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Simplify Your Life

By Anthony DePalma on August 13, 2013

Simple Things Are Beautiful

We have an innate tendency to appreciate things that are simple. Simple things are easy to understand and interact with, which in turn makes our lives easier.

There are often many solutions to a given problem, but the simplest solution is admired for its elegance. In practical terms, this usually equates to the least amount of waste in materials and maintenance.

Staggeringly complex systems can be created out of simple components. The theory of evolution is a beautiful example that explains the vast diversity of life from the simple interaction of random mutations and natural selection.

However, even complex systems can be simplified by hiding their complexity behind a facade. We drive cars without any knowledge of internal combustion engines. We send emails without any knowledge of servers, processors, or transistors. We don't see trillions of cells or chemical reactions, we see people.

Managing complexity is a critical component of computer programming, engineering, and architecture. The same principles can be used to improve the quality of your life.

Simplify Your Life

To simplify your life, you need to identify complexity and conquer it through analysis and introspection. The time you invest in simplifying your life is returned to you with interest in the future. No victory is too small - even something as trivial as combining your shampoo and conditioner into one bottle will save you hours over the course of a year.

Although it sounds counterintuitive, simplification requires dedication. If you've ever assembled IKEA furniture before, you can appreciate the straightforward manner in which instructions are presented through pictures. But you can bet that those instructions emerged from countless hours of research and stringent usability tests. Invest in simplifying your life, and you'll be rewarded for it.

I created Tracktacular with these principles in mind to help people simplify their lives. I invite you to use it to simplify yours.

Try It!

Sign up today for a free trial and to subscribe to this blog. Then, check out Reducing Physical Clutter for practical advice about the first step towards simplifying your life.

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