Screenshot of a video editing timeline showing multiple video/audio tracks. Editors focus on cutting out “dull bits” to keep a film engaging. As Hitchcock said, “drama is life with the dull bits cut out” . Practical editing advice echoes this: “it’s a bad idea to keep an unnecessary shot … or let a scene run on” unless it serves the story . Editors use techniques like jump cuts and montages to compress time and skip filler (e.g. depicting months in seconds through a training montage ). They also cut on action and use reaction shots sparingly to hide edits and maintain pace. The result is smooth storytelling with no wasted motion. For example, Whiplash (2014) uses rapid, percussive cuts to match its jazz rhythm, while Mad Max: Fury Road packs relentless action yet “every shot serves the rhythm” of the scene . Editor Fred Raskin noted that a jump-cut in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood was “the most economical way” to convey a long reaction shot, since the alternative would be holding a five-minute take .
- Cut filler aggressively: Remove any shot or dialogue that doesn’t drive the narrative. If a scene isn’t needed, trim or delete it .
- Use jump cuts/montages: Purposefully break continuity to skip unimportant action (e.g. compress training or travel sequences) .
- Maintain pacing: Vary shot lengths to control tension (longer takes for suspense, quick cuts for excitement). In Whiplash, editors held frames on drum beats; in Fury Road, the ferocious pace never sacrifices clarity .
- Philosophy: Apply minimalism – tell the story with the fewest shots needed. Every cut should have intent. (This is akin to Occam’s Razor in storytelling.)
Choreography and Dance
Dancers are trained to move with purpose and no wasted motion. Movement studies like Bartenieff Fundamentals (based on Laban) teach isolating one limb or joint at a time until the motion feels “efficient,” then letting go of extra muscle tension. As movement analyst Claire Porter explains, this method finds “underlying simplicity” and helps dancers shed “habits of … unnecessary movements,” making the body “more efficient and cleaner” . Similarly, the Alexander Technique and Pilates encourage aligning the head, spine, and pelvis so limbs can move freely, minimizing wasted effort.
- Techniques: Train with methods (Bartenieff, Feldenkrais, Pilates) that focus on alignment and core engagement. For instance, Bartenieff’s “Basic Six” exercises target one movement at a time (e.g. hip flexion) until extraneous actions drop away . Dancers learn to rely on strength in the core and pelvis so arms/legs move only as needed (Alexander Technique teaches that releasing a tight neck can free the arms and legs from unwanted tension ).
- Examples: Choreographer Jerome Robbins was renowned for using a single gesture or step to fully define a character – an “economy of movement” that conveys much with little . Bob Fosse’s famous isolations (quick head nods, jazz hands) are memorable because they’re precise and purposeful, not random flails. Martha Graham’s dances often use tightly focused motion (e.g. a single flexed foot or arm) to express deep feeling.
- Principles: Embrace economy: every movement should serve expression. Dancers adopt the mantra “less is more”. This aligns with Occam’s Razor: the simplest movement that conveys the idea or emotion is the best. In practice, choreographers remove any flourish that doesn’t enhance the storytelling or aesthetic.
UI/UX and Product Design
In interface and product design, the goal is to reduce friction and unnecessary motion so users accomplish tasks effortlessly. Core UX guidelines stress simplicity and minimalism: keep interfaces “clean, uncluttered, and straightforward,” removing any buttons, fields, or steps that aren’t essential . Every extra click or animation is a potential point of friction. For example, long forms and needless confirmations “kill conversions,” so designers are urged: “If a step isn’t needed, cut it. Fewer steps = happier users” . Microsoft’s design principles similarly advise eliminating redundant controls and streamlining workflows .
- Techniques: Remove extraneous UI elements (icons, menus) that add clutter. Compress multi-step processes into simpler flows: use auto-fill or single sign-on instead of multiple logins . Provide instant feedback (button highlights, progress bars) so users don’t wonder if an app is responding .
- Animations: Use motion purposefully. Subtle micro-interactions (like a gentle button fade or a loading spinner) can guide the user’s attention, but avoid flashy or looping animations that serve no clear purpose. “Avoid unnecessary animations that can distract or overwhelm users,” advises UX best practices . Many platforms support a “reduce motion” setting; designers should use the CSS prefers-reduced-motion media query to disable non-essential animations for users who are sensitive .
- Examples: Apple’s iOS and Android both include “Reduce Motion” options that strip away parallax and auto-zoom effects to make interaction more comfortable for some users. Well-designed apps like Pocket or Medium use only brief, meaningful transitions (e.g. a small delay when saving an article) instead of constant ornamental motion.
- Principles: Follow the minimalist design philosophy – highlight only what truly matters. Occam’s Razor applies to UX: the simplest interface that allows the user to accomplish their goal is best. Redundant features or fancy eye-candy that don’t add utility should be “cut out” of the design.
Fitness and Strength Training
Efficient training emphasizes perfect form and economy of motion so energy isn’t wasted on extraneous movements. Strength coaches recommend compound exercises (squats, presses, deadlifts) because they give the most benefit per effort by recruiting multiple muscle groups at once. This is exactly Bruce Lee’s approach: he favored big lifts like squats and clean & presses as exercises that “give the most bang for his buck” . He also embodied economy of motion philosophically: one of his Jeet Kune Do principles was moving along “the shortest and most direct path” with minimal wasted movement .
- Techniques: Practice lifts with controlled, intentional motion. Training with lighter weights at high speed (a “dynamic effort” method) forces you to refine technique: the Speediance strength blog notes this approach “forces your body to become brutally efficient… cleaning up any wasted movement” and making mechanics crisper . Use tools (mirrors, video feedback, or guided machines) to check that you maintain proper posture and alignment, reducing compensatory motions. Incorporate mobility work and core stabilization (from yoga or Pilates) to allow limbs full range without slouching or unnecessary tension.
- Examples: Bruce Lee’s workouts were famously short and focused – he eventually trimmed his routine down to a few key exercises done in 20 minutes, eliminating “unnecessary exercises” . In Olympic lifting, athletes drill perfect bar paths and body positions: any swing or hitch is corrected to avoid losing force. Marathon runners similarly train with high cadence and forward lean to eliminate braking motions (modern sports science confirms that posture and gait changes remove “wasted” energy ).
- Principles: Apply the same minimalism: every part of a movement should serve strength production. Bruce Lee insisted on simplicity and efficiency; he discarded any exercise or movement that didn’t contribute to power and speed . In strength training this means tightening every rep (avoid flaring the elbows or arching the back needlessly) so that 100% of effort is directed to the target muscles.
Daily Life and Workflow Optimization
Anyone can apply efficiency principles to daily routines. Time-and-motion studies (from Taylor and the Gilbreths) were explicitly created to “identify and eliminate unnecessary actions” to streamline work . In practice, this means designing your environment and schedule to avoid wasted movement. Lean methods encourage placing frequently used items within easy reach (e.g. keys/phone by the door, utensils near the stove) so you don’t constantly backtrack. The “5S” methodology (Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) is often used in lean workplaces and can be adapted at home to keep spaces uncluttered and tools organized . Even simple habits make a difference: grouping errands by location or ordering a grocery list by store layout can cut out needless walking or driving .
- Techniques: Do a brief “motion audit” of your daily tasks. Identify steps where you reach, walk, or search – then rearrange or sequence to eliminate them. For example, prepare your morning routine: lay out clothes and pre-fill the coffee maker the night before to reduce morning flurry. Batch similar tasks (e.g. pay all bills at once) instead of scatter them. Use checklists organized by area (grocery, errands, emails) to prevent zigzagging.
- Examples: The Gilbreths famously redesigned bricklaying so the layers never had to bend over or stretch unnecessarily, reducing motions per brick from 18 to under 5 . At home, a lean mindset suggests keeping essentials (coffee cups, mugs) right next to the coffee pot, and planning shopping by aisle to avoid crisscrossing the store .
- Principles: Embrace minimalism and the Pareto principle: focus on the 20% of activities that give 80% of the value and cut the rest. A clutter-free environment (physical and digital) reduces cognitive load – as one guide notes, living with only what you need (“avoid unnecessary stuff”) helps free up time and energy . By simplifying routines and workspace, you spend less time on trivial motions and more on what really matters.
Citations: Advice in each area is drawn from industry best practices and expert analysis , as noted above. All quoted recommendations and principles come from practitioners (editors, choreographers, designers, trainers, engineers) or educational resources in each field.