Minimalism for Midlife: Autopilot Your Decisions

The Genius of Simplicity

Steve Jobs, the iconic co-founder of Apple, was known for his genius in technology and his unique approach to daily life. He created the world's first one trillion dollar and two trillion-dollar company along with Steve Wozniak.

Apple became the first company with a market capitalization of three trillion dollars in January 2022. But, did you know that one of his secrets to success was wearing the same outfit every day? (Personal disclaimer - I am not quite there yet).

The Power of Routine

Jobs' meteoric rise in the computer and consumer electronics industries in the early 1990s had a lot to do with his leadership. One thing the tech icon did that impacted his management was frequently wear the same outfit. Perform an image search for "Steve Jobs," and you'll continually see him wearing the same three things:

• A black mock turtleneck top

• New Balance sneakers

• Blue jeans

Why the Same Outfit?

One of the wealthiest men in the world, Jobs could certainly have afforded an endless amount of clothing. Yet he continually wore the same things. Why did he do that? It gave him one fewer choice to make every day. This allowed him to free his mind up for other things. He put what would otherwise have been a daily decision on autopilot. He didn't have to spend any mental energy worrying about what he would wear.

The Einstein Effect

How many images of Albert Einstein have you seen that look the same? He reportedly purchased several versions of the same suit so he didn't have to waste any of his considerable brainpower on his daily clothing choices.

Modern-Day Minimalism

In an interview on the NBC Today show, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said he owns about 20 identical gray T-shirts.

Former US President Obama also believes in limiting the number of routine choices he has to make daily. In a 2012 interview with Vanity Fair, he said, "You'll see I wear only gray or blue suits. I'm trying to pare down my decisions. I don't want to make decisions about what I'm eating or wearing because I have too many other decisions to make." (Now, I am moving closer to acceptance).

Should You Try It?

If it's good enough for these successful people, should you try it? Perhaps you should if you want to declutter your mind.

Limit Repetitive Choices

Maybe you don't want to wear the same clothing all the time. That's fine. All I'm suggesting is that when you limit the number of conscious decisions you have to make, there's less going on in your conscious mind. That means fewer things that can collect in your head and lead to clutter.

Autopilot Your Decisions

Move simple decisions to autopilot. This could be what you will wear to work, what you eat each morning, or a specific schedule of activities you will follow at some time during the day. The less mental energy you spend on decision-making, the freer your conscious mind is when you engage in important activities.

Free Your Mind

This is a simple way to reduce the input your mind receives. By reducing the amount you ask your conscious mind to do, you limit the possibility that mental clutter will build up and keep you from performing at your best.

Midlife brother, you already have a lot on your mind, mental clutter only compounds the external clutter. So, while it is important to organize and clean up your home, office, and other environments, start automating systems in your mind.

It could be as simple as having a dedicated space for your keys, cell phone, and sunglasses to avoid losing valuable time searching for them as you head out to your next meeting.

For weekly tips and insights on improving your midlife experiences professionally and personally, listen to my weekly podcast, Midlife Revolution Unleashed, on your favorite podcast channel.