I have been working on simplifying for twenty years; like exercising, it takes a continuing effort and re-dedication. But I do get a touch of bliss when occasionally I win a small victory in the duel with complexity. After twenty years, my conclusion is that the best way to pursue simplicity is to lower one’s noun count.

A noun, you will recall, is a person, place, or thing. A noun is the object or subject of a verb. Nouns and verbs go together. We each take actions, described with verbs, on our nouns. The more nouns we live with, the more actions we must take—or are at least consider taking. The more actions we take or contemplate, the more complex our lives. “I’m so busy.” To simplify our lives, once again, we reduce our noun counts. Fewer nouns, more simplicity. There is no better way.

Here is why evaluating the number of nouns in our lives is fundamental to simplification. Let’s start with persons. Each person we know requires at least a little time and energy from us. “Hi. How are you?” Friends, as such, take more time and energy than mere acquaintances. Keeping in touch with friends, for example, can run the gamut from phoning them occasionally to having them to dinner at your home. Closer friends and often, family members, typically involve even greater investments. At a bare minimum we try to drop each one a note or greeting card from time to time. Others we visit. Doing so may be a chore or a joy; either way, planning and execution are required. The same is true when people visit us. Add it up. The more persons in our lives, the more complicated our lives. This is not an argument for dumping friends or relatives; it is one small beacon of light on why our time flies. Complexity gobbles minutes… hours… days. One of the main reasons people seek to simplify is that they find they don’t have enough time to do the things they really want to do.

Places, a second kind of noun, also add complexity to living. If we have one place—say, home—we are at a basic level. If we have a home and a nearby boat or plane, our life is somewhat less simple. If we have a home and a boat and a condo somewhere else, we shift to an even more complex level. No matter how quaint or small the additional places, we have more with which to deal. Each and every place demands some attention, including just getting back and forth. In short, concentrating on a single location is simpler than popping around. But, some claim, there is so much to see and learn “over there.” Is there? Perhaps. Ben Franklin observed in 1734: “Those who travel heedlessly from place to place…set out fools and will certainly return so.” (Poor Richard’s Almanac.)

Things, our third form of noun, are the most obvious complexity boosters. Most of us know by now that we don’t own things; they own us! They dictate what we do. From toaster ovens, CDs, and cars…to porch furniture, old skis, and new shoes, each item must be acquired, moved, maintained, thrown away, gifted, stored or sold, and even used from time to time. And I have found one thing tends to attract others, like a magnet attracts paper clips. There is a multiplier effect. If I buy a bike, soon I need all the gear that bikers accumulate. At some point, closets overflow, bookshelves are crowded, or attics are filled. A garage sale is required, or a storage unit somewhere. Meanwhile our hours melt into days, weeks, months, years.

Do we need things? Sure, some. Same with friends and places. But for the sincere, simplicity seeker, pruning these three is fundamental. Try trimming your personal noun count and see if you are comfortable with the additional sunlight.

For those with a mathematical bent, here in summary, is the basic, underlying formula that helps me pursue my goal.

Noun Count x Simplicity Factor = 1000

Our Noun Count multiplied times our individual Simplicity Factor always equals One Thousand.

If you or I have a Noun Count of 100, then our Simplicity Factor is 10. 100 x 10 equals 1000.

If you or I have a Noun Count of 1000, then our Simplicity Factor is much lower; it is 1. 1000 x 1 equals 1000.

In short, the more nouns we have, the lower our Simplicity Factor. The lower the Factor, the more complex our lives. If we lower our noun counts our Simplicity Factor goes up. This is a good thing for serious, simplicity seekers.

Copyright © 2005, 2008 by Steven C. Brandt