Essentialism: The Power of Doing Less, Better

RIZE
Sep 29
2 min read

The world tells athletes and coaches to do more. More practice, more clubs, more meetings, more commitments. But more does not always mean better. Essentialism is about the disciplined pursuit of less—focusing on what truly moves the needle, and cutting what drains you.

When you get clear on what is essential, you protect your energy, your calendar, and your performance.

For Student-Athletes: Pick Your Essentials

Every semester, every season, define your “one essential” for each area.

One essential goal per class. Example: “Ace lab reports in Biology.”
One essential goal for your sport. Example: “Improve defensive footwork this season.”

Then prune. Cut one or two non-essentials—extra clubs, optional meetings, side commitments—so you can protect what really matters: training, sleep, and A-level work.

Fewer distractions. More wins.

For Coaches with Families: Speak in Trade-Offs

Every yes is a no to something else. Start using trade-off language out loud.

“If I say yes to late scout tonight, I say no to story time.”
“If I say yes to one more call, I say no to tomorrow’s energy.”

This helps you and your family see the real cost of choices. To back it up, set a default no for low-leverage requests. Protect time for what only you can do.

Build Buffers

Life with travel, games, and kids is unpredictable. Buffers keep it from breaking your system.

Arrive 10 minutes early.
Submit 24 hours before the deadline.
Leave margin in your schedule for the unexpected.

Protect the Asset

The most essential thing is you. If you burn out, none of it works. Protect your energy with sleep, smart scheduling, and boundaries that hold. Essentialism is not about doing less for the sake of less. It is about doing less so you can do it better.

Why This Matters

When you strip away the non-essential, your focus sharpens. You bring more power to every rep, every class, every family moment. The athlete who commits to one core goal, the coach who speaks in trade-offs, the team that protects recovery—those are the ones who last.

Do less. Win more.