#837: How to Simplify Your Life in 2026 — New Tips from Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck

As we head into the new year, many of us feel like we’re drowning in invisible complexity. So I wanted to hit pause and ask a simple question: What are 1-3 decisions that could dramatically simplify my life in 2026? To explore that, I invited three close friends and long-time listener favorites—Derek Sivers, Seth Godin, and Martha Beck. This episode is brought to you by: Incogni, which automatically removes your personal data from the web, helping shield you from fraud, scams, and identity theft: https://incogni.com/tim (use code TIM at checkout and get 60% off an annual plan) Eight Sleep Pod Cover 5 sleeping solution for dynamic cooling and heating: EightSleep.com/Tim (use code TIM to get $700 off your very own Pod 5 Ultra.) More about today's guests: Derek Sivers is an author of philosophy and entrepreneurship, known for his surprising, quotable insights and pithy, succinct writing style. Derek’s books ( How to Live , Hell Yeah or No , Your Music and People , Anything You Want ) and newest projects are at his website: sive.rs . His new book is Useful Not True . Seth Godin is the author of 21 internationally bestselling books, translated into more than 35 languages, including Linchpin , Tribes , The Dip , and Purple Cow . His latest book, This Is Strategy , offers a fresh lens on how we can make bold decisions, embrace change, and navigate a complex, rapidly evolving world. Dr. Martha Beck has been called “the best-known life coach in America” by NPR and USA Today . She holds three Harvard degrees in social science and has published nine non-fiction books, one novel, and more than 200 magazine articles. The Guardian and other media have described her as “Oprah’s life coach.” Her latest book is Beyond Anxiety: Curiosity, Creativity, and Finding Your Life’s Purpose . TIMESTAMPS [00:00:00] Start. [00:00:20] Advice I’ve used to simplify my own life. [00:04:02] Enter Derek Sivers. [00:04:17] Simple is the opposite of complex — not just a synonym for “easy.” [00:07:19] Simplification #1: No subscriptions, contracts, or people depending on him. [00:07:40] Simplification #2: Programming with no external libraries or dependencies. [00:08:30] Simplification #3: Building a house from scratch in New Zealand. [00:09:26] Complex is a long-term trap. Simple is long-term freedom.. [00:10:32] Enter Seth Godin. [00:10:48] Simplifying is hard work — if it were easy, you’d have already done it. [00:11:17] Clarity on “who it’s for”: Ignore everyone else, including one-star reviews. [00:12:46] Eliminate gray areas: Never miss a deadline, never go over budget. Stand by your commitments. [00:14:53] Reclaim time with personal boundaries: No meetings, no social media, no TV. [00:16:57] Simplifying one thing puts you on the hook to go deeper elsewhere. [00:22:23] Enter Martha Beck. [00:22:29] One decision that radically simplified her life. [00:22:44] At 29, chose to follow true joy — not dopamine hits, but deep peace. [00:24:15] The simple rule: Go toward joy, away from misery — no matter what. [00:28:20] How a near-death experience sparked this commitment. [00:30:02] Payoff: Autoimmune remission, purpose, wonderful relationships, home inside herself. * For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show , please visit tim.blog/podcast . For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show , please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsors Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter ( 5-Bullet Friday ) at tim.blog/friday . For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts . Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books . Follow Tim: Twitter : twitter.com/tferriss Instagram : instagram.com/timferriss YouTube : youtube.com/timferriss Facebook : facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferriss See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .