Simplicity
Water patterns on the beach. Both simple and complex.
Having Too Many Ideas Can Lead to Procrastination
My wife and family think I can be a bit obsessive at times. I find something new or fascinating and pour myself into it thoroughly. For me, that works because, for a little while, at least, I seem to simplify. Whatever that new thing is removes the typical distractions from life and all the other things that beg my attention. The problem can be that maybe those other things do need some attention. I guess balance is the key, but we can discuss that again. For now, I want to focus on simplifying.
I have repeatedly focused on many ideas in many different areas or disciplines. I have also had many ideas I have never finished or done anything with. This has happened in my professional and creative life. I have ideas of what I want to do around the house, books I want to read, things I want to do, photography projects I want to start, ways to better my family relationships, and on and on and on. So many ideas can lead to procrastination. Many times, having so many ideas means I get less done. The question, I think, is how to narrow those down so I’m not crushed with new idea after new idea. I love to focus on one thing at a time, but with so many possibilities in life, it can sometimes feel easier to lie on the couch and repeatedly watch some old TV shows.
The founder of Deepstash, Vladimir Oane, said, "Kidding aside, having too many ideas can sometimes lead to procrastination, especially when you feel like you need more information before taking action. But hey, compared to the anxiety-inducing vortex of social media dopamine hits, I’d say it’s a pretty awesome problem to have.” (Editorial Team, “Interview: The Art of Sharing Ideas with Vladimir Oane, Founder of Deepstash,” Ness Labs blog, January 11, 2024, nesslabs.com/deepstash-interview). Having plenty of things to do or developing ideas is better than just watching TV or doom-scrolling. It is the act of simplifying them that makes it all work, at least for me.
Do Less to Get More Done
“Simplifying means doing or experiencing less in the moment. It also removes things from your life to make that more manageable, but it does not need to mean having less in total. The idea is to ensure you fully experience things rather than rush through them.” (Zenhabits, “How Simplicity Reveals Life,” zen habits, October 20, 2023, zenhabits.net/reveal). Keep the ideas for the future on a list. Have as many experience as you can. Develop new skills. Study new topics. See new things. The important part is to simplify as you do them. The stress of thinking there is a long list of other things can cause anyone to stop in their tracks and do and experience less.
Having few things means the ones you have can be fully appreciated.
Having less to do means you can pour yourself into and really experience your tasks.
Engaging in a few things, especially online, allows you to engage thoughtfully rather than being controlled by them.
Take a little time and do what could be called a “brain dump.” Getting all the little things bouncing around in your head that need to be done or that you want to do down on paper or into a list can remove them from your head. Have you ever had those nights when you can’t sleep because you have so many ideas or tasks or feel behind on everything? Your head is spinning with things to do, and you can’t relax. Sit up and make a list. Remove them from your head and make them real on paper or with your phone note-taking app. It makes a big difference. Get them out of your head; they are still there, and you will get to them. Make them a list, then focus on what you are doing - even if that current focus is sleep.
Cultivate Aspects of Simplicity
In the book "Celebration of Discipline," Richard Foster lists and talks about ten steps or aspects of simplicity that we should consider. He takes a decidedly Christian evangelical angle to his writing, but the points are still very relevant to this discussion. (Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Special Anniversary edition, San Francisco: Harper One, 2018)
Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you.
Develop a habit of giving things away.
Refuse to be propagandized by the custodians of gadgetry.
Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
Develop a deeper appreciation for the creation.
Look with a healthy skepticism at all “buy now, pay later” schemes.
Obey Jesus’s instructions about plain, honest speech.
Reject anything that breeds the oppression of others.
Shun anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God.
These steps lead to personal simplicity and pave the way for financial, educational, and spiritual self-reliance. By honing these skills and practicing discipline, we can achieve financial control, cultivate gratefulness, foster an attitude of service to others, and protect the world and those around us. It could lead to a journey of growth and transformation.
Simplify and enjoy what you are doing in the moment. Procrastinate less and actually get more done.
“Tales from the Hudson,” released in 1996, stands out in Michael Brecker’s discography. The album showcases Brecker’s virtuosic saxophone work and gathers some of the most influential jazz musicians of the time. This star-studded lineup, filled with my all-time favorite musicians, is one of the album’s features that sets it apart.