Simplicity Is My Superpower: The Truth About Letting Go, Slowing Down, and Actually Enjoying Life

That Time Occam’s Razor Made Me a Simplicity Nerd

I didn’t set out to become someone who raves about the joy of index funds or who plans her weekends around leftover veggie lasagna. But somewhere during my apprenticeship, I stumbled across this principle called Occam’s Razor — and things haven’t been the same since.

The idea’s simple: the best solution is usually the simplest one.

At first, it helped me stop faffing about with over-complicated project reports and just focus on getting the thing done. But then, it started sneaking into other corners of my life — like how I meal prep, organise my finances, and even how I choose to spend time with my family.

Now? I honestly think my real superpower is simplicity. And before you roll your eyes, no — I’m not about to try and sell you minimalism in a beige jumpsuit. I’m just someone who’s burnt out enough times to know that a slower, simpler life isn’t just nice. It’s necessary.

Keeping Life Simple

Why Simple Weekends Win Every Time

Some of the best weekends I’ve had with my family have involved nothing fancier than a walk to the park, a film we’ve seen ten times already, and something half-decent bubbling away in the oven.

And I’ve realised something: what I usually call a “problem” is often just me making things harder than they need to be.

Like trying to cram too much into a single day, or planning an elaborate outing when everyone’s knackered. Or obsessing over the perfect budget spreadsheet when all I really needed was a notebook and a calculator.

When I remember that, I breathe a little easier. And life gets lighter.

How I Deal with Clutter (Hint: Boxes Are Magic)

I don’t claim to have my life perfectly decluttered (my “miscellaneous” drawer is still a wild ride). But here’s how I deal with different kinds of clutter:

• Physical stuff? It goes in a box. If I haven’t touched it in a year, sell it, donate it, chuck it. No sentimentality. No “just in case.” Just bin bags and the recycling bin.
• Mental clutter? I write it down, usually in a scruffy notebook. If it still matters in a week, I’ll deal with it then. Most of the time, it doesn’t.
• To-do lists? I pick three things max. No more. Anything else goes on a “maybe later” list and doesn’t get to stress me out.
• Financial clutter? This was a big one. I used to have this complicated ranking system for saving goals — it made me feel “on top of things,” but honestly? It was exhausting. Now, I treat all savings as the same pot if I have an emergency, and I focus on one goal at a time. I hit my targets faster, and I sleep better.

Simple Finances = Less Drama

Money used to feel like something I had to constantly check on — like a needy Tamagotchi that would die if I didn’t feed it daily.

Not anymore.

Now I’ve set up a direct debit to Vanguard that skims 10% of my net income without me thinking about it. I invest in simple index funds and a target date fund. No charts. No stress. Just quiet compounding in the background.

I track the basics: income, expenses, net worth — done. This monthly task is a simple way of tracking how I am progressing.

Okay, okay, I do still manually add leftover guilt-free spending money at the end of each month. So, yes, there’s room for improvement. But even that’s kind of a ritual now — like a monthly check-in where I high-five myself for not going overboard on random Amazon purchases.

What I Do When Life Gets Messy Again

Because here’s the truth: life will get messy again.

Someone will get ill, the flat will need repairs, the calendar will look like a game of Tetris. Simplicity isn’t a permanent state. It’s something I have to keep choosing, again and again.

So when things start spiralling, here’s what helps:

• I cancel things. Ruthlessly. Calling people actually lows stress as it is just easier than a message.
• I cook from my “hosting playbook”. (Veggie lasagna = always a winner.)
• I ask for help — something I never used to be good at, and still struggle with.
• And I lean on my weekly and monthly calendar rhythm to get a bird’s-eye view. It’s like seeing the chaos from above — suddenly it feels smaller.

The Myth About Simplicity No One Talks About

People think simplicity just happens — like one day you wake up Zen, sipping herbal tea in a spotless kitchen.

Nah. Simplicity is work. It’s a choice you make because life gets big and messy and loud.

When I was a student, I had no choice but to keep things simple. I lived off frozen veg, my student loan, and £250 from my parents each month. Planning was essential — and that’s where I first got a taste of how clarity makes everything feel calmer.

Now? I’ve got a partner, a child, a mortgage, a flat to run, savings goals, and a laundry pile that mocks me. I’m not naturally tidy or minimal. I have to fight for simplicity, because otherwise I default to chaos. Gone are the days where I just had to count my piggy bank.

And honestly? It’s worth the fight.

Gentle Questions for the Road:

I’m still working on simplifying parts of my life — especially when it comes to money. I’m trying to smooth out the last few manual bits, like my monthly “leftover money” top-ups. But overall, choosing simplicity has made life feel more mine.

It’s not about perfection. It’s about peace.

If you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed, maybe try asking:

1. What’s one part of your life that feels more complicated than it needs to be?
2. Where are you chasing “more” when you could settle for “enough”?
3. What’s your version of veggie lasagna — something you can fall back on when everything else feels like too much?

You don’t need to overhaul your whole life overnight. Just pick one little thing to simplify. Then breathe. Then smile.

You’re already doing better than you think.