The Simple Life | Dr. Nikeya Young x Rodney Young, Jr. | VLS Podcast Ep 81

After a much-needed break filled with unexpected adventures (including accidentally starring in a TV commercial!), I am back with Season 8 of the Victorious Living Solutions Podcast. The theme? The Simple Life. LISTEN to our first episode of the season above!

Now, if you know me, "simple" isn't exactly the first word that comes to mind. I just earned my doctorate last summer, then immediately enrolled in a Cornell University certificate program for women entrepreneurs. Oh, and I've been homeschooling my children, fighting for homeschool rights in Illinois, speaking at conferences, and somehow ended up in a TV commercial without realizing it. Simple? Not exactly.

But that's precisely the point.

When Too Many Choices Lead to Depression

During a recent church service, I had an epiphany when her pastor mentioned that "the root of most depression is having too many choices." This insight struck a chord.

Think about it: whether you're staring at 500 nail polish colors at the salon (as I hilariously describe) or facing the daily "what's for dinner?" dilemma that haunts every household manager, too many options can be paralyzing rather than freeing.

Having a plethora of choices... that's anxiety-inducing!

Real-Life Simplification Strategies

The podcast highlights several areas ripe for simplification:

1. The Closet Situation: I confess to having so many clothes that my closet door won't close. My solution? Check the episode for that!

2. Meal Planning: Remember the pandemic-era weekly meal rotation? Same meals every Monday, Tuesday, etc. It eliminated daily decision fatigue while still providing variety.

3. Business Focus: Rodney hints at how simplifying his business approach dramatically increased revenue (you'll have to tune in next week for that secret!).

Why Simplify Now?

Right now in our society, things are chaotic. Dr. Nikeya observes. We don't want to just get through this year. We want to thrive.

The key? Creating mental space by reducing inputs, options, and unnecessary complexity. It's not about deprivation—it's about liberation.

As we navigate an increasingly complex world, perhaps the answer isn't doing more or having more options. Maybe it's about getting back to basics, eliminating the non-essential, and creating room to breathe.

What areas of your life need simplification? Let us know in the comments!