For example, a paper journal or a plain text to-do list is very minimal, but I've found that having a dedicated to-do app is the best way for me to simplify my workflow.
* I can dump in new tasks with a quick keystroke as they come up and manage them later
* I can set a date for upcoming things and get automatic reminders
* I can make recurring tasks repeat automatically
* I can keep a backlog of completed tasks out of sight until I need to refer to something
Or, when my room is messy that usually means things are left out where I use them and are usually within reach. When I tidy up and put things away, I need to spend effort thinking about where something is, go get it, and put it away again when I'm done with it. Messy can be simpler than clean.