There exists a profound disconnect between the evolution of our bodies, our brains, and our minds—each has been developing on a vastly different timeline. Our bodies have been honed by millions of years of physical challenges, our brains have evolved over the past hundred thousand years to master social cooperation and innovation, and our minds have been rapidly reshaped by cultural and technological forces in just the past hundred years.
In our earliest days, when our ancestors left the treetops and ventured onto the ground, nature forced them to adapt physically for survival. We developed stronger legs for upright walking, refined our coordination for navigating uneven terrain, and traded the agility of arboreal life for the endurance required on the open plains. With a wider variety of food sources came a harsher reality—more predators and environmental hazards. Survival depended not on individual prowess alone, but on the collective strength of a group. This necessity for cooperation accelerated the evolution of our brains, paving the way for tool-making, strategic planning, and ultimately, the transition from hunter-gatherers to early farmers.
As humanity tamed its environment, the surplus of resources allowed some individuals to pursue abstract thought and innovation. This newfound freedom fueled the evolution of our minds, sparking advances in science, manufacturing, urban development, and our understanding of the body, brain, and even the elusive nature of the mind itself.
In the treetops, life was simple: find food, secure a mate, and avoid predators. It was straightforward and, in many ways, effortless. But once we descended to the ground—whether by choice or by force—the challenges multiplied. The increased variety of available food came with the constant threat of danger, and life grew not only more complicated but also physically demanding. Yet, in facing these hardships, our ancestors became stronger and more resilient. They learned that through adversity, life could become simple again: the core needs remained the same—secure nourishment, reproduce, and survive—but the methods had become more refined, albeit harder.
With the progression from the agricultural age to the industrial and now the information age, our lives have grown increasingly predictable and, for many, easier. Yet, this ease has brought its own form of complication. While most would choose the ideal of a “simple and easy” life—a modern utopia—the reality is that our existence now oscillates between complicated ease for some and complicated hardship for others. The challenge lies in finding the right balance: too much simplicity can breed boredom, while overwhelming complexity can spark anxiety. If life is too easy, we risk becoming physically and mentally stagnant; if it’s too hard, our bodies and minds may simply break down.
Humans Need Hard
Our physical evolution is a testament to the fact that stress and challenge are essential for growth. Our bodies were designed over millions (or even hundreds of millions) of years to endure physical hardship, then repair and fortify themselves in the process. This cycle of stress and recovery enabled our ancestors not only to survive but to thrive in environments that were anything but forgiving. In those times, only those who could withstand—and even benefit from—hardship managed to outlive famine, warfare, and disease.
Today, many in the developed world enjoy a lifestyle where physical hardship is minimized or even eliminated. Farming is mechanized, manufacturing is automated, and many tasks that once required substantial effort can now be accomplished with the push of a button. However, by removing these natural challenges, we inadvertently deprive our bodies of the very stimulus they need to repair, rebuild, and grow stronger. Without periodic bouts of physical stress, our musculature, cardiovascular system, and overall vitality can atrophy. In essence, if we aren’t challenging our bodies, we are slowly weakening the very mechanisms that keep us alive and resilient.
Humans Need Simple
While our bodies thrive on physical challenge, our brains are wired to solve problems—it's the primary function of the neocortex. Yet, in the modern era, we face an interesting paradox: when our environment is too predictable or unstimulating, the mind can start creating problems where none exist. As the old adage goes, “idle hands are the devil’s workshop.”
Historically, the challenges our minds addressed were concrete, survival-related problems. As life became easier, our problems evolved. The simplicity of life was exchanged for a cascade of complex decisions and stressors that, while less existential, demand constant mental energy. This shift has led to a self-perpetuating cycle where our desire for mental stimulation results in ever-increasing complexity. Without enough challenges, however, our cognitive faculties may begin to atrophy—diminishing our ability to innovate, solve problems, and even find meaning in our lives.
Thus, our brains crave both the peace that comes with simplicity and the stimulation derived from complex challenges. The art of living, then, becomes one of balance: ensuring that our environments are neither so simple as to be monotonous nor so complicated as to be overwhelming.
Finding simple and hard in a world that’s complicated and easy
Much of the complexity we experience today is self-imposed. According to Abraham Maslow, our needs can be categorized into deficiency needs—such as food, water, safety, and security—and higher needs, like love, belonging, esteem, and self-actualization. In our modern society, fulfilling basic deficiency needs is relatively effortless compared to the struggles of our ancestors. Yet, in the process of simplifying our survival, we have inadvertently added layers of complexity that make addressing our higher needs far more challenging.
Few of us would choose to return to the rugged lifestyles of our forebears. While those lives demanded immense physical resilience, they also came with a steep cost in terms of longevity and comfort. Modern conveniences allow us to live longer and more comfortably, but often at the expense of the physical and mental challenges that once propelled our evolution.
The ideal, then, is not to revert to a primitive existence but rather to strip away the unnecessary complications of modern life while deliberately reintroducing the types of challenges—both physical and mental—that foster growth. In other words, we must craft a lifestyle that is both simple and hard, reaping the benefits of our evolutionary heritage without sacrificing the progress we’ve made.
Finding Hard
Incorporating the element of “hard” into our modern lives is both practical and accessible. You don’t need to track an antelope across savannahs to experience physical challenge; our contemporary equivalents can be found in everyday activities. Consider a marathon as a long-distance chase, backpacking as a modern-day hunt, or martial arts and weightlifting as ways to simulate the combative challenges our ancestors once faced.
Even the conveniences designed to make life easier can be repurposed to create challenges. Instead of taking the elevator, choose the stairs. Rather than driving everywhere, walk or cycle when possible. These small shifts transform the easy into the hard, providing your body with the stress it needs to repair and strengthen itself. The tools for hardening your body are all around you—you simply need the will to engage with them.
Finding Simple
Simplifying our lives in a world of overwhelming complexity is a task that requires both introspection and deliberate action. The path to simplicity often begins with a clear understanding of what is truly essential. Start by distinguishing between your needs and your wants. While meeting physiological needs is straightforward, the pursuit of wants can quickly spiral into unnecessary complication.
A practical approach involves categorizing your priorities: ask yourself which aspects of your life are fundamental to your well-being and which are superfluous. By decluttering your physical space, digital environment, and even your social commitments, you can begin to eliminate the distractions that sap your energy and focus. This process of elimination not only reduces anxiety but also creates room for the pursuit of higher, more meaningful goals.
Understanding who you are and what truly makes you happy is a lifelong journey. When you have a clear sense of self, it becomes easier to identify which challenges are worth embracing and which complications are best left behind. In this way, simplicity becomes not a state of deprivation but a deliberate, empowering choice that frees you to concentrate on what truly matters.
Conclusion
The solutions to modern life’s challenges are both limitless and, at their core, simple. Yet, as with our evolutionary journey, these solutions are designed to be hard—because hardship stimulates growth, both physically and mentally. While it may be impractical or even undesirable to entirely revert to a “simple and hard” lifestyle of our ancestors, we can nonetheless integrate elements of both into our modern routines. By consciously reintroducing physical challenges and streamlining the complexities of our lives, we create a balanced existence that honors our evolutionary heritage and equips us to thrive in today’s world.
In the end, it is about finding that delicate equilibrium: embracing the necessary hardness that strengthens us, while also cultivating simplicity that grounds us. The power to shape our lives lies in our hands—we need only to step forward, challenge ourselves, and clear away the unnecessary clutter that stands in the way of our true potential.
Updated 3/7/2025