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I just finished reading Seven, which examines our fascination with this lucky digit. Jackie Leo, former editor for Reader’s Digest, Family Circle and other magazines, examines questions such as: Why are there seven deadly sins? Seven days of the week? Seven wonders of the world, seven sisters… you get the idea. According to Leo, this magical number can do everything from help our relationships to organize closets. Here’s how:
Jennifer Haupt: In a society where more is better, why the number seven?
Jackie Leo: More clutter, more noise, more irrelevant information doesn't enhance one's life. It bogs you down. Using seven as a way to establish priorities and organize information--or even your closet--let's you take control of your world.
JH: Why is seven the limit of the brain's natural filter?
JL: I wish I knew why the brain has self-imposed limits on memory. But I suspect that those limits exist in order to allow attention and focus to thrive. If we could absorb into memory a lengthy list of ideas or independent items, we would be flitting from one thing to another, giving no particular emphasis to any given idea. We would become robotic.
JH: What's your personal Seven story?
JL: I was the editor of Family Circle magazine when we decided to publish our first trade cookbook. While researching the project, I learned that people who bought cookbooks with 1,000 or more recipes used, on average, only seven. I thought that was odd, but when I mentioned this to friends, they’d say, “I totally get it. I have a closet full of clothes and I wind up wearing the same 7 things every week.” That’s when I thought I may have a story to tell.
JH: What does the number seven have to do with truth, beauty and the pursuit of happiness?
JL: Let’s take truth. Say you want to know how photosynthesis works. You do a Google search, and 1,780,000 choices come up. If you want to know the answer, you’ll likely find it in the first seven items or the first seven pages. Go any further, and you’re repeating information and getting caught in a web of irrelevant details. So truth exists in the first 7.
As for happiness, if you’re constantly distracted by the number of choices and amount of information coming at you, you can’t reach flow—that exquisite moment when time stands still and you are in flow. Seven helps you stay focused by limiting those distractions.
JH: Is Seven really about simplifying our lives, or much more?
JL: Seven is a tool that helps us simplify our lives by cutting away the massive amount of digital noise we confront every day. But is it mystical? I doubt it, but people place importance on numbers that are often false.
JH: How can I start fresh, using the number seven?
JL: Start with one day. Look at your to-do list, and choose seven items from that list, varying in time and effort. Once you get through the first day with your “7” filter, and feel that sense of accomplishment, the second day will be easier. Then tackle a physical project, like organizing your papers or your computer files. Try filing emails in seven folders primary folders or organize your clothing into 7 categories: Working; relaxing; evening; sports, exercise; intimate; travel (or in accordance with your lifestyle).
