit list accumulates clutter. Periodically prune it. "Do I still need to track 'Drink Water'? Or do I just do it naturally now?" If it's automatic, stop tracking it. It's done. Remove the noise.

Conclusion

You don't need more time. You need more focus. By doing fewer things, you can do them with greater intensity and consistency. Look at your habit tracker today. What can you delete? What is truly essential? Keep that. Discard the rest. Because if you don't prioritize your life, someone else will.