Streamlined Living by Nathan May

Real-world examples

A few practical examples of the ideas behind Streamlined Living. This is not a step-by-step setup guide. The tools and implementations will vary — the point is the approach.

If something in life depends on constant checking, remembering, or manual intervention, it probably has not been designed well enough yet.

Energy optimisation

Using real inputs to make better decisions automatically.

Energy is one of the easiest places to waste money through repeated manual decisions. When to charge the car, when to heat, what can run at the same time, and what should wait are all decisions most people make repeatedly — or not at all.

In a better system, charging can start exactly when the cheapest tariff window begins, run at full usable capacity, and stop cleanly when that window ends — without manual scheduling. That is not just convenience. It is coordinated, repeatable behaviour.

Optimisation is not about remembering the right time. It is about removing the need to think about timing at all.
EV charging graph aligned with a 2am to 4am tariff boost window.
Example: charging aligned automatically with a low-cost boost window, while maximising usage safely. Replace this image with your own graph export.

Centralised awareness

Less checking. Fewer apps. Faster understanding.

One of the easiest ways to waste attention is scattering information across too many apps. Car status in one place, solar production in another, hot water in another, finances elsewhere. Even when access is easy, fragmentation creates friction.

A better approach is to surface only what matters in one glanceable place. For some people that might be a watch. For others it could be a dashboard, wall display, home screen, or simple overview page.

  • Car battery level and whether it is plugged in
  • Solar production and battery status
  • Hot water temperature
  • Budget or spending context
  • Relevant upcoming reminders or dates
If you have to go looking for information, it is probably not where it should be.
A smartwatch displaying key household and life metrics in one place.
Example: a single glanceable view that reduces app-hopping and routine checking. Replace this image with your own watch or dashboard screenshot.

Signals over control

You do not always need direct integration to build useful systems.

Many people assume a system is only useful if it can be fully controlled. That is not true. Often, all you need is a reliable signal.

A good example is an alarm system that remains intentionally isolated, but sends arm and disarm emails. Those messages can still be useful. They can confirm state, trigger bedtime reminders, or prompt action if everyone is away and the system is not armed.

No direct API is required. No risky control surface is needed. The signal alone creates value.

If you can observe it, you can often use it.

About the book

The practical philosophy behind these examples.

Streamlined Living: Building Autonomous Systems for Your Home and Life is about reducing repeated effort by improving the systems around you.

It is not a tool-specific manual. It is a way of thinking: identify recurring friction, decide what is worth solving, and build systems that reduce the need for remembering, checking, and manual intervention.

Optional: add a purchase link here later.
Example: Buy the book