Simplify First
Interrupt mental spirals by finding the simplest real-world decision.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 5
- Confidence
- 96%
Simplify First is a decision filter for interrupting worry and unnecessary complexity. When a mental spiral begins, identify the concrete decision that would change something in the physical world. If no decision is required soon, stop spending cycles on the issue and return when an actionable choice exists. If action is required, ask for the simplest adequate way to solve the problem using what is directly available. This does not mean avoiding effort, ambition, or responsible analysis; it means refusing to manufacture complexity that does not improve the decision. By separating actionable thought from repetitive internal rehearsal, the method recovers attention and redirects it toward controllable work. Repeated use trains a bias toward clarity, proportionate analysis, and practical next steps.
Origin
Kao combined her personal decision filter for worry with Susie Batiz’s idea of choosing to live in “easy world,” calling her interpretation “simplify first.” Extracted from The Jasmine Star Show.
Core principles
- 01Thinking without a pending decision can become wasted motion.
- 02A real-world action matters more than mental rehearsal.
- 03Simple does not mean lazy or unambitious.
- 04Attention should return to controllable work.
- 05The easiest adequate solution deserves consideration first.
How to run it
- 1
Catch the Spiral
Notice repetitive thinking that generates tension without producing new information. Label it as a spiral before following additional hypothetical branches.
Pro tip Use a physical cue, note, or phrase to make the interruption habitual.
Watch out Do not classify all difficult thinking as unproductive merely because it feels uncomfortable.
- 2
Name the Physical-World Decision
Ask what concrete decision or action this thinking will change outside your head. State it in one sentence.
Pro tip Use a decision format such as “I must choose whether to…”
Watch out A vague concern is not yet a decision.
- 3
Check the Timing
Determine whether the decision must be made now or soon. If not, schedule a point for reconsideration and put it aside.
Pro tip Record any useful information before disengaging so you do not feel compelled to remember it.
Watch out Do not use postponement to evade a genuinely time-sensitive decision.
- 4
Ask for the Simplest Adequate Answer
If action is needed, identify the least complicated solution that meets the real requirement. Remove optional steps, imagined expectations, and unnecessary dependencies.
Pro tip Ask, “Do I have to make this this huge complicated thing?”
Watch out Simple solutions must still satisfy legal, ethical, safety, and quality requirements.
- 5
Return Energy to Control
Take the next action you can control and stop rehearsing outcomes you cannot. Reapply the filter if the spiral returns.
Pro tip Define one visible action that can be completed in the current work session.
Watch out Do not mistake controlling your effort for controlling the final outcome.
In the wild
A founder repeatedly imagines how she might respond if a future partner requests major contract changes. No request has been made, so she records the concern and sets it aside until a real proposal creates a decision.
→ She recovers attention for current customer work without losing the ability to address the issue later.
A creator starts planning an elaborate campaign with custom software, multiple funnels, and a large content calendar. After asking for the simplest adequate solution, he chooses one landing page, one live workshop, and direct invitations to existing contacts.
→ The offer reaches customers quickly while avoiding complexity that was not necessary for validation.
Common mistakes
Using Simplicity as Avoidance
Putting an issue aside is appropriate only when no meaningful decision is pending. Delaying an urgent choice preserves worry rather than resolving it.
Equating Easy with Effortless
The method removes needless complexity, not disciplined work. A simple solution may still demand courage and sustained effort.
Ignoring Material Risks
The easiest answer is not adequate if it overlooks safety, ethics, legal obligations, or major downside.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for overthinkers facing recurring worry, branching scenarios, or unnecessarily complicated solutions.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal for urgent safety-critical decisions where simplifying too aggressively could hide consequential risks.
From the transcript
“If I feel myself starting a spiral, I think about what am I going to do in reality?”
“If I'm not going to make a decision on this, then it does not matter if in my own head I'm spending so many cycles…”
“I call it simplify first, and it's just been an amazing way to kind of cut through the clutter of when your mind kind of…”
From the episode
Building Your Dream Business Using What You Have Right Now with Wes Kao
Wes Kao