Keep It Simple: How Radical Simplicity Supercharged My Focus, Energy, and Everyday Discipline
By Hunter Grimm
The Moment the Universe Spoke
I used to scatter my energy like confetti—half-written notes, half-started jobs, half-lived goals. Then a line flashed across my journal: Keep it simple. It felt less like advice, more like an order. I obeyed.
Why Complexity Cripples Progress
Cognitive overload: Too many choices spike cortisol and stall decision-making.
Fragmented dopamine hits: Endless novelty rewires the brain for quick highs, not deep work.
No clear feedback loop: When every metric shifts, growth stays invisible.
My Four-Step Simplicity Framework
StepWhat I DidWhy It Works1. Simplified FuelSame balanced meal at the same time daily, plus 2 gallons of waterConsistent nutrients stabilize blood sugar; hydration boosts neural conductivity.2. Decluttered Digital LifeGrayscale phone, single-task browser, one cloud folderFewer visual cues = fewer dopamine traps = deeper focus.3. Anchored Daily Non-NegotiablesWake, write 3 priorities, post 1 blog, bedtime wind-downRepetition forms basal ganglia “automation” after ~30 days.4. Kept a “Why” CardIndex card: Freedom for my future family; service through Temperance 4 Humanity; health > highs.Purpose activates prefrontal grit when motivation dips.
Results in Just Four Days
40-hour warehouse role landed—no absences
Bought my own car after years on foot or borrowed rides
Brand-new MacBook (instead of tech hand-me-downs)
Daily blog streak that feels effortless, not forced
How I Handle the Hard Days
Zoom Out: I remind myself hell can always get hotter—so today’s fire is training, not torture.
Micro-reset: 90/5 work rhythm + 3 deep breaths resets my nervous system.
Re-read the Why Card: Purpose over panic, every time.
Your Turn: A 7-Day Simplicity Sprint
Day 1: Choose one meal to repeat this week.
Day 2: Set phone to grayscale and hide social apps.
Day 3: Drink at least 3 liters of water.
Day 4: List three top priorities on waking; tackle them in order.
Day 5: Create a single “Why” statement—keep it visible.
Day 6: Schedule identical sleep and wake times.
Day 7: Reflect: What felt lighter? What results surfaced?
Remember: Complexity looks impressive; simplicity wins. Strip away the noise, and your real power finally has room to roar.
Final Thought
I used to believe productivity hacks were about doing more. Turns out the secret was doing less—on repeat—until it feels like breathing. If you’ve been drowning in options, let this post be your sign from the Universe: Keep it simple, and watch your life expand.
