Eliminating IDPs – Irrelevant Data Points

In today’s hyper-connected world, we’re swimming (or drowning) in a sea of stimuli every second. Whether it’s notifications, emails, or the latest 20 articles about how to ‘fix your life in five minutes,’ the constant flood can feel like physically carrying a full grown gorilla on your head.? It's overwhelming! We either freeze, unsure where to start, or dive into hyperactivity, juggling multiple tasks with skyrocketing stress levels. And guess what? Our productivity tanks.

But, there’s a solution that’s helped me stay cool amidst this chaos. It’s my trusty little trick, and I like to call it my IDP hack. No, that’s not some corporate buzzword — it’s the magic of separating all this information into two buckets: Relevant and Irrelevant Data Points (IDPs). The real secret sauce? Learning to let the irrelevant stuff simply float away. Goodbye, unneeded distractions!

Now, here’s where the fun part comes in — the bigger my IDP bin, the better! Why? Because the more I recognize what’s irrelevant, the more mental space I free up for things that actually matter. It’s like cleaning out your closet; when you toss out all the old junk, suddenly you can see (and appreciate) the things you truly value. Less clutter, more focus, more peace of mind.

But how do I know what belongs in the IDP bin and what demands my attention? I rely on a few simple but powerful mental models to sift through the noise:

1. Circle of Concern vs. Circle of Influence:

Stephen Covey’s famous tool for sanity — I focus on what I can control (Circle of Influence) and let go of what I can’t (Circle of Concern). If I have zero power to affect it, into the IDP bin it goes!? For example, worrying about the weather or politics won’t help me get my work done today—straight to the bin!

2. Separation of Tasks (from "The Courage to Be Disliked"):

This brilliant book taught me the importance of recognizing what’s my responsibility versus what’s someone else’s. If it’s not my task to handle, it's irrelevant for me — another IDP! If someone dislikes me, it is his problem and not mine.? Learning to identify and separate tasks has made my life significantly lighter.

3. The Eisenhower Matrix:

The Eisenhower Matrix helps me decide what’s Urgent versus what’s Important. If something doesn’t contribute to my long-term goals but just tries to grab my attention, into the IDP bin it goes. This way, I can focus on what truly matters—like that project I’ve been putting off that will actually move the needle—rather than getting sidetracked by yet another “urgent” email that’s just noise.? I have also stopped reading mails were I am in cc i.e. just for information.

4. The 80/20 Rule (Pareto Principle):

Ah, the beauty of the Pareto Principle! It tells me that 80% of the results often come from just 20% of the effort. So, if a task or piece of data falls into that time-consuming 80% with little reward, guess what? It’s IDP material. Focus on the things that pack the most punch, and watch the rest fall away.

5. The Four Burners Theory:

Imagine your life as a stove with four burners—Family, Work, Health, and Friends. This model suggests that to succeed, you’ll need to turn off one or more burners temporarily, meaning something always takes a backseat. For example, if a piece of information doesn’t support any of these key areas, it’s likely an IDP. I used to spend hours doomscrolling the news or scrolling aimlessly on social media, but that didn’t help my career, my family life, or my health—so into the bin it went. ?So no Facebook or Instagram for me.

The Power of a Huge IDP Bin

Here’s the real benefit: the larger my IDP bin, the less clutter I have in my mind. And it’s more than just about feeling lighter; it’s about giving myself the freedom to focus on the truly important things. A huge IDP bin helps me:

• Save Mental Energy: Every piece of irrelevant data tossed into the bin is one less thing to worry about.
• Stay Focused: Without distractions, I can channel my attention toward what genuinely matters.
• Reduce Stress: With less noise, there’s less to juggle, and that naturally reduces stress levels.
• Boost Creativity: When your mind is clear of irrelevant clutter, there’s more room for innovation and original thinking.
• Improve Productivity: By allocating resources only to relevant stimuli, you get more done without the added overwhelm.

You don’t have to react to most of the stimuli that is thrown at you, just plonk it into the IDP bin.? Bigger the IDP bin, the more freedom you have to focus on living your best life — whether that’s at work, with family, or just enjoying your hobbies.

Further Reading & Resources

If you want to dive deeper into these concepts, here are my top two recommendations:

1. Book: "The Courage to Be Disliked" by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga – A transformative read on how to separate tasks, focus on what’s important, and let go of unnecessary burdens.
2. Article: "The Eisenhower Matrix: Make Urgent vs. Important Decisions" – A fantastic breakdown of how to prioritize effectively and manage your workload using this powerful mental model.