Keep / Limit / Remove

The Intent

Once the Vital has been identified, Subtraction begins. Keep / Limit / Remove is a framework that determines what stays in your life, what is reduced, and what is eliminated through a simple three-signal evaluation: impact, alignment, and energy.

The Practice

Start with your list from the Trivial vs. Vital Filter. For each task or activity, assess the following: "How strongly does it advance my goals?", "How closely does it fit what I care about?", and "Does it leave me more energised or drained?". Keep the tasks that strongly advance your goals, the Vital activities from the list. These directly move you forward and have to be protected and scheduled first. Limit those that are necessary but risk excess. Those that contribute less, or are merely aligned or refreshing, such as checking email, rest, recreation, or social activities, are the ones to limit. Constrain them in time, frequency, or scope, so that they remain supportive, not distracting. Remove the draining, trivial activities entirely. If they serve neither necessity nor desire, eliminate or delegate them to protect your time, energy, and focus for what matters and what keeps you fresh.

The Insight

This system reclaims your time and focus from non-essential tasks, and is the engine of Subtraction. Rather than a raw binary filter, however, this one preserves your rest and enjoyment rather than locking you into constant grind.