We are conditioned to believe that more is better. We think that to be more successful, we need to add more projects, more habits, and more commitments. But usually, the secret to a designed year isn't addition — it's subtraction. As Jim Collins famously said, "A 'Stop Doing' list is more important than a 'To-Do' list." Today, we are going to look at the activities, habits, and "obligations" that are currently clouding your progress and keeping your North Star from shining.
Every time you say "Yes" to something that doesn't matter, you're accidentally saying "No" to something that does. We only have a limited amount of "Decision Capital" each day. If you spend that capital deciding what to wear, replying to trivial group chats, or over-explaining your boundaries, you have nothing left for your big dreams. By creating a "Stop Doing" list, you create Margin. Margin is the space between your load and your limits. It is the breathing room where creativity and peace live.
Since this exercise isn't in your guidebook, grab your journal or a blank piece of paper. We are going to perform "Time Surgery."
Step 1: The 7-Day Inventory
Look back at your calendar or your bank statement from the last week. List 10 things you spent time or money on that didn't move you closer to your North Star or bring you genuine joy.
Step 2: Categorize the Clutter
Look at your list and label each item with one of these three categories:
Low-Value Tasks: Things that take time but yield zero results (e.g., refreshing your inbox 50 times a day).
Emotional Drains: Relationships, social media accounts, or news cycles that leave you feeling "leaked" and exhausted.
The "Shoulds": Commitments you are keeping only because you're afraid of what someone else might think.
Step 3: The "Stop Doing" Commitment
Pick one item from each category and write the following sentence:
"To make room for my North Star, I am officially stopping [Activity] starting today."
BONUS | The 10-Minute Reset: Pick one thing on your "Stop Doing" list and eliminate it right now. Unsubscribe from that retail newsletter that tempts you to spend. Mute that group chat that stresses you out. Decline that "courtesy" invitation for next week. Feel the immediate rush of energy that comes when you stop leaking power!
