Simplicity
I am currently reading "Unplugged" by Nicholas Bate, one of the books recently purchased for January - although I won't finish them all within the month. The first principle of living unplugged is simplicity - where things are straight forward - not to be confused with simplistic.
It immediately resonated and I realised that, not only is it something I wish to strive for, but that I have been tinkering around the edges of for a while.
The past few years have seen me have less apps installed on my phone, less notifications enabled and, as my phone gets smarter, the less I use it for.
Recent birthdays and Christmases have left family frustrated as when asked what I want I have replied "I don't know as I don't really need anything."
I want to reduce rather than gain, both physical and mental clutter; reduction rather than minimalism, working out exactly what I need or, as Patrick Rhone calls it, having enough. Enough is as individual as we are; enough means knowing what's right for ourselves; enough is knowing what's next rather than a confusing multitude of choices.
Minimalism may work for some but minimalism for the sake of it, in my opinion, only leaves cold, empty spaces, devoid of life and character. I want to simplify not exclude, live not deprive, and minimalism would not allow me to do that.
@colinwalker I'm in the same place as you. I don't really need more stuff in my life, and I'm finding that I can get along just find with a lot less than I used to think.
On the topic of phones, if I were to go totally minimal, I'd get one of these: https://www.punkt.ch/en/products/mp02-4g-mobile-phone/. So cool.
I don't know if could go that far.
@colinwalker The word "enough" is a beautiful one. I've been toying with making it my word for the year.
Yeah, I probably couldn't either (my wife and I share a grocery shopping app now), but I like the thought of it. :)