Simple is in. From writers, to software designers, to entrepreneurs and students, it seems like everyone is trying to do less and simplify their lives.
But why do we seek simplicity and minimalism in the first place? That’s a question that doesn’t get asked often enough – especially because the answer is different for everyone.
For some people, a simple life is less stressful. For others, the act of simplifying is stressful in and of itself.
For some people, having less is a way to make a statement against rampant consumerism. For others, it’s a way to boost their personal productivity.
Why we pursue simplicity determines how we pursue it.
For example, if simplicity is a way for you to create peace and calm in your home, you may choose to focus first on clearing out the visual and physical clutter in the room you occupy most often. However, if simple to you means anti-consumerism, you may want to start by getting rid of mass-market goods in favor of individually crafted pieces.
To me, simple means removing the obstacles between me and the great goals I set for myself.
That’s why I write about simplicity on a blog about accomplishing great things. It’s a philosophy that helps me work more efficiently and communicate more clearly. It’s about becoming self-reliant, because I’m responsible for making my own life remarkable.
Therefore, I’m focusing first on streamlining activities that relate directly to my work (both my day job and my passion projects). These activities include things such as responding to emails, writing blog posts (and longer works as well), coordinating my team, keeping track of ideas, organizing my computer, and so on.
That’s my focus, which means I don’t place much emphasis on things such as paring down my wardrobe or cooking simple meals. These things aren’t that important to me, but that’s a personal decision. They may be very important to you, and that’s cool.
Also realize that just because you start somewhere doesn’t mean you have to stay there. The effort I’m putting into simplifying how I work is already starting to spread into other areas of my life. The difference is that it’s effortless. I’m not trying to make twenty different changes at once; I started by changing only the things that were most important to me, and letting everything else slowly work itself out.
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Whatever your simple reasons are, the important thing is to be clear about them. Otherwise, you flit randomly from one simplicity fad to another, without ever taking simple and making it your own. And if simplicity serves no purpose, then why bother?
What does simplicity mean to you? What are your priorities when it comes to simple living? Please share!
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I like the idea of simplicity. In fact this is what I aspire in life. I just don't understand why must there be complexities that I have to face in order to get through with life. Perhaps it is the law of existence to face such complexity. :-)
I full-heartedly agree with this:
” To me, simple means removing the obstacles between me and the great goals I set for myself.”
Although I think consumerism can get in the way of a lot of goals, I'm not attracted to minimalism from an anti-consumerism motivation. But it's just that so many things, stuff and to-do's alike, that can get in the way of your goals.
Minimalism for me too, is clearing the path between where I am now, and where I want to be.
I am always trying to simplify my life and I've been successful sometimes, not so much other times.
I think being organized leads to simplicity – but it isn't simple to get organized! Hm…
Simplicity can also look different from one person to the next. A work flow that seems scattered to one mind might be a completely intuitive proses to another.
I believe that the less we truly understand something, the more complicated
we make it. Similarly, the more we understand something, the simpler it
becomes. So we will always encounter complexities in life, but we don't have
to put up with them forever.
Glad to have a comrade-in-arms, Lodewijk! I agree that excess consumerism
can be a distraction, but it's not one of my main focuses … at least for
now. That being said, I have great respect for the people who are making a
real difference by standing against consumerism.
Haha, organization and simplicity. I hear you, Melissa. I think it fits with
the idea that simplicity comes through conquering complexity, which (most of
the time) means work.
Absolutely, Quinn. We all master simplicity in different ways. It's more of
a competition with ourselves, seeking constantly to remove distraction and
obstacles from our own lives, and less of a competition with others. Thanks
for sharing!
I agree. Some minimalism protagonists take their message into the extreme, and lose me along the way. I like the thought and general idea of minimalism, but I'm also still rooted in “this world”.
Especially if you're in a family setting, and you have kids to look after. Some minimalism principles are simply not suited for families with very small children (as I have).
Hmm … not sure if I agree with your statement that being organized leads to simplicity. It's entirely possible to organize complexity, and it remains complex, but no longer chaos. In comparison it may look simple, but that only depends on your starting point :-)
Elimination leads to simplicity, unless you take it too far ;-)
I think it all comes down to what you want to achieve through simplicity.
Some people might enjoy the challenge of living with 100 things, for
example, but not others.
I don't consider myself an “extreme” minimalist; to me, simple means no more
than necessary – but no less than necessary either.
For me simplicity has always been a means to an end, because of the focus deficit I've always had… As a kid I could never put down my favorite books long enough to do my homework, so I moved them to the garage where I could get them but they weren't distracting me. I've personally had pretty good success being more efficient by removing (non-permanently) distractions from my life.
Wonderful post, Jeffrey. I think of simplicity as something inside most of all. Decluttering may or may not help, streamlining goals may or may not help, but the idea is to reduce ambiguity, confusion, doubt, and anxiety, and feel a clear way ahead.
Jeffry, I enjoyed this post very much. You would think that simplicity would be easy to achieve. But, it really isn't. Especially if you have responsibilities of family, career, and hobbies (that are perhaps aspirations). It can be a real struggle to get simple. What is the zen saying? It is easy to be a holly man on top of a mountain? I think things like organization and workflow are important. But, I would also say peace of mind or letting go of the past and worries of the future can simplify our lives. Mental clutter. The stories we tell ourselves and the feelings we create around those stories. To me simplicity is being present in the moment and clear in my head what my objectives are in each of my life roles.
I am glad I found your post. Thanks Google Alerts!
Jason Blogs about clean and simple project management for everyone at http://www.nosajects.com</a>
Thanks! I agree; simplicity grows from inside and is then expressed
outwardly. We may express simplicity in different ways, but regardless of
the path we choose, the first steps are taken in our minds.
I am so glad to read more of your work, J. Thank you for living your philo. I recently donated two couches. I only had two couches. Now, my living room is clear, save for a mat, a hulahoop and three bookshelves. I hated those couches. (and one of them I designed and made) There was a rush of compulsion around the clearing, which I had promised myself a year before. I have no deep thoughts about why, how it will affect me, what it all means. I just know that when I got down to it–they had to go.I did it.Now I'm excited to be in my living room. Go figure.
Clearing mental clutter is huge for me too. Most of the time, the things
bouncing around in my head are more distracting than anything sitting on my
desk. I have to constantly remind myself to refocus and ask: “What am I
really trying to accomplish?”
Dyana, the first thought I had upon reading your comment was: “Whoa! She
designed and made her own couch!”
I believe that, if we're mindful of what we do, things become clearer
through action than through contemplation alone. I try my best to sort
things out in my head, but I'm also working on translating those thoughts
into action, even if I'm not sure exactly what the right path is yet. I do,
then see what happens and adjust my thinking accordingly.
What I'm trying to say is, kudos to you for clearing out your living room
(even if it was “only” on a compulsion)!
I still think it's awesome that you made a couch. Even if you had to get rid
of it eventually.
YES! Any action, I've found, clarifies and makes room for the next step to come to the surface. If there is no room, there is no new. I call that contemplation space “life above the eyebrows,” and it has its place, for sure. But when I dip below the eyebrows, magic (really) is right there waiting to do the work for me. Thanks for the love.
I'm a super analytical person, so I tend to live my entire life “above the
eyebrows” if I'm not careful. As simple as it sounds, learning to step
outside of my head and just try things is one of the best lessons I've ever
learned.
I live a “simpler life” in order to focus my life around my core values. I get rid of the stuff that doesn't matter (both physically and mentally) in order to focus on what does. My exercise in less let's me do MORE of what matters.