Simple Things Should Be Simple
- EN
- ZH
I’m trying to keep things simple, and I’ve found that it makes me feel calmer and gives me more time to focus on the most important things than ever before.
Physical Objects
Whenever I want to buy something, I ask myself a few questions. They really help me decide whether to buy it or not.
- Do I really love it? It’s an ambiguous feeling, but I try to sense it before shopping every time.
- Do I want it to stay with me for a long time? Ideally, I hope to own only durable items, except for daily necessities.
- Am I buying it just because it’s on sale? If the answer is yes, I won’t buy it.
Moreover, I like to donate or throw away things that are unnecessary for me.
Information
I’m worried about being overwhelmed by information. I think attention is the most valuable resource we have. Here’s what I do:
- I only subscribe to newsletters I will actually read and unsubscribe from all the ones I just want to read but never really do. Now I can trust my inbox system.
- I deleted my Instagram and Threads app because I realized that I don’t care about most of the people I follow there. If I really want to keep in touch with old friends, I’ll message them directly.
- I spend more time on the “Following“ tab on Twitter and less time on the “For you“ tab.
Connection
Distancing yourself from toxic friends and spending more time with those you truly care about is crucial. Sometimes it feels cold to step away from someone you shared good times with, but that’s in the past. I think we should focus more on the present.
Writing
I’m still struggling to write simply, but here are two things I’m working on.
- I try to use fewer and easier words to express the same meaning.
- After writing, I review and mostly cut unnecessary words.
“Simple things should be simple, complex things should be possible.“ — Alan Kay
References that helped me think about this topic: