K.I.S.S.- keep it simple stupid

K.I.S.S.- keep it simple stupid

I felt inspired to write this as I am reading a fantastic book and I encourage you to read entitled Extreme Ownership: how US Navy SEALs Lead and Win by Jocko, Willink, and Leaf Babin.

As my girls begin adulting, I want them to realize that as you get older, you will have more and more responsibilities more and more tasks to accomplish each day and the more you streamline and make things simple the more efficient you’ll become.

It’s really easy to get really engrossed in one thing and make it so complex that the planning took longer than the execution. Now, obviously we aren’t Navy Seals however, a good point can be made in their teaching that they abide by the streamlining processes making things clear and concise, so you don’t need to go over and over long drawn-out, explanations that can actually lose focus on what you’re trying to accomplish. I thought I would give some examples as how to relate this in your everyday life.

I had heard that acronym kiss keep it simple, stupid years ago by a friend of mine Jerry Johnson. It was actually a cooking class where she was going over the course that she was preparing for the Thanksgivin meal. Now is not the time to come up with all new extreme recipes that are going to stress you out, and could potentially not be to others liking. We all know what the Thanksgiving meal is: turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad, and of course the rolls. This isn’t the time to take all of those items and make them complicated. I’m not saying that you should not make a little bit more gourmet of a meal. What I’m saying is if you want to try one new thing and it’s not gonna completely stress you out. In general, this time is already pretty stressful so now isn’t the time to put more on your plate.

This concept brings true and many holidays, throwing for birthdays, etc., and to point life in general.

Not only does this ring true for cooking a meal, but it also rings true in daily life. I have heard of women that have created such crazy and meticulous to-do lists that the planning took far longer than had they just gone and done the task not the to-do list. Remember back to the post on the yellow notepad. I keep a yellow notepad on my nightstand before I go to bed. I can write down things that I need to accomplish the next day, my mind and jot it down so that I know I will remember, and therefore I can get a good nights sleep.

In the extreme ownership book, the point to being made was looking at how a business owner made their employee bonus program so complex to understand that it didn’t motivate it confused. Now, even if we aren’t running a business, we can take that same point into our home. In not making things so overly complex that no one understands what they need to do.

Streamline as much as possible. What do I mean by this? When it comes to organizing your home, put things away where they’re going to be used. Put items that are used together next to each other. Example: streamline your kitchen when you are organizing your kitchen make cabinet space for dishes and glasses close to the dishwasher. This makes it simple to unload each day, avoiding a longer process. Have a shelf in the garage to keep all sporting good items next to each other. That will avoid lots of time searching for things that you keep in multiple areas. It will also allow others easy direction where they are expected to put things away.

Pets: pets do understand a routine. Feed them at the same time each day, take them for a walk and allow them to go to the bathroom in the same areas. This becomes a routine for them and makes it easier for them to know what is expected.

Use your phone calendar with set reminder as soon as you are aware of a new event. Whenever I put something in the phone for an appointment, I like to set a one day reminder and a one hour reminder. This way I’m giving a heads up as to where I need to be, and when. This takes all the stress out of the last minute reminder.

Take away for the home:

• The daily to do list in a simple way so that it’s easy to check things off.

• Don’t overcomplicate for others in your home to understand

• Be clear to the point when trying to explain what you were looking for someone to do.

• Simplify tasks and automate as much as possible.

• Make simple habits, daily habits. Everyone will understand timing and what will be done by creating habits. This includes your pets.

KISS keep it simple stupid can be used in so many areas of your life. Life gets busy, especially when you have kids and a home to deal with. By making sure you keep things simple. It takes a lot of stress off your shoulders and allows you to enjoy life, rather than have constant stress. I might’ve been there, and I do know this.

Xo,

Mama