A simple, optimised life. Is it really possible?

Bit like me and my interest in financial independence, investing and making the most of my money.

When I first heard the phrase life optimisation, I wasn’t familiar with it. But I soon realised that it’s what I had naturally been doing for decades anyway – not just regarding money stuff. My mind seems to be wired that way. It naturally wants to make the most of everything. I just didn’t have a name for it before.

I naturally want to find out the most efficient, most economical, most convenient, best value, highest quality thing. Whatever that is, whether it is a material thing or an experience.

Take planning a holiday, for example. I have frequently tackled the summer holiday project like a woman possessed. I want the best hotel for the cheapest price in the nicest location during the most convenient dates for work that coincide with the bank holiday and allow me to fit in some other fun activity I want to do when I get back.

And believe you me, I am always assured that this optimised holiday experience does exist, and I will do my best to find it! After hours, days…well, actually months if I’m honest, I will bring the arrangements together. But in the end, it usually costs more or doesn’t satisfy several things on my list, anyway.

Granted, sometimes we do indeed manage to find the sweet spot. It’s not all gloom and doom, after all. The high quality, designer dress for an upcoming occasion found just at the right time at a massively discounted price. Oh, people, raise your hands to the heavens in joy when such a moment happens!  And sometimes it does. But not that often.

Now, don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing wrong in weighing up the options and wanting best value and all that. Trying to get the best outcome we can afford or manage.

Optimisation as an approach to life

The problem comes when we adopt optimisation as an approach to our whole lives. When we approach every aspect of our lives like the holiday project. Trying to make every part of it the best it can possibly be.

We want to make the most of our time and talents, so we can start a side hustle in our spare time.

While doing up our spare room to rent out on Airbnb, so we can cover our mortgage payments and retire early.

While making sure we get some quiet in our home to meditate or pray to give us the calm we need (despite the fact the Airbnb guests may interrupt us).

While also putting together a proper regular exercise regime and go on a diet, as we are getting a bit flabby and we need to look the absolute best we can be.

While organising that relaxed family trip that the kids will remember. They don’t stay young forever, so you want to live in the moment and enjoy them.

Oh, and we want to declutter our home and simplify our life for our own well-being. And make it easier to manage life without slowly imploding inside.

But my own experience is that we can’t have it all. (Sorry about that, I really am). 

Why I am choosing a simple life over an optimised one

So, after sifting through all the possibilities to optimise my life, I have sorted out the things that are most important to me. Now I am putting these things first and making them my focus.

So, in reality this is what it looks like for me.

I am making time in the morning to be quiet to mediate and pray, but it means I am not making such productive use of my time.

I am not renting out our spare room on Airbnb to pay off the mortgage more speedily, as I value the peace and simplicity that comes with my home just being my home more than I do the money.

I’m spending the money on that trip now, because I value life today as much as I do my dreams for tomorrow. I do not want to take the present for granted. That experience may not be possible in 10 years’ time, if I wait until I am financially independent.

I have learnt that many things are good. Many ideas and opportunities look a fantastic or sensible and efficient solution. These things are not in themselves necessarily bad.

However, pursuing them can lead us to a life that is both busier and overwhelming. Optimisation as an approach to life causes us to treat all factors for consideration as equally important. It asks us to satisfy all the criteria to make our lives the best they can be in every aspect. Optimisation makes our lives overly complicated.

It doesn’t lead to a simpler life with the breathing room that we so desperately crave inside.

I know what I’d rather have.  But you have to make the choice for yourself.