Celebrating Simplicity

Each year, on July 12, we celebrate National Simplicity Day. We joke, here at the Simplicity, that this is our day.

This is the day to step back, take a deep breath and declutter our lives. Look at things from a  perspective and simplify our daily life. We will share some tips to celebrate today and introduce our Simplicity platform that celebrates simplicity every day.

Today honors the thinking of Henry David Thoreau, born on this day in 1817. He was a famous author, environmentalist, abolitionist, transcendentalist, and much more. At the core of transcendentalism is a belief that we are inherently good, and we are at our best when independent. His most famous work is his book Walden where he describes his two years, two months, and two days spent in solitude in a tiny cabin by Walden Pond, surrounded by woodland.

I am not necessarily telling you to suddenly move to the middle of nowhere. Just take a day to pause, stop rushing trying to accomplish a million things, and spend some time living in the moment. Free yourself of thoughts and things you don’t need in your life.

We are surrounded by ads. We are constantly spammed by the next best thing. Consumerism seems to rule the world. Technology has been a great help to humanity, but in many ways has only made our lives more hectic and stressful. Sadly, the idea of making lives simpler rarely gets enough attention.

Making things simpler is precisely our goal. Two young men, Juraj Gago and Andrej Krúpa, created the Simplicity communication platform to improve the quality of life in their city and community. The city and local agencies became able to connect with the residents – share their announcements and notifications that would otherwise get lost, and keep everyone up to date.

Furthermore, it finally gave the citizens the power to voice their suggestions for improvements within their city and be heard.

Suddenly, other cities wanted it as well. The two young Slovaks realized that they could simplify city life all over the world. Their app is now used in over 100 municipalities worldwide.

Via the Simplicity app, the city and local institutions gain a single direct communication channel with the residents. The users evidently find value in the platform as over 60% of them even keep their notifications on. This not only shows that residents are interested in the information they receive, but it makes Simplicity the best channel to reach citizens with time-sensitive news.

• The police department can keep citizens informed, ask for assistance, issue warnings.
• When needed, the fire department can work together with the public and inform residents on proper steps during crises.
• Parks & Recreation and Libraries can share their schedules, opening hours, and events.
• The health department can keep the residents up to date with all the important information, for example, updates regarding COVID-19.
• Schools can communicate directly with parents.
• Local sports teams can keep their fans posted about upcoming matches, line-ups, and scores.
• The transportation department informs residents about schedules, traffic shifts, roadblocks.
• The chamber of commerce can reach local businesses with essential announcements regarding economic development & support.

This way, all announcements, and news are purely from trusted official institutions – no fake news from untrusted or unofficial sources. Through the Simplicity platform, the whole city truly comes together as one. With the app on their phones, residents carry their whole city in their pockets. Communication with the city could hardly be simpler. Thus we are all celebrating this day. At least one day when the idea of making our lives simpler instead of just complicating them gets the much-deserved attention.

1. Take a day off.
2. Take a break from the internet and technology.
3. Spend time in nature.
4. Clean up your home.
5. Donate unwanted items to charity.
6. Practice mindfulness.
7. Spend time with your family and loved ones.
8. Read the book you kept putting off.
9. Help another being.
10. Simplify and improve the quality of life in your city through Simplicity.