I was vaguely familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, but had never thought of applying them to something like simplicity. Really good idea.

I'm not sure that it is as linear as this though, especially once you get to the top, like Martin was saying. I think with every successive level that you reach, you still have to work at the ones below. So when I'm living a life consistent with my values, I'm still going to have to spend time and focused energy on staying physically and mentally decluttered, keeping my focus, and being passionate in work and leisure.

An example: The process of cutting back, the second and third levels of your simplification hierarchy, are supremely difficult to achieve without immense willpower. But once past that hurdle, the fourth and fifth levels tend to be easier to achieve so long as you want it enough.

However, I imagine it's harder to remain at the top of your simplicity hierarchy than reach the top. The danger being that we spend so much effort mustering up the willpower to declutter physically and mentally the first time that we fail to retain hard focus on organisation.

Whether it's organised chaos or extreme minimalism, focus needs to remain once at the top of the hierarchy. Drop your guard and you slip down the hierarchy quicker than it takes to say “simplification”.