From the series: The Art of Subtracting
Making space before we make plans.
January has a way of staying loud. Even as the days move forward, the volume doesn’t really drop.
New opinions. New predictions. New advice about what we should be doing by now.
Even when nothing is asked of us, everything seems to be speaking.
What I’ve noticed lately is how quickly my mind fills up, not with tasks, but with noise. Other people’s urgency. Other people’s certainty. Other people’s reactions to things I haven’t even had time to feel yet.
So I’ve been practicing a quieter form of subtracting.
Not removing people. Not rejecting ideas. Just noticing how much I don’t actually need to hear today.
There’s a strange pressure to stay updated, to keep up, to have an opinion ready. But attention is not infinite. Every voice we let in takes up space that could have held rest, clarity, or our own thoughts.
This brought me back to the philosophy of Digital Minimalism. It’s not about rejecting technology; it’s about rejecting the idea that we owe our attention to everyone who asks for it.
In the spirit of subtracting, I’m offering two ways to explore this today, depending on the time you have:
Option 1: The Quiet Reminder (60 Seconds) If you just need a quick reset, this short reflection from Cal Newport is perfect. He frames attention as a limited budget—if we spend it all on the “noise,” we have nothing left for what we value.Watch the Short: Choose Focus, Not Noise
Option 2: The Deep Dive (1 Hour) If you are on a walk or have time to listen, this conversation between Mel Robbins and Cal Newport is excellent. They bridge the gap between “busyness” and “focus,” explaining why doing fewer things is actually the path to doing them better. Watch the Episode: How to Focus & Be More Productive
This kind of subtraction isn’t dramatic. It’s gentle.
It sounds like lowering the volume. It looks like unfollowing without announcing it. It feels like choosing silence, even briefly, and noticing how much calmer the room becomes.
Letting less in doesn’t make us uninformed. It makes us available to what actually matters.
Let’s Try This Don’t overthink it. Just go with your gut. What is one voice, feed, or input you could pause for today, without guilt or explanation?
Warm Wishes,
