Creating More with Less

My head is working overtime. Reading takes effort. Writing takes effort and the edit takes the most—so why do we add more chaos to the mix?

We live in a world that tells us we need more—more stuff, more options, more stimulation. But I've noticed: we can't buy mental clarity with more stuff. Visual clutter becomes mental clutter. A messy space creates a messy mind.

Finding What Actually Works

I didn't set out to become a minimalist. I just started paying attention to what actually helped my thinking versus what got in the way.

Now my phone has just a few simple apps from messaging, web browser and text to speech. My desk is clear, other than my PC and notebook. The reading corner has whatever book I'm currently reading and a table for tea.

It might not look like much, but it works.

Removing Friction

This isn't about following minimalism rules. It's a process of removing friction between me and creative thought.

I've ended up with very little—not because someone told me to, but because I kept removing things that didn't earn their place in my attention.

The Reality

Reducing clutter isn't magic. I still need to read things multiple times. But now my environment works with me, not against me. There's space to focus on what matters most.

Some days this works so well. Other days I still struggle. But the struggle is with the material, not with the noise around it.

And I think that's progress worth noting.