The Simplicity Principle: Six Steps Towards Clarity in a Complex World

Julia Hobsbawm

Our lives have become so complicated that we rarely have enough time to concentrate on any one thing. We are always doing too many things of varying importance at the same time. Our lives are complex and we struggle to keep up with it. The Simplicity Principle is aimed towards helping us make our complicated lives simpler.

While technological advancements have made several things simpler, it has also made our lives complex because of the distractions it creates. What we want is for complex technologies to work simply. Successful companies in the world, like Apple, understand this. While the background/technical work may be complex, the customer experience is simple.

A desire for simplicity can also be seen in modern-day politics. People tend to vote for ideas and offers that are the most simply put. This is why the simple, straightforward message “Take Back Control” during the 2016 Brexit referendum by the UK was a success.

We have managed to needlessly complicate our lives but Hobsbawm provides us with tips and tricks to make it less so.

She ventures into nature, specifically into beehives, to show how human lives can be made easier based on the hexagonal structure of the hives. Although they live in huge complicated networks, the use of hexagon offers clarity and definition. These can be used to create strong, connected beehives. On a macro level, these structures are simpler compared to the complexities of our communities and our professions.

The number of sides of a hexagon also matches the number of things we can hold in our memory at a time. So this structure acts as a visual tool to help us remember our priorities in everyday life, which will ultimately make our lives simpler.

It is also based on this structure that Hobsbawm gives us a system called Hexagonal Action. This includes six facets that will help us focus on what is most important in our lives. These are Clarity, Individuality, Reset, Knowledge, Networks, and Time.

Clarity

We often find ourselves distracted from our work by social media, which are designed to be distracting and addictive, and we find ourselves falling into the rabbit-hole. We need to take a strict break from the internet every day at a specific time to stop social networks from interrupting our work. Making a habit of it will help us gain clarity and focus.

We should also have a clear purpose when focusing on our tasks and should learn the art of saying no to anything that stands in the way of said purpose. This will help us make space in our lives for our goal, whether it is spending time with family or completing a project.

Individuality

In the busy, modern world, we should take care to not forget ourselves. We should hold on to the qualities that make each of us unique, like a snowflake. Listening to our unique innermost voice or intuition, speaking our minds, and standing up for our values will help us maintain our individuality. It will make our lives simpler. Being compliant may complicate our lives. Therefore taking time to return to our place of comfort and stability is also important for us to be ourselves.

Reset

Our “always-on” mentality, often results in burnouts. We forget that we are humans, that we have limits, and that we can’t constantly multitask. We must stop every once in a while by taking a long vacation, meditating for a few moments in between work, or taking a long walk. We must disconnect from work and other activities for that time. We should shut down our mind and let our subconscious do what it has to, to restore our mind. This will help us return to work as healthier, more efficient people.

Knowledge

We are always absorbing more information than we can remember or find useful. We should stick to reliable sources to make sure that we consume only genuine facts and not falsehoods, whether it is news or other online content. At the same time, we should also remember that non-online skills or social skills, such as the ability to empathize, to negotiate, and so on can only be garnered from real-life interactions.

Network

Humans are social beings. But with the advancement in technology, our connections have become virtual. While virtual networks have advantages such as reducing the distance between people, it also means that we tend to avoid face-to-face conversations a lot. We miss out on a lot in virtual communications, like facial expressions, touch, and so on, which are important in reducing stress and building strong relationships. Creating real bonds with those around us will make our lives simpler.

Time

There is nothing we can do to get back time. But we can make the best of our available time. The first step is to realize that all of us use our time differently. This can be seen in the case of deadlines. Deadlines we set should be realistic, which will allow us ample amount of time to complete our work or dream. We shouldn’t rush into things. We should also mind our internal body clocks. Pushing our bodies beyond its capabilities will not yield good results.

Understanding these 6 facets and how things are made complicated in them is important. Only then can we make use of Hobsbawm’s advice and guidelines to make our lives simpler.

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