Stoicism, the ancient philosophy founded in Athens around 300 BCE, has experienced a remarkable resurgence in modern times. From Silicon Valley executives to professional athletes, people are rediscovering the practical wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca.
At its core, Stoicism teaches us to focus our energy on what we can control while accepting what we cannot. This fundamental principle leads Stoics to avoid wasting time on five specific things that consume the energy of most people.
1. Worrying About Things Outside Their Control
The cornerstone of Stoic philosophy is the dichotomy of control—the distinction between what we can and cannot influence. Epictetus, who was born as an enslaved person before becoming one of philosophy’s most outstanding teachers, emphasized this principle in his Enchiridion: “Some things are within our power, while others are not.”
People with a Stoic mindset don’t waste mental energy worrying about traffic, weather, market crashes, or other people’s decisions. Instead, they focus exclusively on their own thoughts, actions, and responses. This isn’t about being passive or fatalistic. It’s about channeling energy efficiently.
Consider an investor who loses money on an investment—the non-Stoic wastes hours obsessing over the loss, replaying decisions, and worrying about market movements. The Stoic accepts the loss as past and outside current control, then focuses on what they can control: analyzing what to learn, adjusting their strategy, and making better decisions moving forward.
This principle transforms how you approach challenges. When you stop fighting against reality and accept what you cannot change, you free up enormous mental bandwidth for productive action.
2. Seeking Approval and External Validation
Marcus Aurelius, who ruled Rome as emperor yet practiced Stoicism daily, wrote in his Meditations: “It never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.”
Stoics understand that seeking constant approval is a trap that leads to anxiety and poor decisions. If your happiness depends on what others think, you’ve surrendered control of your emotional state to people who may not have your best interests at heart.
This doesn’t mean Stoics are antisocial or indifferent to feedback. They value constructive criticism and genuine relationships. But they don’t make decisions based on impressing others or avoiding judgment. They develop an internal compass guided by their values and principles.
In financial decisions, this principle is compelling. The Stoic person doesn’t buy a luxury car to impress neighbors or invest in trendy stocks or crypto to fit in with peers. They make financial choices aligned with their goals and values, regardless of social pressure.
3. Complaining and Dwelling on Past Events
Seneca, the wealthy Roman statesman and Stoic philosopher, observed that we suffer more in imagination than in reality. Stoics recognize that complaining about past events or current circumstances changes nothing while poisoning your mindset.
When something goes wrong, non-Stoics often spiral into complaint and rumination. They replay scenarios, assign blame, and share their grievances with anyone who will listen. This behavior may feel satisfying momentarily, but it reinforces feelings of victimhood and helplessness.
Stoics take a different approach. They acknowledge difficulties without dwelling on them. If something can be fixed, they create a plan and take action. If it cannot be changed, they accept it and move forward. This isn’t suppressing emotions—it’s processing them efficiently and refusing to let past hardships define one’s identity.
In business and investing, this mindset is transformative. Every entrepreneur faces setbacks. Every investor experiences losses. The difference between success and failure often comes down to how quickly you can process disappointment, extract lessons, and redirect energy toward solutions.
4. Material Excess and Status Symbols
The Stoics practiced what they called “voluntary discomfort”—deliberately experiencing mild hardship to build resilience and perspective. They weren’t anti-wealth, but they understood that excessive focus on material accumulation creates dependency and anxiety.
Seneca was one of the wealthiest men in Rome, yet he regularly practiced sleeping on a hard bed and eating simple food. He wanted to prove to himself that he could be content with little, so his happiness wouldn’t depend on maintaining luxury.
Modern Stoics apply this by avoiding lifestyle inflation and resisting the hedonic treadmill. They understand that beyond basic needs, additional possessions rarely increase genuine satisfaction. Instead of constantly upgrading homes, cars, and gadgets, they focus on experiences, relationships, and personal growth.
This principle has direct implications for wealth-building. Those who waste time and money on status symbols often trap themselves in cycles of work and consumption. They earn to spend, then must earn more to maintain their inflated lifestyle. Stoics build financial independence by keeping expenses modest and investing the difference.
5. Drama and Other People’s Opinions
Marcus Aurelius advised: “You always own the option of having no opinion. There is never any need to get worked up or to trouble your soul about things you can’t control.”
Stoics don’t waste time on gossip, office politics, or manufactured controversies. They recognize that drama is often about ego, insecurity, or attention-seeking—none of which are worth their limited time and energy.
This doesn’t mean being cold or withdrawn from others. Stoics value genuine connection and meaningful discourse. But they draw clear boundaries around toxic dynamics and refuse to be drawn into conflicts that don’t serve growth or purpose.
In professional settings, this manifests as focusing on work quality rather than office politics, on results rather than recognition. In personal life, it means choosing carefully which battles are worth fighting and which opinions deserve consideration.
The Stoic approach to other people’s opinions is remarkably liberating. Epictetus taught that if someone treats you poorly, their action reflects their character, not your worth. This perspective allows you to remain unshaken by criticism or judgment that doesn’t come from people whose opinions you genuinely value.
The Practical Value of Stoic Time Management
These five principles aren’t just philosophical abstractions—they’re practical tools for living more effectively. By not wasting time on things outside your control, seeking validation, complaining, accumulating excess, or engaging with drama, you free up enormous capacity for what truly matters: personal growth, meaningful work, genuine relationships, and purposeful action.
The Stoics understood what modern research confirms: our time and mental energy are finite resources. How we allocate them determines the quality of our lives. By following these ancient principles, you can cultivate resilience, make more informed decisions, and direct your energy where it yields the most significant value.