The power of simplicity (CYL! Episode 6)

How does focusing on simplicity help you change your life for the better? Why is the simplest approach to things most often the best? Well, that’s what you’ll discover in Episode 6 of the Change Your Life! podcast… your practical guide to creating a better life for yourself.

Episode Transcript

What is simplicity, and how does simplicity lead to a happier life? What are the benefits of simplicity? And what are some tiny ways to simplify your life that can help you to feel more satisfied?

Well, that’s what I’m exploring in this week’s episode of the Change Your Life! podcast… your practical guide to creating a better life for yourself. So, grab a seat, get settled, and let’s talk about how to change your life with simple tips grounded in quality research.

Hi! I’m Jeremy Godwin, and welcome to Episode 6 of Change Your Life!, where I’ll be sharing lots of practical and straightforward advice to help you create a better life for yourself. 

I’m a writer, coach, and mental health counsellor, so I talk to clients about this stuff for a living, and you might also be familiar with my other podcast, Let’s Talk About Mental Health, where I teach people how to improve their wellbeing each week… but I’m also someone who’s been doing a lot of work to make changes in my own life and so I want to share my journey with you, and all the stuff I’ve been learning along the way, and hopefully we can all really change each of our lives for the better.

Last week I talked about how to deal with the things that hold you back (like fear, insecurity, etc) and today I’m going to be exploring how focusing on simplicity can really help you to change your life for the better. 

So, let’s start by talking about…

What does simplicity mean?

And, really, it’s about being thoughtful and intentional in the choices you make, keeping things as easy, straightforward, and uncomplicated as possible so that you’re not making life more difficult for yourself than it needs to be (which then frees you up to focus on the stuff that really matters the most to you). Because, to paraphrase the great Canadian philosopher Avril Lavigne, why do we have to go and make things so complicated?!

We human beings can have this sort-of random tendency to over-analyse and over-complicate things sometimes, and it can almost seem like we don’t really value things as much if they aren’t overly-complex, or if we haven’t had to work really hard for them… and maybe that’s just the way that our society is structured, or the way that we’re used to looking at the world, but the older I get the more I have grown to appreciate the power of simplicity; letting things be as easy and as straightforward as possible, so that we can reserve our physical and emotional energy for the stuff that really matters the most to each of us. Which makes sense when you remind yourself that most of the stuff that we think matters actually doesn’t matter at all; it’s mainly just noise and a whole bunch of filler… distractions to pass our time while the planet keeps on spinning, because we’re conditioned to be too caught up in the mundane instead of choosing to squeeze every last drop of life out of each of our days.

Because, and I may as well just get this out of the way upfront, for each of us the non-negotiable fact of life is that our time on this planet is limited… and instead of embracing that fundamental truth, and using it to push us to make the most of our lives, instead we mostly tend to get caught up in all the petty bullshit that goes on in the world and closer to home like “Who put the bins out?”, or which politician said what stupid, insensitive, or offensive thing this week, or what colour is that Real Housewife going to paint her living room that’s bigger than an aircraft hanger? 

The point I’m trying to make here is that you may not realise just how much all of this stuff tends to get in the way of living your life to its fullest, and since this podcast is all about changing your life I want to encourage you to really think about the choices you make, and the ideas you’re buying into, as you continue your journey over the next few episodes; don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to give up your favourite reality shows or go and live off the grid (personally I’m a fan of indoor plumbing that I don’t need to clean out myself!) but, as we head deeper into this discussion today about simplicity, I just want to encourage you to think about the choices you’re making and the impact they have so that you can be a lot more intentional. The next few episodes are going to be very tactical in terms of focusing on the nitty-gritty of how to make specific plans to change your life and then deliver on them, and so I’d like you to consider this week’s episode to be like a really important little appetiser to get you thinking more about what you want (what you really, really want) and then to be able to move forward with a greater level of clarity. I mean, really, let’s not overcomplicate this here: I’m saying that you should ideally be focusing on the simplest approaches possible. Why? Because the simplest solutions are most often the best. And they take the least energy!

You know, figuring out how to change your life for the better is actually fairly straightforward: if you’re not happy with the way something is, change it. That’s it. End of story. Yes, there’s potentially a lot of work involved in making those changes… but even then I really don’t think it needs to be as complicated as we make it out to be. For example, if you’re in a relationship with someone and you’re not happy with the way things are then the simplest solution is to change it. Talk with the other person about where things are at and where you’d ideally like them to be in the future, and then go from there depending on what their response is; either you work together to change the relationship, or you don’t — which then tells you that the relationship parameters need to change (in other words, you exit the relationship). It doesn’t need to be more complex than that. You don’t need to read 54 books by people with PhD’s to tell you what you probably already know, which is that nothing changes if nothing changes!

The same goes for your career. If you are not happy in the job that you’re in, figure out why (is it the specific job, is it the company you work for, is it your immediate manager, etc.?), and then once you know that, respond accordingly. Either find a different job, find a different company, or find a different manager. Or if it’s the field that you’re working in that you’re not happy with, then change fields; yes, that’s probably going to take some time, and involve retraining, but while that’s time consuming it’s not significantly complicated… that’s the process that shows you the way to change fields, and it’s up to you whether you’re going to choose to take it or if you’re going to allow yourself to get dragged down by fear, insecurity, and resistance (all of which will make the situation seem far more complicated than it actually is). 

So the overarching message here is just to look at the most straightforward solution to any issues that you’re dealing with. End of sentence. It really doesn’t need to be more complicated than that! There will always be challenges to deal with along the way, and even potentially obstacles that you have to overcome (like how to support yourself financially while you retrain), but all of that stuff can be figured out! 

And so, that brings me to the next part of this episode…

Why is simplicity important?

So, at its core, simplicity is about stripping away all of the unnecessary crap and the distractions that are all around us to make room for what truly matters; in other words, it’s about the quality of your life and how you live each day. It involves focusing on the essentials and letting go of the clutter that complicates your life. When you consciously embrace simplicity, you’re choosing to create space — space to breathe, space to think, space to focus on your priorities, and space to be the best version of yourself possible.

Think of it this way: life is a bit like a garden. If it’s overrun with weeds and tangled vines, then it’s hard for the flowers to bloom. But when you clear out the weeds and give the flowers room to grow, they can thrive. And similarly, when you remove distractions, drama, and excess from your life, you create an environment where you can truly flourish.

In practical terms, simplicity looks and feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s having a clean and organised space, where you know where everything is and you’re not overwhelmed by clutter. It’s about making intentional choices about how you spend your time, focusing on activities and relationships that bring you joy and fulfilment rather than spreading yourself too thin or putting yourself in situations that don’t make you feel good about yourself. It’s about having clear goals and priorities, so that you’re not being constantly pulled in different directions. And it’s about making choices that feed your soul, rather than just your ego (or that part of you that’s worried about missing out on what everyone else is doing).

When you choose simplicity, you’re also choosing clarity. Decisions become easier because you’re not bogged down by too many options or distractions. Your mind feels more at ease, and stress levels decrease because you’re not constantly juggling too much. Simplicity allows you to be more present and engaged in the moment, which can lead to deeper connections with the people and activities that matter most to you.

Picture a day where you’re not rushing from one task to the next, but rather moving through your activities with purpose and calm. Imagine a home that feels like a sanctuary, free from clutter and chaos. Envision a schedule that includes time for both productivity and relaxation, without the constant pressure of an overloaded to-do list. That’s what simplicity feels like — it’s a life that’s more manageable, more enjoyable, and ultimately more meaningful.

Choosing simplicity doesn’t mean giving up everything you love or becoming a minimalist if that’s not your style. It’s about finding the right balance for you and making deliberate choices that align with your values and goals. It could mean saying no to extra commitments that don’t serve your priorities, or it might mean decluttering your home to create a more peaceful environment. For me, it’s about being very clear on my top three to five priorities (which I review monthly) and reminding myself of them every single day, so that they form the basis of all the choices I make about what I do or don’t do; if something doesn’t align with my priorities, then I give myself permission to let it go. One of my main priorities is to live a life that’s free of drama, and so that has a huge impact on what and who I allow into my life. 

Choosing to keep things simple and straightforward, and focusing your energy on your main priorities (without feeling the need to get invested in all the other noise that goes on around you), serves to create breathing space in your life so you can live more fully and with fewer distractions. When you do this, you’re the one in control and in doing so you’re creating a life for yourself that’s not just simpler, but also much richer and a lot more fulfilling.

How do you do that? Well that’s a great question that I’m about to answer, however first let’s take a short break to hear from the brands that help me create this show each week.

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And welcome back! Now let’s talk about…

How to embrace simplicity

OK, so let’s first start with clarify your priorities — and this is about being really clear on what truly matters to you, which makes it a lot easier for you to make choices that align with your priorities and it gives you a clear framework for decision-making (as well as reducing the noise of external pressures and distractions). I want to encourage you in a moment to take a few minutes to identify and list your main five priorities; feel free to pause this episode while you do that, but first let me just quickly say that a lot of us tend to think we know what all of our main priorities are, and you probably do for the most part, but in my experience coaching and counselling people I often see that this tends to take a bit more thought than we might realise; usually we can easily name our top one or two priorities (like probably your partner, or your pets, or your children if you have them) but then things start to get a little more challenging as you fill out that list of your five main priorities (and sorry but you don’t get to list your pets or your kids individually!). The first few times I did this I found it hard as well, and it’s the reason why I now come back and review my priorities every month because it’s important to be clear about what matters to you and why. OK, enough talk from me, take a few minutes and reflect on what brings you joy and fulfilment, and write down your top five priorities… here’s some brief thinking music! EXTENDED PAUSE OK, so, how was that? Hopefully you now have a clear idea of the things that matter the most to you (especially if you had to narrow your list down to just the main five things) and so you can use these as a guide to steer your life in a direction that feels authentic and meaningful; keep that list handy and use it daily as a reminder to focus your energy on what matters most (and I’m also going to ask you to refer back to that list in the next episode, where we start setting specific goals to help you move forward with changing your life). OK, so my next tip is… 

Focus on quality over quantity — and so this is about consciously shifting your mindset to value quality over quantity in all aspects of your life, like your relationships, your possessions, and even the activities you do and how you fill your time. Prioritising the quality of things leads to a more fulfilling and less cluttered life. You can do that by choosing to focus on cultivating deep and meaningful relationships, investing in better-quality items that last (or not buying cheap tat off of the internet that falls apart three seconds after you open the package), and actively engaging in activities that genuinely enrich your life. And just a reminder that you don’t actually need more, more, more — more things, more relationships, more commitments — because all that does is bring more distractions, more drama, and more emotional exhaustion. Since choosing to prioritise quality over quantity as a central focus of my life, I have never felt greater peace of mind; don’t get me wrong here, I’m no minimalist (you only need to see the ever-increasing collection of Funko Pops that are filling up the shelves of my office for proof of that!) but I’m much more intentional in my purchases these days, and I focus only on things that bring me joy (I’m sort-of like Marie Kondo if she was a lot less enthusiastic about housework, swore a lot, and was a man). Alright, moving on, so my next tip is…

Simplify your goals — and yes, I’m well aware we haven’t gotten into the subject of goal-setting just yet in this podcast (it’s coming next episode), but I’m sure that you already have some goals in mind or maybe even goals that you’re already working on, and so I want to encourage you to not try to bite off more than you can chew or tackle everything at once… because the simplest approach is most often the best. And what is the simplest approach? Well, it’s to break down your long-term goals into smaller, more manageable steps so that you can then work on them one step at a time. Why? Because it makes the path to achieving your objectives clearer and less overwhelming. Create a roadmap with specific, actionable milestones and then focus on one step at a time; taking this approach allows you to celebrate incremental progress and that, in turn, helps you to stay motivated without feeling too daunted or overwhelmed by the bigger picture of everything that needs to be achieved. We’ll go through goals in a lot more detail next week, so if you haven’t already hit ‘follow’ on your preferred podcast service then please do so… and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. OK, next…

Streamline your focus — rather than having a long list of things that you’re focusing on, choose instead to focus on just a few key objectives that align with your values and priorities; realistically, two or three should be more than enough if you want to be able to give things enough of your attention to do them well, instead of juggling too many different things and not being able to give enough of yourself to all of them. I’m not necessarily talking about goals here (although it can be) but more about where your energy goes. For example, I’m working on my main podcast (Let’s Talk About Mental Health) and this one, and a book, and then clients… and so that’s my limit, because otherwise I’ll end up spreading myself too thin and then everything suffers. This type of streamlined focus really helps because it ensures that your efforts are concentrated and more effective, rather than being scattered and diluted. Write down your top three focus areas and create a clear, actionable plan for each. Review and adjust them regularly to stay on track and aligned with your priorities; this is something I tend to do quarterly (and I review how it’s going each month). OK, next… 

Embrace the power of saying no — learning to say no is an incredibly powerful tool in simplifying your life. It allows you to protect your time and energy for the things that truly matter, instead of becoming overwhelmed by commitments that don’t align with your priorities. Practice saying no to requests that don’t serve your goals… and remember that every time you say no to something, you’re saying yes to something more important. Next…

Refine your decision-making — in other words, adopt simple strategies to help make your decision-making process easier, which reduces decision fatigue and allows you to focus your mental energy on what really matters. Create routines for daily decisions, like what to wear or what to eat, and establish clear criteria for bigger decisions based on your values and goals. I know this sounds really mundane, but I’m self-employed and I work from home and so one of the best things I ever did was to adopt a simple work wardrobe of jeans, t-shirt, and a hoody… it might sound obvious to a lot of you but keeping things as minimal as possible means less ironing and less time wasted in the morning figuring out what I’m going to wear (and besides, I used to work in the corporate sector so being able to dress comfortably for work every day feels like my own little reward for setting up my own business!). The whole point here is to streamline your choices as much as possible so that you can make life easier for yourself; the less decisions you need to make, the more space you free up in your mind. OK, next…

Foster gratitude and contentment — and these are key components of a positive mindset (which was the subject of Episode 3), and the piece here is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude and contentment for what you already have, because it shifts your focus from wanting more to appreciating what you already possess… and that leads to a simpler and more satisfied life. There are lots of simple ways to do this; you could start a gratitude journal where you write down five things you’re grateful for each day if that works for you (I like to spend a few minutes reflecting quietly each morning while I have my coffee, and I make a list of the things I feel grateful for on my phone). However you choose to do it, gratitude practice helps you see the abundance that already exists in your life and that, in turn, reduces the desire for unnecessary additions. OK, next…

Embrace the journey, not just the destination — because life really is about the journey, and what you learn along the way… reaching your destination is just the cherry on top! Consciously shift your mindset to appreciate the process of growth and change, rather than just the end results, which reduces the pressure to achieve and allows you to find greater joy in the everyday steps you take towards your goals. A simple way to do this is to reflect on your progress regularly and celebrate the small victories along the way. This type of mindset helps you stay motivated and engaged, without becoming overwhelmed by the big picture. Next… 

Focus on what’s within your control — concentrate your energy on what you can control and let go of what you cannot, which reduces stress and empowers you to take effective action (instead of banging your head against the wall trying to change things that you just can’t change, like what other people do and say… you can only control what you do and say!). Identify areas of your life where you have direct influence (like your actions, reactions, and decisions) and put your energy into making choices that align with what you want to achieve. By focusing on what’s within your direct control, you can simplify your efforts and make more impactful changes, rather than wasting your energy on external factors beyond your control. OK, next…

Adopt a proactive mindset — and that means making a conscious shift from a reactive mindset to a proactive one, where you actively take the initiative to shape your life instead of just responding to events if and when they happen. This gives you a greater sense of control and a stronger sense of direction in your life. Set aside time for planning and goal-setting, and regularly review your progress. By anticipating challenges and opportunities, you can prepare and act with intention, leading to a simpler and more thoughtfully-managed life. Next…

Be more present — developing your ability to be more in the present (instead of being distracted by the past or worried about the future) helps you to be more mindful of the choices you make and how they align to the bigger picture of what really matters to you, and it reduces the mental clutter and stress that come from constantly thinking about the past or worrying about the future. You can start with simple mindfulness practices, like paying full attention to your breath or your surroundings for a few minutes each day, which will train your mind to be more present and aware. Speaking of being mindful, my next tip is…

Practice intentional consumption — and that means choosing to be intentional about what you consume, whether that’s food, media, or material goods. Taking a more mindful approach helps because it reduces the overwhelm and clutter in your life and encourages healthier, more meaningful choices. Evaluate your consumption habits and ask yourself if each item or activity brings value and joy to your life, and make conscious decisions to consume only what truly benefits you. OK, next… 

Limit information overload — it’s easy to become overwhelmed with information from various sources, especially since we’re always connected through our phones. Limiting information overload helps because it allows you to focus on what’s truly important and reduces mental fatigue. Be selective about the news sources, social media, and other content you consume. For example, limit the amount of news you watch and only get your news from reputable sources that fact-check their information and who present a fair and balanced view of events. Set specific times to check your email or social media, and avoid constant scrolling. Curate the information you consume to include only stuff that adds genuine value to your life and which aligns with your goals. OK, next…

Prioritise rest and recovery — recognise the importance of rest and recovery in maintaining a simple and balanced life, because it ensures you have the energy and mental clarity to focus on what matters most; after all, you can’t fill from an empty cup and if you’re running on empty (in terms of physical energy or emotional energy, or both) then you’re going to have a tough time making real progress. Schedule regular breaks and downtime into your routine, and make sleep a priority. Have a good balance of passive resting activities (like watching TV) versus more active resting activities, like reading or creating; if you just watch TV to relax, your brain isn’t getting all of the stimulation it needs to recharge itself. When you’re well-rested and your internal batteries are regularly recharged, you’re better equipped to handle life’s challenges and stay focused on your goals. OK, next…

Establish clear boundaries — setting clear boundaries (and sticking to them!) is crucial for maintaining simplicity and protecting your well-being, because it ensures that you’re not overextending yourself so that you can focus on what matters most. Determine what your limits are in both personal and professional contexts and then communicate them clearly to others. Whether it’s setting work hours and sticking to them, protecting your personal time, or having clear digital boundaries, making your limits known helps to prevent burnout and it preserves your energy for your priorities. Next…

Simplify your commitments — take stock of your current commitments and evaluate whether they align with your values and goals. Simplifying your commitments helps a lot because it reduces unnecessary stress and creates more space for what truly matters. You can do this by listing all your obligations and categorising them based on importance and alignment with your values and priorities. Gradually reduce or eliminate commitments that don’t serve your long-term vision, and focus on those that bring you joy and fulfilment. OK, next… 

Create and maintain a simple and joyful environment for yourself — because your surroundings can significantly impact your mood and productivity. Surround yourself with items that bring you happiness and serve a purpose, and remove anything that adds unnecessary stress or distraction. This could mean decluttering your workspace, incorporating elements of nature, or designing a living space that feels calming and inspiring. Your space has a direct impact on how you feel, so put some thought into what feels right for you (or do a bit of research online to find some inspiration if you’re not sure). Next… 

Reflect regularly — make reflection a regular practice to stay aligned with your values and priorities, because it provides insight into what’s working, what isn’t, and where adjustments are needed. Spend a few minutes each evening to consider how the day went and what you learned, and set aside time each week or month to review your progress, reflect on your experiences, and plan for the future. I have a simple daily reflection tool that can help you do this in a structured way, and it’s available to buy in my store (it’s linked in the episode description). Making reflection a regular habit ensures that you remain intentional in your actions and it helps you to continuously refine your approach to creating a simple and meaningful life for yourself.

Summary & Conclusion

So, the main thing I’d like to leave you with today is this:

Embracing simplicity is about creating a life for yourself that feels more manageable, purposeful, and genuinely fulfilling. By focusing on what truly matters to you, giving yourself permission to not focus on anything that doesn’t matter to you, letting go of unnecessary clutter (whether that’s physical or emotional clutter), and consciously aligning your actions with your core priorities, you can find greater clarity and peace of mind. Remember, the simplest solutions often bring the most profound changes. So, take a moment to reflect on where you can introduce simplicity into your life and start making those intentional choices today. You’re in control, and every step you take towards a simpler life is a step towards a more satisfying and meaningful existence. Keep it simple, stay focused, and watch as your life transforms in beautiful ways. You’ve got this!

So, by way of closing out, each week I like to share a quote that’s relevant to the subject; I love this one about simplicity by an unknown author, and it is: “There is beauty in simplicity.”

Alright… that’s it for this episode; next week I’ll be talking about how to start finding your joy by setting goals to achieve what you want to in life. Being clear about your goals helps you to have a better understanding of what you’re working towards and why, and then it’s about working through them to create a more detailed plan that you then follow through on one step at a time. So, next time I’ll be talking about what goals are (and what they’re not), why goals matter, and how to create meaningful goals.

I hope you’ll join me for that episode; hit ‘follow’ on your preferred podcast platform so you never miss an episode (and turn on notifications; I release new episodes on Wednesdays); as I’ve said previously, I’m committing to 12 episodes for this first season, and then we’ll see what happens from there. 

If this episode was helpful, please give it a like so other people can find it and leave me a note to tell me what you thought; if you’re on Spotify scroll down and leave a comment in the Q&A section below, or you can find me on Instagram @itsjeremygodwin. Sign up to my mailing list for free at itsjeremygodwin.com to have episode transcripts and audio emailed to you each week, and support me on Patreon for early access to ad-free episodes of all of my podcasts; you’ll find all of those links in the episode description.

Thank you very much for joining me today! Have an absolutely fantastic day, night, whatever it is when you’re listening, and I’ll talk to you next time. Take care!

Change Your Life! is an independent program proudly produced by Reconnaissance Media. For more information, visit reconnaissancemedia.com