Constraints are often lamented, but constraints are a blessing.

Consider time constraints. Parkinson’s Law says that work expands to fill the time allocated to it. By limiting time, e.g., by setting an arbitrary and short deadline for an initial version of a project, you increase the odds of making good progress.

Explicitly constraining resources like time and money, through budgeting both, is a great hack.

Another application of constraints is, when undertaking a project, determining what the project will not do, and intentionally constraining the project team (e.g., making sure the right number and composition of folks are present, and not adding too many people).