Focus your energy on what you can control to end wasted worry

Marie, a product manager at a fast-growing tech startup, felt overwhelmed each morning by an inbox full of unpredictable requests, viral social media complaints, and looming deadlines. Her pulse raced as she scrolled through notifications—where should she begin? One morning, she grabbed a whiteboard and drew two circles: inner for “My Control,” outer for “Out of My Control.” She wrote “feature spec review,” “budget sign-off,” and “team feedback” in the inner circle, and “market demand shifts,” “CEO mood,” and “competitor rumor” outside.

That exercise felt oddly calming. For the first time, Marie saw where to direct her energy. She scheduled a quick spec review, emailed finance for budget approval, and booked one-on-ones for feedback. As unhelpful items pinged her phone, she repeated, “let go,” and watched her shoulders unclench.

By month’s end, her team completed the feature ahead of schedule, and she reported 30% less stress in her weekly check-ins. Leadership marveled at her steady composure, even when rumors swirled around them. Marie’s circle of control framework became a staple for her organization’s planning sessions.

This practice taps into the Stoic principle of distinguishing our will from external events. When we focus on intentions, actions, and choices—rather than endless anxiety over what we can’t change—we free mental bandwidth for real progress.

Each morning, draw two circles and sort your concerns into what you can control and what you cannot. Then, pick one small action for each controllable item and resolve to mentally release the rest whenever they intrude. This ritual grounds you in what matters and keeps stress in check throughout the day. Try it tomorrow.