Essentialism: What I Actually Cut From My Life
Essentialism: What I Actually Cut From My LifePhilosophy & Religion
kairenner-gh/slates
Last update 2 w. agoCreated on the 26th of April 2026

The Audit That Came After the Book

Essentialism is not about doing less for the sake of it. Greg McKeown is careful to distinguish between being lazy and being deliberate. After I finished the book I opened my calendar and wrote down every recurring commitment I had. Then I went through each one and asked the question the book taught me to ask: if I were not already doing this, would I choose to start it today? The answers surprised me.

272Pages

Commitments eliminated this quarter
6/10
journey·4 Sections

Reading Essentialism

Applicability

/

Section

Essential intentGraceful no chapterEdit principleRoutine and flow12345
The section I return to most in practice

Commitments I Said No To After Reading

75%

A recurring weekly meeting that had no agenda and no outcome

A volunteer role I accepted because I felt too guilty to decline

A freelance project that paid well but cost me three weekends a month

A board seat I am still deciding about, the question is still open

Done

Audit my calendar and list every recurring commitment I currently hold

Commitments reduced from calendar audit
5/8