Trivial vs. Vital Filter

The Intent

Before you can begin with Subtraction, you must first identify what to subtract in the first place. Use the Trivial vs. Vital Filter to distinguish between the vital activities that advance your goals, and the trivial activities that merely consume time and energy, so you can eliminate the latter.

The Practice

List all your recurring tasks, responsibilities, and activities that fill your days and weeks. For every one, ask yourself a single question: "Does this directly advance one of my goals more than the rest?" If the answer is a "yes", mark this activity or task as "Vital". Should the answer be a "no", or if other tasks exist that advance your goals further, mark it as "Trivial". Whenever you're uncertain, compare multiple items side by side. If one clearly contributes more to progress, it is Vital, and the other becomes Trivial.

The Insight

This first filter exposes what is the most important to achieve your goals. The Vital list shows you what deserves your energy, as they are what drive your progress. The Trivial list reveals noise to subtract later.