Constraints
You have finite resources. Every allocation is a choice. Understanding your constraints is the foundation of realistic planning.
The Four Constraints
| Constraint | Renewable? | Expandable? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | No | No | 24 hours/day, non-negotiable |
| Energy | Yes (daily) | Somewhat | Sleep, health, motivation |
| Money | Yes (earned) | Yes | Income, savings, investments |
| Attention | Yes (daily) | Somewhat | Focus, cognitive load |
Time
The hardest constraint. Cannot be saved, borrowed, or created. Only spent.
Implication: Ruthless prioritization. Every “yes” is a “no” to something else.
Energy
Renewable but limited daily. Depletes with use, restores with rest.
Implication: Match task difficulty to energy level. Protect peak energy for important work.
Money
Fungible and storable. Can buy time (outsourcing) and sometimes energy (convenience).
Implication: Money is frozen time. Spend it on things that free time or energy.
Attention
The scarcest resource in the information age. Every notification, every tab, every interruption costs attention. Herbert Simon called this “bounded rationality”—we have limited cognitive resources for processing information (Simon, 1971).
Implication: Guard attention like money. It’s more valuable.
Constraint Interactions
| Trade | Example | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Money → Time | Hire help, take a cab | Financial |
| Time → Money | Work overtime, side hustle | Time/energy |
| Attention → Quality | Deep work | Other tasks neglected |
| Energy → Time | Power through | Tomorrow’s energy |
The Bottleneck Principle
System output is limited by the tightest constraint. Optimizing non-bottlenecks is waste (Goldratt & Cox, 1984).
Ask: What’s actually limiting me right now?
| If bottleneck is… | Don’t… | Do… |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Add more tasks | Cut scope, delegate |
| Energy | Push harder | Rest, simplify |
| Money | Spend on nice-to-haves | Invest in bottleneck relief |
| Attention | Multitask | Single-task, eliminate distractions |
Cross-Domain Applications
| Domain | Primary Constraint | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Health | Time, energy | Efficient protocols, protect sleep |
| Wealth | Money (early), time (later) | Income growth → automation |
| Social | Time, attention | Quality over quantity |
| Meaning | Attention, energy | Deep work, rest |
Decision Criteria
Before any commitment, ask:
- What does this cost in time?
- What does this cost in energy?
- What does this cost in money?
- What does this cost in attention?
- Is the return worth all four costs?
Related
- Tradeoffs — Constraints force tradeoffs
- Single-Task Focus — Managing attention
- Daily Planning — Allocating constraints
Know your constraints. Plan within them. Expand them where possible. Accept them where not.