A minimalist’s approach to combating climate change

If the Earth becomes uninhabitable, what alternatives do we have?

Climate change is the biggest threat faced by our generation and will become an even bigger threat to future generations. The outlook is scary, daunting challenges lie ahead, and unprecedented and far-reaching changes will be needed. I’d like to chip in and contribute my twopence worth from a minimalist’s point of view. 

If the Earth becomes uninhabitable, what alternatives do we have?

The following are actions which I implement to do my bit to combat climate change. To my mind, they are simple actions which we can all take to contribute towards preserving the planet and to enhance our quality of life in general.


1) No to beef and cows’ milk

The food sector, especially the meat and dairy sector, is among the biggest contributors to global warming. When cows burp while digesting food, they release methane, a greenhouse gas. It’s said that if cattle formed their own nation, they would constitute the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases (after China and the US).

Therefore, it is clear we can help the planet simply by changing our diets and minimising our consumption of meat, especially beef. This, by the way, seems a wise thing to do for health reasons anyway. Although I’m not a fully-fledged vegetarian, these days I nevertheless often opt for plant-based foods, which are healthier than meat and can also be incredibly tasty!

For long-term health benefits, to slow down my aging process etc., I also avoid cows’ milk wherever I can. Cows’ milk is not meant for humans. There are other, much better milk alternatives available that are safe for consumption by humans: almond milk, coconut milk, goats’ milk and others.


2) Minimal driving

Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles are hugely damaging to the planet and are accelerating global warming at a frightening and very dangerous pace. It’s a fact that there are too many vehicles on our roads. So it really is a no-brainer that – if and to the extent possible – we should use our cars less and instead cycle, walk or use public transport more.

Greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles are accelerating global warming at a frightening and very dangerous pace

I know it’s very easy for me to say that because, as several blog readers will know, I’ve been terrified of driving all my life. (Even just sitting in the passenger seat causes similar stress levels.) I haven’t driven for almost five years, but instead cycle to all places within cycling distance, or I walk, go by bus or travel by train. And I love it!

Incidentally, I’m a patent translator, and I usually gladly accept projects about inventions pertaining to autonomous driving/driverless cars, but also projects about inventions pertaining to electric vehicles. I don’t mind helping the state of the art in these fields along a bit by translating patent claims and descriptions, while hoping I can postpone getting back behind the steering wheel for another while.

So admittedly, my reason for not driving is not primarily my concern for the environment. However, I believe we should all at least make the effort to drive less to help avoid climate breakdown. Cycling is not just very enjoyable, it’s also sustainable. What’s more, in many cities (especially in Bristol!) it’ll often take you faster from A to B than a car.

Switching to a climate-friendly vehicle is a cool option!

Fuels will need to be replaced by renewable energy sources, so switching to a more climate-friendly vehicle is another cool option. Here’s hoping that electric cars will become more affordable in the not-too-distant future.


3) Reduction of carbon footprint from flying

Since I aim to minimise my carbon footprint from fossil fuels, I don’t fly often. Again, I know it is easy for me to say that. I am very fortunate in that I live in the UK, a country that I would probably head off to on holiday often if I still lived in Germany (where I’m originally from): I love spending time right where I’m based now! My idea of a perfect holiday destination is the English coast (or the Scottish coast, which I was lucky enough to explore a bit last summer).

I was born with a heightened sensitivity to bright lights, so sunshine is not even among the first things I look out for in a holiday. I am therefore perfectly (and indeed very) happy in places with less exposure to sunshine. (Having said that, the weather here in the UK is usually way better than most people on the continent think it is!) However, I do have empathy for anyone who craves sunshine and heat and therefore opts for aeroplane travel to head off to far-flung holiday destinations.

South West Coast Path near Lynton/Lynmouth on the North Devon coast in the UK

Occasionally, though, I hop on a plane, too. After all, it’s so convenient and fast (and too cheap). However, of course, planes run on fossil fuels. The Germans have a word to describe that awkward feeling that creeps up on you when you take a flight that’s unnecessary because you know it’s harmful to the environment: “Flugscham”. So could we change our flying habits, for example by looking into the possibility of virtual meetings for work?


4) Minimised shopping and consumption

Since almost everything that we buy has a carbon footprint (either in how it’s been manufactured or/and how it’s been shipped), it seems wise generally to shop, consume and throw away less. To counteract the dangers we’re confronted with from climate change, let us, at the very least, consume consciously and make informed decisions about what we buy.

This message incidentally chimes with what minimalists repeatedly proclaim: Less tends to be more, and happiness can’t be bought in a shop anyway. Acknowledge that there are benefits to reducing and minimising on all fronts, benefits to recycling as much as we can, and benefits to reusing and repairing things. Opting for quality, not quantity, is the thing!

Less is usually more, and happiness can’t be bought in a department store

Have you ever toyed with the idea of creating a capsule wardrobe that is tailored just to you? For inspiration, you may want to check out my blog article in which I describe three minimalist wardrobe principles. A minimalist wardrobe is not just good for the environment; it’ll also make you look and feel great!


5) Digital footprint minimisation

Every search query that we type into Google, every email that we send, and every work project that we complete on our computers causes CO2 emissions because energy is required to operate the computers to carry out these activities. Frankly, I cannot see how as a translator I could use my computers less. After all, I need them – and need them a lot – to secure my livelihood.

However, I guess it could be argued that what I do on a computer is generally far less energy-consuming than, for example, streaming videos. After all, I often just use a word processor to draft, rewrite and polish my texts. Or I search online materials in a textual format to retrieve relevant information for use in my work.

The Ecosia search engine could help us become greener in our online habits

Have you heard of Ecosia? I’ve recently learnt that Ecosia is an alternative, so-called “green” search engine. The company, based in Berlin, Germany, donates large parts of its profits to non-profit organisations which focus on reforestation. According to the Ecosia website, as of 24 November 2019, more than 75.2 million trees have already been planted thanks to Ecosia. Worth looking into, it seems, if you aim to become greener in your online habits!

From avoiding meat and cows’ milk to becoming greener in our online habits, there’s a lot that we as individuals can do to minimise our environmental impact on the planet. If we don’t act now, the outcome will be catastrophic. For if the Earth becomes uninhabitable and can consequently no longer be lived on, what alternative living spaces do we have?

Oxford Dictionaries declares 'climate emergency' the word of 2019 https://t.co/BU0zf5dzZD

— Nikki Graham Ⓥ 🌍 (@nikki_graham) November 25, 2019

The Earth from space: seeing what is (and what isn’t) important

In a recent piece in New Scientist, Helen Sharman, the first British person in space, recounts in an interview that being in space made her realise that physical possessions and material stuff are absolutely meaningless. She makes the point that we tend to use our possessions as an extension of ourselves, encouraging us that we should think about what’s really important and generally consume less.

I think that’s minimalism in a nutshell. It couldn’t be summarised better!


Physical possessions are meaningless

Helen Sharman describes herself not just as a scientist, but also as somebody who cares for the world we live in. The interview with her caught my eye not just because of her minimalism-related comments, but also because I’d been meaning to write an article about climate change for this blog. Climate change, after all, is one of the big topics of our time.

There is an acute danger that the Earth might become uninhabitable at some point
(Image source: PIRO4D, Pixabay)

Climate change has come upon us much sooner than predicted: it’s affecting us (and will be hitting our descendants even harder) in the form of global warming, extreme weather, the aggravated risk of bad floods and other climate change-induced weather phenomena.


Caring for the world we live in

The Earth is very fragile. This becomes especially noticeable when, as Helen Sharman did, you look at it from space. There is an acute danger that the Earth might become uninhabitable at some point.

Being in space made Helen Sharman realise that physical possessions are absolutely meaningless

Watch out for my next article, in which I’m going to share what I do (and could perhaps be doing better) to help combat climate change. I’m also going to muse about how my minimalist thinking plays a role in it.

The 5 Golden Questions of Translation

I love decluttering, especially because my ongoing decluttering frequently unearths (long-forgotten) gems from the past. And some of the things I find are downright amazing!

They often put a smile on my face. From 2000 to 2002 I was a student at the Institut für Fremdsprachen und Auslandskunde in Erlangen. While going through the materials from a class in translation of certificates, diplomas and public documents a few days ago, I found this:

If I remember correctly, the question “Do I need a cup of coffee?” was supposed to serve as a reminder that taking a short break from translation can be very beneficial in that you often come up with a solution while away from the desk (for example, to fetch a cup of coffee).

I’d completely forgotten about the “5 Golden Questions of Translation”: Do I need a cup of coffee? Can I leave it out? Can I find a synonym? Can I find a paraphrase? Can I risk translating it literally?

(A German translation of this blog entry is available here.)

Travelling like a minimalist

Who hasn’t yet savoured the lightness of living in a hotel room temporarily with just a few things packed into a suitcase? Regardless of whether we’re minimalists or not, when we’re travelling, surely we all experience the sense of satisfaction of living minimally for a while. The freedom that comes with not being surrounded by “stuff” (as many of us are at home) is just incredible!

The benefits of packing lightly

It’s that moment when you realise that you really don’t need that much to live and be genuinely happy. It’s a feeling which I, when I’m travelling, deeply relish. It was in fact the frustration with heavy luggage that set me off on the minimalism route back in April 2014. These days, I don’t lug much stuff around with me any more!

Packing lightly includes choosing mainly things that could fulfil several purposes

Packing lightly has resulted in the pleasurable consequence that I’ve come to enjoy travelling much more. Packing lightly includes choosing mainly things that, in theory, could fulfil several purposes. Example: I pack running shoes that don’t look too flashy, which I can wear for running, but also (in case a second pair of shoes should be needed) as ordinary walking shoes.

The minimalist way: Going digital

The BDÜ course in Forlì which I attended recently was excellent for a whole host of reasons. For example (and to stick with my minimalism theme), we were provided with the course materials in the form of files to which we could add our own notes using computers that had been set up for this purpose. And the files were immediately transferable either to our own storage media or uploadable to our cloud storage spaces. No piles of paper to lug home afterwards!

After my course in Forlì, I spent one night in Bologna and participated in an early-morning sightseeing run with Bologna by Run. It was already my second running tour in Bologna this year (this time with Andrea, last time with Alessandro), which just goes to show what an amazing experience it is!  I highly recommend sightseeing running tours: they’re slightly more expensive than “normal” guided tours, but worth every cent!

Guided running tours are slightly more expensive than “normal” guided tours, but worth every cent!

Combining several activities into one

As a minimalist, I love combining several activities into one, and my sightseeing run with Bologna by Run provided another opportunity to do exactly that: I was able to combine sightseeing, running, and (especially useful for me!) practising more Italian.

Minimalist and runner Anthony Ongaro recently noted: “I’m pretty certain running is the simplest form of exercise for most able-bodied humans. It’s as organic as it gets. Some bodies are made better for it than others, but I don’t think there’s anything that really gets simpler than that.” (Read the whole interview on the Run With Less blog by Grant Milestone.) And it is one of the reasons why I, too, love running. It’s so minimal!

Capturing the fleeting, beautiful moments

As a minimalist, I also consciously enjoyed the small moments during my “CPD mini-holiday” – however fleeting they may have seemed: savouring the taste of “real” Italian espresso; taking in the beauty of Piazza Aurelio Saffi in the centre of Forlì during an extremely mild evening; or the moments in the company of all the friendly people around me.

Minimalists, whether on holiday or at home, treasure experiences more than things

Minimalism in its essence is about being, not having. And I am all for becoming aware of the present moment and living in it. It’s not a state that we find ourselves in naturally as our thoughts tend to drift (often needlessly).

Minimalists, whether on holiday or at home, treasure experiences more than things. This is why spending money on experiences, rather than things, makes a lot of sense to minimalists. And the joy of travelling can be increased by minimalist means: by packing lightly, going digital or fully relishing those little moments!




I have since discovered that guided running tours have popped up and become popular in other cities, too. A few weeks ago, I participated in this guided running tour with Sean from Aye Run, exploring the sights and sounds of Glasgow, another beautiful city rich with history and culture:

Highly recommended: I tremendously enjoyed my #guidedrunningtour of #Glasgow with Sean from https://t.co/gTCldizFas (and thanks for putting it on just for me!). https://t.co/WxeHYSw5WY @GlasgowTourism @GetOutGlasgow @peoplemakeGLA pic.twitter.com/saKknY2fL0

— E. Hippe-Heisler (@detransferendo) August 9, 2019

Jumping in: Italian legal translation in Forlì

Translators, how good are we really at our second (third, fourth) foreign language?

I recently returned from a short course in Italian legal translation, which was held in Forlì in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy from 1 until 3 July 2019. It had been organised jointly by BDÜ Fachverlag mbH and the Translation and Interpreting Department of the University of Bologna.

BDÜ Fachverlag mBH and the University of Bologna ran a short course in Italian legal translation in Forlì

I’ll be honest and admit I felt a bit like a fish out of water, because I found myself among seasoned Italian translators, who work with Italian (and German) more or less every day, whereas I almost exclusively work with English (and German) these days.

It is, in fact, not unusual for translators to give up their second (usually weaker) language at some point to henceforth focus on just their main language in their work. I, too, had been considering this move not so long ago, but then decided that I would want to keep my Italian after all.

This consequently involved implementing certain measures that would help me bring my Italian back up to speed again. I did this by initially just dipping in here and there (for example, by listening to Italian radio at home) and then, without further ado, by jumping right in: I signed up for a translation course in Italy.

The topic of the course was Italian and German civil procedure law, an area I admit I do not know anything about and do not aim to specialise in. My motivation for signing up for the course (as opposed to that of all other participants) hence was as minimal as it could be: immersing myself into the Italian language. No more, and certainly no less!

The topic of the course was Italian and German civil procedure law

In my next post, I’m going to share some of my experiences from my trip to Italy. Note that I’m not going to write about the course and its contents, but in the interests of wider readership appeal am going to focus on the minimalism theme of this blog.

Maximising leisure time with the 80/20 rule

How do you like to spend your spare time ideally? How do you usually spend it?

The 80/20 rule, the topic of my previous blog article, can even help us adjust our leisure priorities for the better! Think about it: 20% of all leisure activities that you usually engage in will probably provide 80% of the joy and satisfaction in your life.

The 80/20 rule can help us identify the leisure activities that nourish us – whether that’s cycling, music or writing

Categories of leisure activities range from entertainment via spending time with family to community work. Leisure activities typically involve mental or physical recovery from paid work or housework. It can be either time spent with others or time “spent with ourselves”.

I (want to) lead a busy work life, hence my spare time is limited. Of the activities in the “time-spent-with-myself” category, I most relish yoga, running, reading and writing – I don’t need much else to feel good.

Realising this was eye-opening! I therefore now deliberately spend MORE time on those 4 activities – and less on all others. Applying the 80/20 rule has had the effect that a minority has generated a majority.

The 80/20 rule can help us identify the leisure activities that nourish us. We can consequently make more space for them and incorporate them better in our everyday lives.

New on my blog: "The 80/20 rule can even help us adjust our leisure priorities for the better!" https://t.co/85y6OtHUec (Thanks to my son for coming up with another ingenious idea for a graphic for one of my articles!) #Paretoprinciple #minimalism

— E. Hippe-Heisler (@detransferendo) August 15, 2019

The 80/20 rule: Achieving more with less

It is astonishing: we tend to use just 20% of our possessions 80% of the time. We habitually wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time. And 80% of our phone and text communications typically are with just 20% of the contacts saved on our phones.

Since this is a blog about minimalism, I feel an article about the 80/20 rule has long been overdue. The 80/20 rule is widely used by minimalists in their decluttering approaches. Many minimalists choose to give away the things that don’t matter (about 80% of what we own), while making space for those that are important (roughly 20%).

The 80/20 rule, or Pareto principle, is named after Italian economist and sociologist Vilfredo Pareto (1848-1923), who discovered that 20% of the pea plants in his garden produced 80% of the healthy peas. Following on from this, he noted that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by just 20% of the population.

The 80/20 rule can be extended to many areas of life and in business. While, of course, those percentages do not always apply exactly, it is true that most things in life and business are not evenly distributed. And a minority often generates a majority!

The 80/20 rule can help us adjust our priorities, declutter our everyday schedules, and stay sane

In what ways might the 80/20 rule be helpful to translators and freelancers in how they go about their work lives and manage their businesses? How could we leverage this principle to our advantage? Here’s some food for thought:


Easy prioritisation of tasks

- If indeed 20% of the tasks we carry out account for 80% of the results, can we pin down what these tasks are? PRIORITISING those tasks accordingly would most likely benefit us in most surprising ways.

- If 80% of results come from just 20% of actions, should we not then expend more energy on, dedicate more attention to, and aim to OPTIMISE these actions?

- If 80% of the value of a work project is achieved with the first 20% of the effort put in, should we not then plan our workdays in such a way that this happens at a time when we know we WORK BEST?


Better customer relationships

- Who are the 20% of customers that, according to the Pareto principle, provide 80% of our revenue? In what ways can we STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS with them? But note also: is it safe to rely on such a ratio of our income, or should we better collaborate more with other customers as well?

- How much time do we spend on HANDLING CRITICISM? If 80% of complaints (especially unjustified complaints) tend to be raised by 20% of our customers, is it actually worth continuing to work for those customers?

- According to the Pareto principle, 80% of a business’s TURNOVER typically is achieved by 20% of its products or activities. I am aware that we sometimes feel we occasionally need a break from the areas we usually translate in. But against this background, perhaps translating too many texts outside our subject areas isn’t advisable.

- Marketing is time-consuming, and thinking about where to start in a campaign is daunting. Here’s an interesting thought, though: 20% of the marketing messages you come up with can produce 80% of the results. What’s more, 20% of the overall marketing effort often brings about 80% of the SUCCESS OF A MARKETING CAMPAIGN.


Eliminate, automate or delegate?

- Which activities can we ELIMINATE or AUTOMATE? Are there activities that don’t move us towards our goals? For instance, it might not be worth spending so much time on updating online profiles if perhaps in our current circumstances we don’t actually need them to be successful in business.

- And are there any tasks that we can DELEGATE? For example, wouldn’t it be better to entrust accounting tasks with an accountant and focus on translations instead? Find a cleaner? Pay for a meal occasionally (or regularly), rather than waste time in the kitchen, when work is piling up on the desk?

- 80% of software users apparently use just 20% of their software’s features. So could we undertake further training to also learn about other features of our software? Learning to use more than the usual 20% of features could make us more EFFICIENT.

Is it really necessary that all business tasks are completed to perfection?

A word on perfection

- No doubt we should strive for PERFECTION in producing our translations, but is it really necessary that other business tasks are also completed to perfection? Should we seek perfection in writing blog posts? Maintain a regular Twitter posting pattern? Zealously reply to every single message that reaches us?

- And lastly, how about deciding for yourself that your order book is full once it’s filled with orders up to 80%? A buffer or some EXTRA TIME that can be handled flexibly can feel like pure luxury.

The 80/20 rule can help us adjust our priorities, declutter our everyday schedules, and stay sane. By taking stock of the time percentages that our work activities take up, we can implement steps to free up space in our schedules and move ever closer to business success!

New on my blog: "The 80/20 rule can help us adjust our priorities, declutter our everyday schedules, and stay sane." https://t.co/zHn2qPdniH #minimalism #xl8 #t9n (Special thanks to my son for the cool graphics!)

— E. Hippe-Heisler (@detransferendo) July 19, 2019

The benefits of a minimised writing space

Clear thinking is a crucial prerequisite to the work of translators and writers, as is the implementation of bespoke measures towards it. Joshua Becker argues that minimising our writing space will help maximize our potential because we thereby free up our minds and consequently think more clearly.

The opportunity of a minimised writing space

He suggests a 6-step process that we can apply to enjoy the opportunity of a minimised writing space. It includes clearing out cabinets and drawers; reducing the number of books; simplifying walls and bulletin boards, etc. Check out the whole list in his article “The Possibilities of a Decluttered Writing Space”.

We can implement a whole host of steps that will help us think more clearly

You can create a more focused writing space simply by tossing out clutter. From my own experience I can confirm that minimising my office space has indeed been empowering: I’ve created a distraction-free setting in which I can work with enhanced focus.

My family is aware that, if the need should arise, I would be happy to move my office to the smallest room in our property. Giving up my larger office space would be an easy thing for me to do as, following the implementation of a number of minimisation measures, I don’t keep much stuff in it any more.

Office space minimisation measures

Measures to minimise office space which I implemented in recent years have included, for example:

- I’ve reduced the number of books on my shelves by parting with any books that I know I will probably never use again (while keeping all dictionaries, even outdated ones, and most reference works).

- I switched from paper to electronic bank statements as soon as this option became available. Interestingly, both my German bank and my British bank started offering this facility at about the same time!

- I’ve scanned all articles of the ITI Bulletin which I consider useful or beautiful (to me, at least) and therefore worth keeping. I’ve stored the scans on various external hard drives and binned any physical copies (exception: magazines containing articles written by myself).

- I’ve created a clear desktop by keeping only what I consider as essentials. These days my desktop only includes: my computer screen, keyboard, mouse, and landline office phone; paper dictionaries if needed; a booklet with motivational, serenity-stimulating words; and (usually) a cup of green tea.


As writers and translators we can implement a whole host of steps that will help us think more clearly. Minimising or decluttering our writing spaces is one of them.

Yay! Both my German and my British bank now offer this #minimalism #noclutter #paperless pic.twitter.com/YsFwUlyhtU

— E. Hippe-Heisler (@detransferendo) 12. September 2014

Human translation simply explained

Why do we need human translators?

And why is there such a huge demand, a growing demand, for human translation?

 

No doubt translation is a matter of huge complexity, and explaining to others what translation typically involves is complex, too. Why is the demand for human translation huge? Simple answers, in my opinion, are best. For example:

I translate texts that are too difficult for Google Translate.

Try translating a complex technical text using Google Translate, and you’ll see it won’t work.

Machine translations often look correct at first sight, but when you look more closely, they aren’t.

The texts which I’m given to translate are confidential and mustn’t be fed into Google.

Most translations need a human touch, and my job is to put this human touch to translations.

A computer isn’t particularly good at producing natural translations. In the end, even very technical translations need to sound natural.


Translation is a hugely complex matter, yet sometimes we should avoid complex words to explain translation to others. Explaining translation simply sometimes is best!

Why is there such a huge demand, a growing demand, for human translation?

(A German translation of this blog article is available here.)

Reducing office time by prioritising and batching

We don’t have enough time. We are generally too busy. Right?

Leo Babauta, one of my favourite writers on the topics of minimalism and mindfulness, has written a blog post with suggestions on how to spend time more intentionally. He claims that when we say we don’t have enough time for a particular activity, we are actually saying: “I DON’T WANT TO DO IT”. You’ll find the whole article here.

Leo Babauta recommends, inter alia, taking ownership of our time by prioritising categories of tasks and batching them. This has reminded me of how, in the summer of 2012, I took books away with me on holiday, in the hope that they would help me figure out ways of reducing my office working hours.

We can take ownership of our time: for example, by batching tasks

At the time, I’d been completely exhausted and overworked, feeling I wouldn’t be able to carry on like this. The books which had been recommended to me pre-holiday included: “Anything You Want” by Derek Sivers (which I loved and have blogged about here), “The 4-Hour Work Week” by Timothy Ferriss (which I wasn’t such a great fan of), and a few others.

I managed to extract a few helpful ideas from these books, which I put into practice back home in the office. One of them involved prioritising and batching any related tasks. This is what I learnt: working on related tasks in batches and blocking out time for them is way more efficient than switching back and forth between individual tasks!

As it turns out, prioritising and batching works across the board. See, for example, the articles “The Definitive Guide to ‘Batching’ Your Work” or “How to Batch Your Tasks for Maximum Productivity”. In fact, many posts on the blog you’re just reading were batch-produced: I have a habit of writing blog posts in a batch – but then publish them weeks or months later.

It’s a myth that we generally don’t have enough time. We WILL find the time for an activity if it IS important to us. And we can take ownership of our time: for example, by batching tasks.

5 simple techniques for making time

Making time and achieving serenity – it’s not actually as difficult as we might think!

I recently enjoyed reading the article “Time Management Hacks That Very Successful People Practice Daily” by John Rampton. It sets out proven, realistic techniques that very successful people apply in managing their time.

Famous, successful people use time management techniques that even teach us how to make time

For this blog post I’ve picked out techniques from the article that stood out for me. I’ll also, where appropriate, set out my own variations on them (as I love using some of the techniques myself):

1. Have a fixed morning routine.

Richard Branson writes: “While I’m known for being predictably unpredictable – I’m always up for an adventure and love a calculated risk – I do, however, have a morning and nightly routine. I find structure to start and finish the day helps me to focus, and achieve the things I need to.”

My own (weekday) morning routine includes: waking up relatively early; spending 10 minutes on my favourite yoga poses; having breakfast over something worthwhile to read; bathroom time and catching up on the news via my internet radio; and then diving straight into work in my (home) office.

I love this routine as it sets me up for the day. I established it after reading Laura Vanderkam’s bestselling books, “What The Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast” and “168 Hours”, a couple of years ago (which I’ve blogged about here).

2. Keep your to-do list short.

John Rampton recommends making “knockout lists” and mentions Marcus Lemonis, who works through a list of 5 things every day. Many readers of this blog will know that I prefer to be even more minimal about to-do lists: I have reduced my daily to-dos to just 3 key tasks.

Having a 3-item to-do list has worked wonderfully for me for quite some time, and it works for a lot of other people, too. I’ve found that, thanks to my minimal to-do list, I now do more of the things that I love or consider important.

3. Check your email less frequently.

Email notoriously sucks up time. John Rampton’s article makes reference to an email management technique named Yesterbox, which involves responding only to emails from the day before.

My email handling approach runs along similar lines: I have non-urgent emails directed to an email programme which I open just once per day (usually in the evening), and I reply to a lot of emails on Friday afternoon only.

Which email management techniques work best?

4. Cut down on decision fatigue.

In the course of a day, the quality of the decisions that we make becomes worse. It’s therefore advisable to generally reduce the number of our decisions from the outset, for example by creating a minimalist wardrobe (check out my 3 minimalist wardrobe principles here).

Note Barack Obama, who once famously said: “You’ll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

5. Prescribe yourself some downtime.

Both Warren Buffett and Bill Gates explain that plenty of blank spaces have been the secret to their success and time management. We all know downtime is good for us, but: how good are we at really scheduling it?

What’s more, we should enjoy work-free time more! I touched on this crucial topic a couple of times on this blog before, for example here, here and here.


Famous, successful people use time management techniques that even teach us how to make time. Some of them stand out, offering an improved approach to to-do lists, email management and downtime.