Issue #233: The Allure of Simplicity (and Why It Feels Impossible to Achieve)

Less busywork, more living.

💿 ‘Shhugar’ by Baby Nova: Ever since “Dodge” caught my attention in a Spotify playlist, I’ve been listening to this debut album by Canadian artist, Baby Nova that blends cutting reflections reminiscent of early Kacey Musgraves or Maren Morris (“I worship the myth I made out of you”), with a brooding, Lana Del Rey sound. I’m surprised more people aren’t talking about it??

🍫 Rise Bars in Chocolate Almond: I’ve mentioned these bars before here, but I’m not sure I conveyed just how obsessed with them I am. They’re made with only four ingredients, but have a perfect texture (it doesn’t stick to your molars like RX Bars) and the honey-chocolate flavor is delicious and tastes like a dessert, without being too sweet. (Their other flavors, not so much.) P.S. The code RISE15 gets you 15% off—I don’t get anything from this, just sharing so you don’t have to sign up for their marketing emails to get the discount!

⏰ Setting a timer to read for 10 minutes: On evenings when I don’t have plans, I often spend an hour in the evening reading on the couch. It’s my favorite indulgence (and so much better for my insomnia than watching television, it’s crazy). I’ve also started taking breaks during the day to read, with a timer set for just ten minutes. It’s amazing how much even the ten-minute pause can reset my nervous system (similar, I imagine, to what most people experience from meditating).

By the time I arrived, the porch was so packed that I had to squeeze my way through people to reach the table with a thermos of coffee and a loaf of sourdough bread. I sawed off a slice, then turned to introduce myself to the people nearest me. Every week, my friend sends out an invite for coffee and bread on his porch, bring your own mug. There are no bells and whistles, outside of the minimal A-frame sign he places on the curb, welcoming in curious neighbors, but it has become one of my favorite weekly rituals—and I’m not alone. You can hear the laughter and conversation from a block away and often people stay for hours, only leaving once they’re already late for work despite the cold.

What strikes me about this gathering is just how simple the offering is: a spot to escape the rain, warm coffee, and conversation. Consider this in contrast to the fact that I wrote a post in 2024 about “unfussy hosting” that literally included ten steps and hours of prep… like, so unfussy.

Issue #174: My 10-Step Guide to Hosting an Unfussy Dinner Party

The promise of simplicity is alluring—it’s one of making fewer decisions during the day and having fewer responsibilities so I can dedicate more time and energy toward the things and people that actually matter to me. This promise of simplicity is at the heart of lifestyle media, often popping up as capsule wardrobes, streamlined routines, and meal prep. It’s the fantasy that as soon as I crack the code on my daily schedule and dinner prep, I’ll be able to sit on the couch with a good book at the end of the day, candle lit, laundry folded, dinner put away. But simplicity, in this form, is rarely about doing less so much as it is performing perfection and this pursuit of perfection creates far more traps than it does rewards.