6 Ways To Keep Simple From Getting Complex

simplicity_profile_shotEDITOR’S NOTE: This is a guest post from Leo Babauta, author of Top 25 blog Zen Habits and best-selling book, The Power of Less.

When Apple designed the beautifully simple iPod, with its minimalist interface, they must have faced a conundrum: How do you keep things simple when there are always other important features you want to add, new buttons that add so much more functionality?

In the software world, this is known as “feature creep” — new features are added and added until things are no longer simple, but complex.

In the world of simplicity, things are never as simple as they seem. Things tend to grow more complex over time — simplicity takes hard work to maintain.

How does Apple keep its minimalist interface if it wants to keep adding new features? How does the designer of a simple WordPress theme keep things simple if he wants to add new features for his users?

How do you declutter a room and keep it from getting cluttered again? How do you simplify your work routine — and keep it simple? Read more »

Simplicity: The Value of JUST ENOUGH

simplicityImage courtesy of Raelene G

Let’s say you’re looking to buy a new office chair.  You’re standing in the store, staring at your two options.  Very similar in shape, size and color, these two chairs have much in common.  You sit down in the first one…fits like a glove!  You then peruse its options and find that it can change height, it swivels with ease and that’s about it.  You then look at the price tag and see that it can be had for less than a hundred dollars.  Now you sit down in the other chair.  Just as comfortable and with the same basic features.  Then you notice some buttons on the arm rest.  Wow, this baby has a built in massager and can be adjusted electronically.  Also, the back has heat capability and there’s even a flip up cup holder on the right side.  Excited by the bells and whistles, you check out the price tag and take a second to adjust to the fact that it’s more than double the cost of the first option.  Which one should you buy and how does simplicity play a role in making such a decision? Read more »

A Night In The ER Really Gets You Thinking | Part 2

cutthefatImage courtesy of suvodeb

I’m feeling MUCH, MUCH better!  Still not quite 100%, but a whole lot closer than I was when I posted the first part of the this post on Thursday night.

First, I just wanted to thank everybody who took the time to stop by and leave their words of encouragement.  This is a great testament to the caliber of community here in our corner of the blogging world. Read more »

A Night In The ER Really Gets You Thinking

ctscannerImage courtesy of joncallas

How do you go from feeling like all is well, to staring at the GE logo of the emergency room CT scanner in a matter of hours?

Monday evening seemed like any other day until I started feeling the onslaught of abdominal discomfort.  I went to bed concerned, but not enough to keep me from drifting to sleep.  By about midnight I became very awake as my stomach felt like it had been injected with some form of toxic solution.  Within minutes I was in excruciating pain and began to pray that I would be OK.  I was scared. Read more »

How To Be Relentless When Decluttering Your Life

bookshelfImage courtesy of JacobEnos

Over the weekend Liz and I continued in the pursuit deculuttering as we prepare for the nursery.  The last couple of weeks have been filled with your typical trashing of this, recycling of that and so on.  But now all the obvious stuff is gone and we’re moving into those items that have collected just as much dust as the others, but are somehow, in our minds, more meaningful or useful.  Now is where the psychology begins.  Now is when practical turns to personal attachment.  Now is the time to be relentless. Read more »