The Power of Less – Interview with Leo Babuta
Leo Babuta is a person I really, really admire. Not only has he established himself as the King of ‘Zen Habits‘, he is also just released a superb new book called The Power of Less.
If you have a busy, stressful, hectic and sometimes overwhelming life, and lets face it, don’t we all, Leo’s hugely popular Zen Habits site is one you really need to look at.
Zen Habits is one of the Top 100 blogs on the Internet, and covers: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits.
Recently, Leo was kind enough to conduct a quick interview via email, and so here it is!
> There seems to be a lot more focus on websites like zenhabits.net in the US
> than compared to the UK. Any thoughts around this?
Any answer will have to be hopelessly generalized, as not all people
in the US or UK are alike … but in my (limited) experience my
friends from the UK are either less in need of this advice, or are
focused on other matters. That said, I know some good bloggers in the
UK who write about the same topics as I do, but their blogs just
haven’t grown yet.
> first three things you would address?
It’s important to create a little breathing room, some space, to start
with, or any other changes will be difficult. So I’d start by:
1. Clearing your schedule for an hour, or three or four if you can
manage it, to start thinking about your priorities and making changes.
2. Decide on the top 4-5 things that are important to you in your
life, and see which of your commitments don’t line up with that short
list.
3. Start eliminating 1-3 commitments in your life that don’t line up
with your short list of 4-5 things. This will free up some time. Use
it to continue to simplify your schedule, and to create habits where
you focus as you work.
> keeping on top of projects. Any specific tips for these people?
Sure, a few tips that will help right away:
1. Pick one project to focus on for now — and really put yourself
into it. Get to the next project after you’re done with the first.
2. Each morning, pick 1-3 Most Important Tasks that you want to
complete today. Do these first, before anything else.
3. Work on one task at a time. Don’t multi-task. You’ll be much more
focused and more effective.
> managing tasks and capturing thoughts… Do you use anything day in and day
> out?
My setup changes all the time, but currently my most used apps include
Gmail, with the Google Tasks widget for to-do items, Google Calendar
and Google Docs, Quicksilver for the Mac for quick access to
everything, and either TextEdit or WriteRoom for the Mac for writing.
I shut off the Internet when I write and just write in text so I can
focus.
> do?!
I really like Quicksilver, because it allows you to do things quickly
and then get back to the task you were doing — no wasted time or
distractions. So I might be writing but then remember I need to do
something — I just call up Quicksilver with a keystroke, make a note
with a few more keystrokes, and return to my writing.
My perfect app would be like that: does what it needs to do, and gets
out. It would be able to send an email without having to open the
browser (to go to Gmail), and the same with creating a to-do item,
adding something to Gcal, sending a message on Twitter or SMS, looking
up a quick piece of information, writing a note, etc. Quicksilver is
almost there but not perfect.
Technology is a tool, and like any other tool, it really depends on
how you use it. It can hinder us if we let it — but we forget that we
control that entirely. It’s easy to get distracted by technology,
caught up in browsing the Internet, stuck in email instead of doing
important work, chatting on Twitter or IM or Facebook or forums, etc.
But if we set limits, so that technology doesn’t become a huge drain
on our time and attention, then technology can be entirely good –
used for productivity, information, empowerment, entertainment, fun.
In The Power of Less, I talk about some smart ways to set limits for
technology so that you can focus on the essential.
> you recommend people to read in 2009?
I’m a fan of David Allen’s Getting Things Done, and he has a new book
out called “Making It Work”. I have a friend, Jonathan Fields, who is
coming out with an excellent book called “Career Renegade” that I
think will be a huge resource and source of inspiration. My latest
favorite book (I have many) is Richard Carlson’s “Slowing Down to the
Speed of Life” — it teaches you how to be calm in the middle of any
stressful situation, and throughout your life, by learning to keep
your thinking in the moment.
My other favorite books:
http://zenhabits.net/2008/12/20-amazing-and-essential-non-fiction-books-to-enrich-your-library/
> sort out
What would your advice to him be?In general, I recommend that elected officials and governments follow
the advice of the Tao Te Ching, which is basically to do as little as
possible and encourage the people to do for themselves. And that’s
good advice for President Obama: encourage the people to flourish,
empower them, give them the power back. However, in this age of
corporate domination, there are things that need to be done: give
healthcare to everyone, take away corporate powers and set limits to
what they can do.
I recommend that he take one thing at a time, or give power to bright
and creative and capable people to deal with these problems, guiding
them as needed. I’d love it if he reversed the Bush trend in education
too — back off children, don’t turn them into robots, let them learn
and create and flourish and grow and fail, without so much
programming.
> How do you relax?
By being in the moment. You can relax at any time, no matter what
you’re doing, if you learn to live in the present, to fully enjoy
whatever it is you’re doing and whoever it is you’re with, to
appreciate the beauty of life.
Be present, for the reasons stated in my last answer. My habit for
January is morning meditation, to get me started, but I’m also
learning to be present in everything I do, and to take life one moment
at a time.
A huge thanks to Leo for taking the time to answer my questions. You can order his book here in the US and here in the UK.
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4 Responses to “The Power of Less – Interview with Leo Babuta”
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[...] The Apple of My I: Interview with Leo Babauta [...]
Hi Jon
Nice interview with a really smart guy. I have been following this blog for a while now and Leo has really great advice.
As someone who likes technology that saves time (rather than makes work) I think that sometimes we need to keep technology in check.
Here are a couple of tips from me:
+ Keep a log of your username and passwords somewhere (but keep it safe). We are all signed up to so many sites these days that forever requesting ‘forgotten password’ can drive you insane
+ Back-up your computer. Especially your home computer. If I lost my photos I would be beside myself. A friend of mine lost three years worth of her phd thesis – she now backs-up daily!
+ If you are having a hectic day make sure the sound and little Outlook email alert pop-up box is turned off (this was a tip from my friend Hena). It is great to stop that distraction sometimes
+ Blackberry / iphone addicts. Yes you know who you are! On your big annual holiday (particularly the two weeker) disable your email. The colleagues and clients can phone you if something is urgent and you can always turn it back on in an emergency. The Blackberry (not sure about the iphone) won’t sync back all your emails while you were away but that is why you return to the office to read them!
Neil
Neil,
Thanks for some great tips
Here are my thoughts…
> Passwords – use something on your computer to manage them – foxmarks synchronises them on Firefox, and if you had a Mac, you could use the most excellent 1password.
> Totally agree about backups = I use Super Duper for cloning and Time Machine, + web backups on Dropbox for business stuff and offsite for photos and business files
> I need to shut down twitter more than email alerts
I’ve shut off the twitter sound as a start!
> Great tip on the old Crackberry and iPhone – I was pretty good when skiing and only checked once every 2 days!
Speak soon!
Jon