Minimalism seems to be the new thing-that-was-the-new-thing-before-this-thing. Particular in productivity and personal development. Everyone seems to be getting a bit too amorous with dramatic pictures of an Ikea desks with nothing on them other than a MacBook Pro and an iPhone. “You get more done when there is less around”. Quite.
And ever since that Leo chap became such a proponent of the discipline that he removed the unnecessary letters from his domain name, personal development has grabbed minimalism by it scrotum and pulled it to its bosom.
And that is fine. I mean, everyones desk could do with a bit of a tidy couldn’t it. Stray pencils and flyers from pizza vendors shouldn’t litter ones workspace. Certainly not. I’m a GTD black belt and actually have a ‘take away flyers’ folder, and a draw just for pencils. Seriously.
But what gets particularly on my mammaries, is people confusing minimalism with simplicity. Minimalism is about having less stuff. De-cluttering. It is, and I say this with pun fully-intended, the emperors new clothes. I’m not saying it isn’t useful, I’m just saying that it shouldn’t be used a a proxy for simplicity.
Simplicity is not about having less – although that is one possible outcome. It is about having only what you need to do a job. It is about doing that job in the most efficient manner. And it is about ensuring that outcome of that job is limited to only that which is needed.
For example, I have three calculators in my draw – one which has big buttons and only numbers and the basic functions, one which has more advance mathematical terms, and one fancy-nancy one with a big screen and an array of abilities I’ll never get to the bottom of. Minimalism would dictate that I only need one of these calculators – the advanced one does all the other do and more. Simplicity however, says that each has their own niche circumstance and should be kept ready for when they are need most.
You see, it is wholly about necessity. You may need to keep your desk a mess because it allows you all your tools at your finger tips. You may need 10 different blue pens as each does a different job best. Simplicity is about challenging ourselves with “Is this the best way?” – and if it is, then amen.
So give simplicity a shake, and minimalism a miss. Because having what we need, is better that a pretty desk that photographs well.
