Skip to main content

Solve the Easier Problem

Notes

some Problems appear too hard or too complex to solve, or situations where change seems impossible. Instead of trying to do the impossible, or fight against the current, we can first try to solve the simpler situation. Challenge ask yourself two questions:

  1. what works currently? and how can I use it for my benefit?
  2. what if my main challenge was gone, and only the minor ones left?

in computer science, this is called "relaxation", where impossible optimum problems are solved by reducing some of the limitations. in practical terms, this can be deconstructing either the input or the output, for example: what if instead of doing 5 workouts a week, I will try to do just one? 5 minute rule or instead of trying to do the most demanding chore at night when I'm tired, I'll try to do it in the morning when I'm fresh?

In the world of decision making, it often means to reduce the problem to a few quantifiable metrics. For example, instead of asking yourself what career to pursue, you ask yourself which job pays more. The problem is that some decisions lose much of their depth in this process, and we often stick with quantitative metrics and abandoned qualitative metrics McNamara Fallacy. We focus on what's easy to measure and compare, and not necessarily what's important

Visual

Solve the easier problem.webp

Overview

🔼Topic:: problem management 🔼Topic:: Momentum ◀Origin:: Algorithms to Live By (book) 🔗Link::

Join the Journey

Philosopher's Code offers practical philosophy for everyday life

Subscribe to start your journey with the Five Quests for a Philosophical Life guide