Hey Reader

Recently I’ve been thinking about how easy it is to accidentally overcomplicate things 😅

What starts as a simple plan for a morning routine balloons into a list of +10 things to do.

Our soft expectations for what counts as a "good" weekly meal plan becomes hoops to jump through.

A file sorting system that was supposed to keep us organised ends up being a mission to maintain.

Quickly filling in our habit tracker turns into a scavenger hunt for that specific coloured pen we need.

🤦‍♀️

The fallacy that I all too often fall victim to is the idea that a more detailed system must be a better one.

Detail does of course have its place. Some things, like meal planning that's aligned with specific goals or dietary needs, do benefit from having a more detailed system.

But when we start to overcomplicate too many things, this can leave us mentally drained and even have some physical downsides too!

Let's have a look 👀

The idea - Make things simpler than you think they need to be

When it comes to developing systems, normally the main intention is to give ourselves a structure that helps in some way.

• Our planning system helps us organise the things that need to get done.
• A goal-getting system helps us actually take action on the things we want to achieve.
• Household cleaning systems help us keep our home environment safe and nice to be in.

The problem is often we set up these systems when we're feeling more energised and motivated.

While things don't feel complicated right now, what happens when future-us doesn't have the same energy to give?

The system that initially felt detailed but straightforward becomes something we avoid altogether 🫣

Rather than making a robust system that only works on our best-energy days, we'll usually find more success if we aim for simplicity.

One question we can ask ourselves is:

This doesn't mean we can't do something more in-depth or complex when we're feeling up to it though!

But on the days when we literally can't even, at least we'll have that simpler more streamlined version to rely on.

Another type of complication consequence

While we've mostly talked about the mental overwhelm that comes from a complicated system, there can also be physical consequences too:

• A highly detailed household cleaning process = overstocked inventory of cleaning materials and chemicals
• A super structured storage system = things left out when we don't have the energy to sort "properly"
• Rigid expectations for what "putting away" laundry looks like = clean clothes sitting out rather than being put away

Naturally, these physical consequences can also end up adding extra mental ones for us 😝 Now we're not just dealing with the overwhelm of the complex system, but also the mental burden from the physical stuff too!

My recent simplification (and limited-time offer)

This quarter, I've been simplifying my work outputs. The aim was to make things not only more manageable for future-me, but also make the things I'm still doing more valuable to you.

Don't worry, these newsletters and the video content we have on YouTube isn't going anywhere.

Something that is closing though is EPIC Goals.

While I will be shutting down the hosting platform for the course, I did want to offer last minute access to you.

I've taken all the lessons from the course, as well as the workbook and other bonus materials, and bundled them into a discounted downloadable package for you.

You'll be able to watch the videos lessons and use the digital files with every iteration of your future goal setting and planning, without having to access the hosting space that is closing for good.

This offer is only for one week, so if you want full guidance on getting your Quarter 3 or end of year goals organised, grab the course before it's gone 🏃‍♀️

Keeping it simple

There are a lot of ways we can simplify our everyday processes (and I suppose...a lot of ways we can overcomplicate them 😂). Some include:

• Planning system: Set up your planner so it only needs one pen to fill in
• Cleaning system: Reduce your cleaning supplies to the handful of multi-purpose items that actually get the job done
• Laundry system: Only fold or hang the clothes that really need it, put the rest unfolded in the drawer
• Meal planning system: Aim to pick 5 out of 7 meal for the week from your go-to favourites
• Digital file organisation system: Use clear and simple naming conventions with a minimal folder structure

Which simplifications will work best for you really depends on your specific situation, but hopefully these ideas can help you find ones that will have payoff!

Let's take action

Thinking about a process you've either recently set up or are trying to establish, ask yourself:

This isn't about setting our expectations so low that anything we're doing doesn't make a difference.

Until next time!

- Jess