Why Have We Made Everything So Complicated? The Case for Simplicity in Work and Life

Life used to be simpler, didn’t it? I’m not just talking about the “good old days,” but rather the way we approach even the most basic tasks now. We’ve surrounded ourselves with rules, technologies, and protocols that have turned simple actions into over-complicated endeavors.

Want to make a phone call? You don’t just pick up the phone anymore—you navigate a handheld computer with apps, swipes, and touchscreens. Want to make lunch? Suddenly it’s not just about slapping a sandwich together; it’s about calculating macros, tracking grams, and blood sugars, and diet guidelines. Washing your hair? Now you’re hunting through ingredient lists, looking for parabens, sulfates, and silicone, trying to figure out if you’re doing more harm than good.

It seems like simplicity has been pushed aside in favor of data, tech, and optimisation. Don’t get me wrong, there’s value in being informed and making healthy choices, but what would our lives look like if we just took a step back and embraced simplicity again?

Simplicity in the Workplace ??

The same complexity is taking over workplaces too. It doesn't even creep anymore. It swoops in with promises of making life easier, higher productivity and better engagement from employees. Endless meetings, countless processes, and the constant pressure to adopt the latest software tools and trends. The ability to be switched on 24 hours a day as we become more globalized in our roles and the world becomes smaller. All of this can leave us feeling overwhelmed, and I often wonder—what if we just simplified things?

From an HR and people management perspective all roads lead back to people, not "things". It’s about relationships, understanding, and communication. When did it become about jumping through hoops of policy and procedure just to get the most basic tasks done? Of course, compliance is important, but it doesn’t have to be so complicated that it stifles productivity or the very culture we’re trying to nurture.

The Human Side of HR ??

I’ve always believed in tailoring HR to fit the specific needs and culture of an organisation. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to people management, but that doesn’t mean we have to make things complex. In fact, understanding people—what motivates them, what supports them—should be a natural, intuitive process, not a bureaucratic maze.

Managers and leaders should have the freedom to focus on building relationships, developing teams, and driving the business forward without being bogged down by over-complicated HR systems. When we strip back the complexity and focus on what really matters—the people—it’s amazing how much smoother everything runs.

Returning to Simple Solutions ??

So, what would happen if we embraced a bit more simplicity in life, and in work? What if we allowed ourselves to step back from the overwhelming data, protocols, and processes, and just focused on what feels right and what works? Maybe we’d be less stressed, more productive, and even a bit happier.

Simplicity doesn’t mean being uninformed or naive—it means making deliberate choices about where we put our energy and focus. We don’t need to over-complicate everything to make progress.

What would our workdays look like if we prioritised simplicity? If we spent less time managing systems and more time managing relationships? Perhaps it’s time we all take a moment to reflect on how we can simplify, not just in life but in business, too.

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