People often say, "Don't take on too many things if you want to be happy." This is true. Nothing works better than limiting yourself to necessary actions only. Do what reason tells a social being to do. This brings two kinds of happiness: the joy that comes from doing good, and the peace that comes from doing less. Most of what we say and do is unnecessary. Cut these things out and you will have more time and less trouble. So before each action, ask yourself: "Is this really necessary?" Don't just cut out unnecessary actions. Cut out unnecessary thoughts too. This will stop pointless actions before they even start.
They will say commonly, Meddle not with many things, if thou wilt live cheerfully. Certainly there is nothing better, than for a man to confine himself to necessary actions; to such and so many only, as reason in a creature that knows itself born for society, will command and enjoin. This will not only procure that cheerfulness, which from the goodness, but that also, which from the paucity of actions doth usually proceed. For since it is so, that most of those things, which we either speak or do, are unnecessary; if a man shall cut them off, it must needs follow that he shall thereby gain much leisure, and save much trouble, and therefore at every action a man must privately by way of admonition suggest unto himself, What? may not this that now I go about, be of the number of unnecessary actions? Neither must he use himself to cut off actions only, but thoughts and imaginations also, that are unnecessary for so will unnecessary consequent actions the better be prevented and cut off.