https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-effortless-greg-mckeown/

The Effortless State is where you’re functioning at an optimal mental, emotional, and physical condition. You feel well-rested, light, clear-headed, energized, and focused. You can operate at peak performance to finish your most essential tasks with minimal effort.

In our full Effortless summary, we’ll elaborate on the various strategies involved, including how to:

• Invert: look for an easier or simpler way to achieve the same outcome.
• Enjoy: make it fun by combining or pairing your most essential activities with your most enjoyable ones.
• Release: let go of emotional burdens that weigh you down and blind you to possibilities.
• Rest: tap on your body’s natural rhythms and cycles, and to recover fully and operate at peak performance. [Do check out our summary of The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working to learn more about alternating between intense activity and total rest].
• Notice: train your mind to focus and tune out false assumptions or any distractions so you can be fully present to the details and information around you.

2. Take Effortless Action

When we put in extra effort, it usually yields results to some extent before diminishing returns set in. This is when you start to get less output for the same amount of effort.

Effortless Action is about achieving more results with less effort. It occurs when you get in flow and operate “in the zone”. You take obvious action with clarity, instinctively know what to do, and deliver great results with minimal effort.

Check out the details of the specific strategies in our complete Effortless summary, including why/how to:

• Define your end-goals clearly to channel your time and effort effectively, then stop when you reach the finish line.
• Start with the obvious 1st step, or “minimum viable action”.
• Simplify: start from a blank state to define the minimum steps required for your desired results. Don’t start with a complex process then try to reduce unnecessary steps.
• Progress: start with an ugly first draft, then quickly learn and improve it. Don’t try to perfect everything from the onset.
• Move faster at a smooth, steady pace. Don’t get caught in a boom-and-bust cycle.