Keep It Stupid Simple

I want less.

I just read this article called The Curse of Knowledge about how experts can be bad at explaining things.

The post was published on the MIT Sloan Blog and quoted a senior lecturer in managerial communications. 

It began with a strong thesis, which resonated with me, but then devolved into expertspeak, which I found ironic but amusing.

“Understand the process of understanding,” it said.

Oy.

I see a similar thing in the health and wellness space.

Experts go deep into the weeds about their subject matter, while obscuring value to a broader audience.

Whether it’s acronyms most people don’t know, biology few understand, supplement debates, nuanced data or whatever.

The world is also getting more complicated and so things are harder to understand even without all the big words.

Complexity is everywhere and it is exhausting.

I Want Less

I am going the other way with this.

I want less.

Less details but more being. 

Less routines but more mindset. 

Less thinking but more doing.

Less optimization but more fun.

Less data but more feeling.

I run pretty fast and I’m getting faster but I don’t really give a flying finch what my VO2 Max is.

There, I said it.

Stupid Simplicity

I am not that bright. Ask people who know me well and they will attest.

I’ve just been around a while, made a lot of mistakes, and figured out how to filter knowledge.

I don’t need most of the highly specialized information. 

It is fascinating and provocative, and I enjoy geeking on it too sometimes, but most of it is incomprehensible and not very useful to anyone except other experts and a very small group of elite athletes.

Instead, I’m keeping it stupid simple.

I want practical educators offering useful information and leading by example.

I don’t need theanine or spirulina or whatever.

I want basics that will allow me to get progressively healthier over time.

Maybe a handful of guidelines that get me most of the way there and fit on an index card.

Finding Your Motivation

One more thing before I get to the index card. 

I do not often hear experts talking about motivation either.

This might be the most important thing, because if we are not motivated, we might not remain dedicated to health over time, especially when things get difficult.

Finding our why can be critical.

Why get healthy? Why stay healthy? What is your motivation?

It’s a thing to give some thought.

I will write more about this before the new year and have described some of mine at the bottom of this post.

Ten Things that Fit on an Index Card

Here are ten things that are pretty straightforward that might help you get incredibly healthy over time. They work for me.