What’s Necessary

Overcoming the Tyranny of the Urgent

Marcus Aurelius had a way of cutting through the noise. His advice? “Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’”

That question hits harder than any productivity hack. It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing less, better. It’s a filter for what is brutal, clean, and useful and for what actually matters.

Most of what clogs up our days isn’t essential. It’s ego. Distraction. Obligation disguised as urgency by someone else. We say yes to too much, respond to too many, and spend our time like it’s infinite.

This one question, “Is this necessary?” forces clarity. It strips out the performative. It exposes the bloat.

We don’t need more hours in the day. We need fewer unnecessary ones.

Try it. Ask it in your inbox. In your calendar. In your conversations. In your posts. In your technology. In your habits.

Most of what’s wearing us out isn’t necessary. It’s just there because we haven’t questioned it yet.

Cut it.

What’s urgent to someone else might not be essential for you.

###

If this hits home with you, share it or forward it to someone who could benefit.

And if you’re not subscribed yet, you can do that here