Control the Controllables
As you know, I like learning about and sharing different productivity and wellbeing strategies, but I never assume they’ll work for everyone. They’re tools for a toolkit, not rules to follow. Everyone is different, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another.
But there’s one principle I’ve found works for almost everyone: control the controllables.
The idea isn’t new. The Stoics talked about it centuries ago, and athletes and coaches use it today to stay focused under pressure. The language might shift, but the message is the same: spend your time and energy on what you can control.
For me, this means focusing my attention on the things I can influence, and consciously letting go of the rest. At work, it helps me prioritise and use my energy more effectively. In life more broadly, it helps me pick my battles and manage stress.
Why does this idea seem to work universally? Because no matter your role, personality, or situation, you always have some agency. You might not control the decision being made in the boardroom, but you can control how you prepare, respond, and move forward. And it almost always feels better to remember you have agency, and to act on it.
What might change for you if you gave more attention to the controllables and less to everything else?
