5 Ways to Simplify Your Productivity

Steve Jobs was famous for wearing a uniform - a black turtle neck and jeans. I don’t remember seeing a picture of him wearing anything else. His simplification helped reduce his decision fatigue. Simplification also allows us to level up, define priorities, and work on what is important.

I’m not the only one who wants to simplify things! The author and podcaster Marie Forleo has a saying “Simplify to Amplify.” She is referring to the fact that we need to do a few things well rather than trying to do everything. This is echoed in the book Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown. He talks about “priority” rather than “priorities”. The Eisenhower Matrix asks you to look at what is important (and teaches that not everything is important)

What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important. Dwight Eisenhower

Simplification helps with making changes in our lives. In the Fogg Behavior Model, one part of the change model is ‘ability’ or how easy it is for you to do something new. If something is difficult to do, it’s less likely that you will do it. If something is simpler to do, it is more likely that you will do it.

How can you simplify your life?

1: Create deliberate habits and routines

You have a morning routine. It might be hitting snooze on your alarm 3 times, or it may be waking up prior to your alarm, making your bed, working out, or writing. I would guess that most people wake up, get dressed, and brush their teeth no matter who they are or what they are doing for the day. Having a deliberate habit and routine helps you get things you must get done (getting dressed and brushing your teeth). It can also provide some structure around things that are important to you (working out or writing).

2: Take an initial action

If you find yourself stalling on taki