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As minimalists, we often talk about paring down possessions, and sometimes paring down what we do. But what about what we think?
作为极简主义者，我们常常说削减占有的东西，有时要削减我们所做的事情。但对于思考，我们该怎么办？
Is there any use in paring down thinking? I’ve found myself doing this over time, in many areas.
为思考做减法有用吗？我自己已在很多领域亲身实践多次。
My ideas about exercise have been simplified over the years. I used to worry about the ideal mileage, percentage of increase in mileage, intervals, reps and sets, weights and progression, lifts, workouts, programs … it was very complicated. But as I’ve learned more about fitness, I’ve dropped most of those ideas. I now know that none of that matters much, as I’ve let go of specific fitness goals. Now I just try to move on most days, and have fun doing it. I’ve dropped ideas about schedules, about programs, about loads and goals. I’m left with the simplest of ideas.
这些年来，我对于锻炼的看法越来越简化。我以前总担心理想的公里数、逐步增加公里数的比例、休息、几次几组、重量和增重过程、锻炼肌肉、各种日程安排。着实复杂得紧。但随着我对健身的理解加深，我放弃了以上大部分的想法。如今，我知道这些想法都不重要，我也不必要盯着具体的健身目标不放，而是试着在大多数时间里坚持下去，并且乐在其中。我放弃了定日程、计划，给自己定目标、加担子的想法。我的思考进入最简单的程度。
Same applies to diet. I used to worry about not eating grains, or soy, or processed foods, or fruits, or chemicals. Should I eat quinoa or steel-cut oats or amaranth or chia seeds or bulgur wheat or buckwheat? I used to count calories. Now I just try to eat real plant foods most of the time, and am mindful of my eating. It’s simpler this way.
对于饮食调配同理。我过去总担心没吃谷物、大豆、处理过的食品、水果或营养药，我是否该吃些藜麦、粗切燕麦、苋菜、奇雅子、硬小麦或荞麦？我过去还查卡路里数。如今我坚持大部分时间都只吃真正的植物性食物，对我所吃的了若指掌，这样更简单。
About writing: I worried about structure and voice and style and terseness and grammar and schedules and tools and reading the best authors and the snowflake method and editing and much more. Now I just write when I’m inspired, and I let it flow.
关于写作：我过去担心文章的结构、语态、格式、简洁度、语法、进展、工具、读最好作家的作品、雪花式写法、编辑问题，甚或更多。现在我只在有灵感的时候写，让思绪自由流动。
About work: I worried about productivity and goals and action items and meetings and paperwork and the Pareto principle and the perfect desk and the perfect computer setup. Now I use simple tools, and do what I’m excited about.
关于工作：我过去担心工作成果、目标、行动、回忆、书面材料、帕累托法则、完美的办公桌、完美的电脑设定。现在我用简单的工具，做我觉得激动人心的事情。
The same is true of anything I’ve done. About finances, I just spend less than I earn, and have my bills paid automatically. About my site, I just write and publish and forget about comments and ads and stats and social networking. About my social life, I just meet with a friend and try to be present. I could go on all day, but you get the point.
对我做的其他事情同理。关于理财，我花的少于赚的，自动还掉账单。关于我的网站，我只写并发布，忽略评论、广告、数据和社交网络。关于我的社交生活，我一次只见一个朋友，力求在当下。以此类推，我可以这样说一天，但你知道我的意思了。
When we start out with something, we usually will try everything. But as we learn, we can pare down ideas that we find out don’t matter. We’re left with the essentials.
当开始做一件事时，我们通常会尝试所有事。但当我们逐步体会时，我们能分清主次，摒弃不重要的思考，只留下那些必须的部分。
