Many of us feel like we’re drowning in invisible complexity. So I wanted to hit pause and ask a simple question:&nbsp;What are 1-3 decisions that could dramatically simplify my life in 2026?&nbsp;To explore that, I invited four long-time listener favorites—Anne Lamott, Claire Hughes Johnson, David Yarrow, and Diana Chapman.This episode is brought to you by:<a href="https://incogni.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Incogni,&nbsp;</a>which automatically removes your personal data from the web, helping shield you from fraud, scams, and identity theft:&nbsp;<a href="https://incogni.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://incogni.com/tim</a>&nbsp;(use code TIM at checkout and get 60% off an annual plan)<a href="https://helixsleep.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Helix&nbsp;Sleep</a>&nbsp;premium mattresses:&nbsp;<a href="https://helixsleep.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HelixSleep.com/Tim</a>: <a href="https://helixsleep.com/tim" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://helixsleep.com/tim</a> for 27% off sitewide***Connect with David Yarrow: <a href="https://davidyarrow.photography/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/davidyarrow/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/David_Yarrow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DavidYarrowPhotography" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a>David's previous appearance on this show:<a href="https://tim.blog/2020/06/25/david-yarrow/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> David Yarrow on Art, Markets, Business, and Combining It All</a> | The Tim Ferriss Show #443Connect with Claire Hughes Johnson: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-hughes-johnson-7058/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/chughesjohnson" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter</a>Claire's book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1953953212?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building</a>Claire's previous appearance on this show:<a href="https://tim.blog/2024/02/27/claire-hughes-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Claire Hughes Johnson — How to Take Responsibility for Your Life, Create Rules That Work, Stop Being a Victim, Set Strong Boundaries, and More</a> | The Tim Ferriss Show #724Connect with Diana Chapman: <a href="https://www.dianachapman.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/diana-chapman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/dianacarsonchapman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>Diana's book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990976904?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Success</a>, co-authored with Jim Dethmer and Kaley KlempDiana's previous appearance on this show:<a href="https://tim.blog/2021/10/06/diana-chapman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Diana Chapman — How to Get Unstuck, Do "The Work," Take Radical Responsibility, and Reduce Drama in Your Life</a> | The Tim Ferriss Show #536Connect with Anne Lamott: <a href="https://annelamott.substack.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Substack</a> |<a href="https://twitter.com/AnneLamott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnneLamott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/AnneLamott/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a>Anne's new book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FDK8M9J5?tag=offsitoftimfe-20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Good Writing: 36 Ways to Improve Your Sentences</a>, co-authored with Neal AllenAnne's previous appearance on this show:<a href="https://tim.blog/2021/07/09/anne-lamott/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Anne Lamott on Taming Your Inner Critic, Finding Grace, and Prayer</a> | The Tim Ferriss Show #522*Timestamps:<ul><li>[00:00:00] Start.</li><li>[00:02:20]&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/2020/06/25/david-yarrow/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">David Yarrow</a>: British photographer in America and an unconventional divorcé.</li><li>[00:02:32] The anti-remarriage thesis: why staying single was the boldest simplification of all.</li><li>[00:03:19] The unlikely happy ending: ex-spouses who became best friends.</li><li>[00:04:58] The friend audit.</li><li>[00:06:07] Energy as a luxury brand.</li><li>[00:06:34] No agent, no problem: the art of the direct “no.”</li><li>[00:07:39]&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/2024/02/27/claire-hughes-johnson/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Claire Hughes Johnson</a>: COO, author, and self-described bad simplifier.</li><li>[00:07:59] The switch from default yes to default no.</li><li>[00:08:39] Root cause analysis on the “yes” problem: earning love through usefulness.</li><li>[00:09:21] Arthur Brooks’ flip: think people, not tasks.</li><li>[00:10:35] Mission clarity: knowing exactly why you said yes before you walk in the door.</li><li>[00:11:16] The “retention exercise”: how Claire negotiated sleep and workouts into her job description.</li><li>[00:16:45]&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/2021/10/06/diana-chapman/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Diana Chapman</a>: Conscious Leadership disruptor, professional fear-finder.</li><li>[00:17:07] The “whole body yes”: simplicity lives where your inner and outer worlds agree.</li><li>[00:17:41] Decision #1: Evicting “should” from the vocabulary entirely.</li><li>[00:19:15] Decision #2: The relationship contract — same rules, dramatically less drama.</li><li>[00:20:37] The No-Blame Zone: signs on the wall, accountability in the air.</li><li>[00:24:02] Curiosity over righteousness, feelings over suppression, play over seriousness.</li><li>[00:26:29] How play unlocked a hard conversation.</li><li>[00:27:56] Decision #3: Holding two truths — your work matters&nbsp;and&nbsp;the world will survive without you.</li><li>[00:30:32]&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/2021/07/09/anne-lamott/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anne Lamott</a>: 21 books, one husband, and a very heavy 60th birthday.</li><li>[00:31:00] Ditching the six-plate act: reclaiming the inner goofball.</li><li>[00:32:18] “The point is not to try harder, but to resist less.”</li><li>[00:33:18] The belly breath: watching your hand rise as an act of radical simplicity.</li><li>[00:33:41] Ram Dass’ heart-nostrils: expanding the spiritual core.</li><li>[00:33:59] The third third: borrowed time, intentional days, and tossing boxes out of the plane.</li></ul>For show notes and past guests on&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tim Ferriss Show</a>, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/podcast/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-description" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tim.blog/podcast</a>.For deals from sponsors of&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/podcast" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Tim Ferriss Show</a>,&nbsp;please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/podcast-sponsors" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tim.blog/podcast-sponsors</a>Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at&nbsp;<a href="https://go.tim.blog/5-bullet-friday-1/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tim.blog/friday</a>.For transcripts of episodes, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/transcripts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tim.blog/transcripts</a>.Discover Tim’s books:&nbsp;<a href="https://tim.blog/books" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">tim.blog/books</a>.Follow Tim:Twitter:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/tferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">twitter.com/tferriss</a>&nbsp;Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://instagram.com/timferriss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">instagram.com/timferriss</a>YouTube:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">youtube.com/timferriss</a>Facebook:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/TimFerriss/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">facebook.com/timferriss</a>&nbsp;LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="http://linkedin.com/in/timferriss" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">linkedin.com/in/timferriss</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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#864: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 — New Tips from Anne Lamott, Claire Hughes Johnson, David Yarrow, and Diana Chapman

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