The era of constant connectivity, alerts, and information feeds is one in which finding such moments of stillness is something unique. People nowadays cannot imagine their lives without portable helpers that are always in their pockets—smartphones these days, the line between business and personal life is getting more and more blurred as today’s Catalans work remotely in many cases. These constant streams of information and the permissive boundary between work and personal life require a deliberate change in managing workplaces and personal lives.

This is how you know, ‘less is more,’ and why and how regaining simplicity may rebalance your life.

The noise is deafening

We start the day looking at our phones and receiving emails, notifications, news updates, or posts on our social media pages. Our gadgets require focus, which, apart from making us feel busy, exhausts us. First, this constant input of information does not allow the human mind to ever pull back or have that deep, meaningful interaction with the world and society.

Nevertheless, here is the truth: not all information is relevant, and not any work needs to be done promptly. When people start to practice listening to the relevant and leaving out all the interference, they make room for what contributes.

Trends of flexibility: the blurred boundaries of remote work

Remote work has given us flexibility but at a cost: people no longer have a clear separation, again between the home and the office. With so many of us working from home, it has become impossible to separate the two as we work in the same area where we entertain, eat, or spend time with our loved ones. New emails pop into our inbox at any time of the day—we have constant notifications coming through on Slack, and the flexibility that means that we are available anytime has crept into our free time.

Such merging can result in organizational boundaries being eroded, social relationships becoming tense, and an apparently endless sense of business. Proper work-life balance is not only an ability to divide time between work, family, and personal needs but also rather leveraging psychological screen.

Such a breakdown of barriers leads to constant stress, interpersonal conflicts, and the idea that one is never off duty. It is not just a division, but also a separation of mind where a person performs his duties and services, and in another part, he is his own self.

The Case for "Less is More"

In this regard, it simplifies to say that the less we have, the more we are; it is actually a profound philosophy. Here is how:

Curate your digital diet

Same as with food, inform yourself and be precise about what you take in and who with. Some folks recommend removing themselves from email lists they don’t need, some recommend silencing notifications they don’t need, and some recommend setting certain times of day to check their emails or social media accounts.

Set boundaries

Finally, manage time by seeking to draw a positive line between working and family time. Define working hours and avoid communication with the office after working hours. A distinct place for work can also encourage distal conception.

Prioritize deep work

People planning for the day should avoid multitasking or attending to notifications since these hinder the accomplishment of meaningful activities. It does not only increase the efficiency of doing work, but it also helps in minimizing multiple fatigue due to multitasking.

Embrace downtime

Next, I tell myself it is okay to relax. Fix your gaze upon some object and then read a book, take a walk, or sit quietly. Sometimes this is possible if one takes a few minutes and just wonders or meditates depending on one’s belief, and these moments are normally creative.

Communicate clearly

Make sure everyone at the office knows when and when not to approach you. Being very clear when speaking or writing to the other party can aid in managing expectations and in minimizing demands that you, momentarily, are required to be present at that instance.

Rediscovering balance

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle at work or bringing work home today can only be possible if one is keen. This is more about a change from doing things further to doing that, which is essential. The physical decluttering of our digital and mental spaces and setting rules to those areas will not only help organize our life, but it will improve the quality of our life.

It is possible that simplicity is the ultimate style, meaning that simpler solutions are the best ones. Moreover, there is room to grow in the space that is left free when the clutter and the noise are left behind.