In today’s fast-paced world, more and more people feel anxious and exhausted, finding it harder to stay productive the busier they get. This often stems from an “addition” mindset: learning more, doing more, owning more will lead to greater success. In reality, the opposite is true—subtraction is the key to improving focus and efficiency.

By reducing ineffective choices, distractions, and unnecessary effort, we can identify our true priorities and motivation, achieving more with less. Today, let’s explore how “subtraction” can help boost focus and efficiency.

1. Subtraction: Let Time Work for You, Not the Other Way Around

Subtraction is not simply about cutting your workload—it’s a mental shift. We often fall into the “more is better” trap, believing multitasking is a sign of efficiency. However, research shows that our brains can only focus on a limited amount of information at a time, and too many tasks actually lower efficiency.

How to start subtracting:

Trim your to-do list: Streamline your to-do list by zeroing in on 1–3 essential tasks each day.If you could only do one thing today, what’s most important?

Limit input: Reduce unnecessary information flow, especially distractions from social media. Each time you reach for your phone, ask yourself, “Is this really helpful?”

Optimize your environment: Keep your workspace tidy to minimize visual and mental clutter, making it easier to enter a state of deep work.

The goal of subtraction is not to do less, but to do what matters most—focusing on tasks that truly add value to your life.

2. Focus: The Power of Single-Point Breakthroughs

The foundation of subtraction is focus, and focus is the ultimate tool for boosting efficiency and achievement. Think back over the past few months—have you committed yourself fully to one goal, or have you spread your energy thin across multiple tasks without going deep into any of them?

Why focus is so rare:

Modern life is filled with temptations to be distracted—phones, social media, email notifications constantly pull our attention away. While these quick hits of stimulation can be pleasurable, they make deep work increasingly difficult.

How to improve focus:

Time blocking: Schedule 2–3 distraction-free deep work sessions each day for your most important tasks.

Single-goal principle: Avoid chasing multiple goals at the same time—commit to your most important one.

Regular review: Evaluate your focus each week to identify habits or activities that interfere with deep work.

By consistently refining your focus methods, you’ll find that the satisfaction after each deep work session is unmatched.

3. Balancing Subtraction and Efficiency

Simply reducing tasks is not enough—you must ensure the remaining tasks are meaningful and aligned with your life goals.

How to balance subtraction with efficiency:

Define priorities: Apply the 80/20 rule to identify the top 20% of tasks that bring the most value, and concentrate your time and resources on them.

Build systems: Create structures that support your goals instead of relying solely on willpower. For example, set fixed work hours to avoid decision fatigue.

Practice the “No” philosophy: Learn to decline activities that may be interesting but are irrelevant to your priorities.

Three-step action plan:

Make a subtraction list: Write down all your tasks and responsibilities, remove the nonessential, and focus on the top three for the next 30 days.

Create a deep work schedule: Dedicate at least one deep work block each day, free from all distractions, to your most important task.

Review and adjust weekly: Assess your subtraction progress and adjust priorities as needed.

4. Practical Subtraction for Focus

Subtraction is more than doing fewer tasks—it’s simplifying your external environment to help your mind concentrate.

Avoid sources of distraction: Create a distraction-free work or study space, declutter your surroundings, turn off unnecessary devices, and limit phone and social media use.

Strategic mind-wandering: Brief, intentional breaks after focused work can spark creativity and give your brain a rest.

Relax body and mind: Use muscle relaxation techniques or soothing music to relieve mental tension and sustain long-term focus.

Batch processing: Handle small, routine tasks in groups rather than interrupting important work. For example, jot down ideas and questions as they arise, then address them at a set time.

Subtraction doesn’t mean giving up on your goals—it’s about removing unnecessary distractions and tasks so you can focus on what matters most. This approach enables you to work more efficiently and achieve your goals with greater satisfaction.