Are we sacrificing simplicity for modern-day conveniences?
convenience and simplicity
Who doesn’t love convenience?
I know I do.
Naturally, we’re drawn to the allure of anything that makes riding the waves of life a little easier.
But are we drowning in the sea of stuff?
When I reminisce on my corporate 9-5 life (or **correction** nine-midnight life) one thing comes clear- I was drowning. Drowning in workloads, clutter, opinions, takeaways, personal troubles and cigarettes.
If you’ve read any of my previous articles, you know that during this period, my mental health sank. I’d ignore what was really going on with me and wrap a plaster on my issues by consuming more. I’d read more articles, ingest more information, buy more stuff, and eat more sh*t to make myself feel better. When we are caught in the chaos, all we want is the simple answer.
I was convinced that these things would help me through the rut and make life more convenient and easier!
In reality, I was only adding more weight to my anchor.
The Allure of Convenience
These days, I can have my favourite meal cooked for me at the click of a button and delivered within an hour. I can order that gift I forgot for my colleague’s leaving party via next-day delivery. If I ‘need’ a new outfit for an event, I have access to a selection of clothing apps that even allow me to return for free if they don’t fit.
Our new world is synonymous with convenience, and we love it- why wouldn’t we?
In this week’s post, I want to talk about the paradox of convenience and simplicity and the impacts on our mental and physical health- particularly why more convenience doesn’t necessarily equal simpler living.
In fact, these modern-day conveniences seem to make us lazier, less grateful and more entitled. From where I stand, for every new stride we take towards more technological advancement and convenient living, we take two steps back. From brain-dead scrolling to an epidemic of loneliness and dissatisfaction, we’re in a dichotomy to balance simplicity and convenience.
For us to unlock the secrets of a simpler life, I think we should learn how to strike the balance between convenience and simplicity.
Convenience vs Simplicity: A Paradox
In 2026, creating a simpler life might be on your list of desires- especially with how noisy life is at the moment. Somewhere in this pursuit, we’ve been duped into thinking that more convenience will bring us more simplicity.
How does this tie in with our general happiness?
Gratitude:
“None is more impoverished than the one who has no gratitude. Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy”
– Fred de witt van Amburgh
I still remember the 30 movies we had on video cassette and, excluding channels 1-5, that was all we had to watch. I remember in those days, just how little we’d argue over what to watch. Every single one of those videos was loved and appreciated, even if I’d seen them 50+ times before.
Fast forward to 2026, my family spend more time picking a film than actually watching it. With instant access to applications from Netflix to Prime to NowTV, HBO and all the iplayers- how can one pick?
Besides, once we have, it seems we all end up on the sofa staring at our phone screens anyway.
Sound like simplicity?
Mental Health
Further, the more we rely on convenience, the more we lose control over our lives and our ability to think and do things for ourselves. The apps take care of that now!
From movies to music, travel, food and money. With so many options available, we are often left feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed by choice.
One of the major reasons to travel long-term is because it helps us realise how dependent we are on home comforts like technology and social media. Living this way, allows us to realise that joy comes in random moments. Like a good chat with a stranger, appreciating the food that’s available, or having more time to simply enjoy.
In the process of attaining more convenience, we’re moving further and further away from the things that ACTUALLY make life simple & joyful.
Environmental Impact:
On the topic of nature. Convenience culture also hurts the environment and, therefore us. From single-use plastic to excessive packaging, the convenience economy generates a lot of waste. This waste is harming the environment and even affecting our health in the long run. I’d want to go into this point deeper in another post, so for now, consider the thought:
Is this thing I’m buying actually going to add any value to my life? Or just more trash to the planet?
Finding the Balance
“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance”- Eckhart Tolle
While more choices are exciting and equally destructive to our joy and gratitude.
Now I’m not saying convenience is all bad. But considering all, are our lives really becoming simpler with added convenience? Or a heavier anchor pulling us deeper into our own insecurities?
Instead, we can look for a simpler life by reducing our reliance on convenience and being mindful of our choices. We can start by taking small steps like reducing our use of single-use plastics or choosing to walk instead of using a car.
Even these small changes can help us lead a more fulfilling and simpler life.
Final thought: Inconvenience
Are we here for it all to be easy? Or are we here for an adventure?
When I’m in London, it’s easy to sink into the belief that consuming more things on social media and delivery apps makes my life more enjoyable. That everyone else owns things I desire. But that instant gratification leads to stress and anxiety. As more time passes, I become impatient and struggle with delayed gratification, leading to a lack of peace and feeling satisfied.
My life now, is a more inconvenient one, but one of adventure.
In living without constant access to convenience, I am challenged in ways that push me outside of my comfort zone, which allows me to learn and grow. As well as encountering more adventures! In doing so, I take a sense of ownership for who I am as inconvenience challenges me to overcome my edges and fears.
I challenge you to ask yourself: Can I reject convenience? At least somewhere in my life?
Can I find this same thing 2nd-hand? Through platforms like FB Marketplace & Olio?
Could less convenience create more wisdom, growth and simplicity for myself?
Take some time to reflect on these questions, and consider making small changes to simplify your life. You might be surprised at the positive impact it can have.
Did you enjoy todays article? If so please consider buying me a coffee to support my work. P.S. If you’re about to enter a new chapter and want support, I have a few 1:1 coaching slots available. Thank you for being here and see you next time.
Hola, Sophia here! A former career girl turned slow traveller, writer, and thought partner with a passion for helping people reconnect with themselves and their purpose. After years of living a cluttered, fear-driven life, I started travelling solo and slow on a one-way ticket. Most travellers like to tick boxes and follow itineraries. I like to go slow, explore and improvise- unveiling the magic and lessons from a simple life at home and on the road.