Psychology and Simplicity: Keep It Simple

Psychology and Simplicity

We humans, tend to make things complicated. Whether it is relationships, decisions, work, or our own emotions, we tend to overthink, overanalyse, and overexplain. Yet in both psychological practice and everyday life, the clearest path forward is often the simplest one.

Simplicity helps create cognitive space. When we reduce unnecessary complexity, we reduce cognitive load, which supports clearer thinking, calmer emotional states, and more workable decision-making. Research shows that lowering cognitive load improves focus, reduces mental fatigue, and supports more adaptive behaviour patterns^[1][2].

Our Brains Prefer Simple

When life feels overwhelming, clarity functions like oxygen. Simplifying tasks, expectations, or emotional demands reduces mental clutter. This helps the mind move from reactive states to more grounded, deliberate responses.

Intentional simplicity also soothes the autonomic nervous system. Reducing internal and external complexity supports a shift toward neurophysiological states associated with calm and safety, consistent with polyvagal theory and related research on self-regulation ^[3].

Simple Psychological Skills That Work

Some of the most reliable therapeutic skills are simple, memorable, and easy to apply. These include grounding, present moment awareness, self-reflection, and values-based micro actions. Examples include:

Breathe

Notice your thoughts

Accept what you cannot control

Focus on what matters

Pay attention to what you are sensing

Feel your bottom on the chair

Feel your feet on the ground

Ask yourself: What do I need right now

Ask: What is one small step I can take

Ask: What really matters to me in this moment

There Is Wisdom in Resisting the Urge to Overcomplicate

Simplicity will not solve every challenge, and it does not remove the reality of complex circumstances. However, simplicity reduces unnecessary mental load and helps reveal a clearer way forward. It offers a practical, workable pathway through moments of stress, overwhelm, or indecision.

When you feel stuck or tangled in your thoughts, try pausing, breathing, and stripping things back to the essentials. Sometimes the simplest step is the most effective one.

References

Sweller, J., van Merrienboer, J., & Paas, F. (2019). Cognitive architecture and instructional design. Educational Psychology Review, 31(2), 261 to 292. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-019-09465-5

Levitin, D. J. (2021). Attention, memory, and the divided brain. Cerebrum, 2021(2), 1 to 12. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/h9yct

Porges, S. W. (2021). Polyvagal theory: A science of safety. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 15, 1 to 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2021.697017

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