Stuff is complicated. The more and more technology that we use in our lives that is supposed to “simplify” things, the more and more things end up complicated. That’s why, rather than using tools that have all of the dongles and doodads, we may want to use something simple to uncomplicate certain aspects of our lives.
Too much
The other day I was looking into buying some new laptops and desktops for the company that I work for. We are a Windows shop, so the only company that I would possibly consider is Lenovo (mostly because I think that they make some pretty quality stuff). As I was going through all of the choices I thought, “just tell me what to buy here. I don’t want to choose.” I wanted it to be simpler. Instead, I got too much.
Apple is pretty good at this, rather than selling “entry-level”, “mid-level”, “enterprise-level” (whatever that means), etc. they just sell the best stuff they can. That’s it. They don’t complicate things for people (much) more than they already are. More companies, whether it be services or physical products, need to pare down their offerings. In fact, we need to do this ourselves when it comes to the tools that we use to get things done.
Doodads
I’m a confessed OmniFocus geek. I love how powerful the tool is, how I can access it on my Mac, iPad, and iPhone, and how I can bend my OmniFocus database in any way I want. That’s a blessing and a curse. I have been through the ringer with “tweaking” my OmniFocus setup.
“What contexts define me as a person?”
That’s a terrible question, but one that I have asked when I have wanted to tweak my system instead of use it and work. I also have an ever-growing Perspectives list that is out of control.
I don’t have anything against perspectives and contexts in OmniFocus or awesome features in an application in general, but doodads work both ways. I can use them to get work done or I can use them to complicate my life even more and struggle to get anything accomplished other than tweaking a tool.
Simplify for the sake of sanity
I’m a big believer in that you need tools and processes that are just complicated enough to get a job done. I’m definitely not a minimalist (as you can see from my toolset for 2012 here), but I do believe in simplifying a process or tool to the point that it does exactly what you need to get some work done. This not only lets you get your work done in the most efficient ways possible, it give you some of your sanity back. When I see myself with three different task and project managers opened, 5 different text editors, and a handful of other applications in my reach, it may be time to step back, look at what I need to accomplish, and pick the tools that are just good enough to let myself get things done.
Five steps to take when technology isn’t simplifying things anymore
Here is a 4 step process I follow when I’m complicated the hell out of something that doesn’t need to be so complicated.
- What are you trying to do? It’s funny when I’m knee-deep into an outline in an OmniFocus project and I forgot even what I was trying to do. Nine times out of ten, you don’t need to be complicated things more than they already are. Remember what you are trying to accomplish.
- Why are you trying to do? Another good question to ask when you are complicated things. Is what you are trying to do even worth it to you? Is it even something you need to do? If not, why complicate something that you don’t want or need to do. Just don’t do it.
- If you are bogging yourself down in bits, use paper. I’m a big fan of good paper and a nice pen. When you are so bogged down and “in the weeds” with a problem, pull yourself out of technology and allow yourself to use paper for a bit. You will be surprised at how much clearer things will get. This guy likes that too.
- What’s your next action?I told you I was a GTD geek. But seriously, if you don’t know what the next physical thing you have to do to solve a problem, no text editor, mind mapping software, in depth taxonomy structure, or piece of code is going to tell you. You have to define this.