Digital Minimalism: 101

It’s common knowledge that when items and belongings begin to build up in our homes, it creates tension and a lack of focus that calls for a declutter or spring cleaning occasionally to get back to some normality.

Many people acknowledge this, finding themselves identifying with the term “minimalist” - getting in front of their cluttering habits and sticking with the bare minimum amount of belongings. It’s the notion of “less is more”.

What many people don’t realise however is that this can be reflected in the digital world.

As a society we are so fascinated by new technology, constantly seeking the newest iPhone or the latest computer upgrade. We spend countless hours on social media just scrolling to find that next funny cat video or see which classmate is married now. It’s this addictive aspect of social media that keeps us engaged and increases our screen time. We have stuck through the changes of these social media giants, and have become targets to their advertising and exploitation, digital maximalists if you will.

“Neurological studies show that as soon as the brain stops being actively engaged in a task we contemplate our social interaction: it is our default state.”

Lawson, 2019

Computer science professor Cal Newport has a book titled “Digital Minimalism: Chasing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” and has in fact coined the term ‘digital minimalist’. He describes it in many ways, however, always comes back to the notion of focusing your online time to a small number of carefully selected services that strongly support things you value, then happily miss out on everything else. (Newport 2019)

Newport explains there are three steps we need to do in order to reach this digital minimalization:

1. Take a break - remove all technology from your life for 30 days

2. Replace technology with meaningful alternatives

3. Reintroduce high value optional technologies

Speak for yourself, but there’s no way I’m giving up my phone for a whole month.

In my travels I’ve found some ways that help with this issue of digital clutter, without having to go full social media detox.

1. Do a digital declutter

How many apps to you have on your phone that you don’t use? Go through and delete any apps that you consider ‘optional’. This could be that Twitter account you haven’t used in years, that document editing app, even games that you used to play.

This could also be a good time to take a break from any social media. Deleting Facebook from your phone will prove to you how often you actually use it. I find myself constantly reaching for it, and finding it’s no longer there. Restricting my use to just checking it on a web browser has done wonders.

2. Organise your digital life into folders

Tucking away your files and apps into folders can help to reduce the clutter entering your mind every day. Perhaps you have a handful of apps you need for work, hiding these in a folder on the back page of your phone will keep your screen looking minimal.

Same goes for your computer desktop. Nothing screams stress like random files sitting loose on your desktop. Take some time to organise your computer into a way that makes sense for you.

3. Reduce distractions

Your phone dings, it’s a text from your friend, 45 minutes later you find yourself deep in TikTok or looking at pictures of someone’s holiday from 2016. By turning off notifications you limit the risk of being sucked into the social media whirlpool.

Have a look at your phone home screen, so many colours and apps and little red notification dots just calling your attention. Your phone is designed to keep you looking at it. There’s a setting on the iPhone that you can turn your screen black and white. Your phone no longer triggers that primal instinct in the brain, and after a while, reduces your screen time.

4. Distance yourself from your devices

We are so used to having our phone in our pocket or our hand. Your laptop is always there on the couch. By physically moving these devices away and out of sight, you’re limiting your desire to want to pick them up to check your email or refresh Instagram to get your next hit of dopamine. Maybe you decide to leave your phone at home while you go for a walk, soon enough you’ll find yourself barely reaching for it.

5. Find offline alternatives

Are you one to wake up in the morning and lay in bed scrolling before you finally make the tough decision to get up? These are crucial productive hours of the day being wasted on technology. Take some time to work out and discover what is truly important to you. It could be getting up and enjoying the sunrise on a walk or calling up a friend and going for a quick coffee before work.

Journaling, yoga, and meditation are all mindfulness practices that can help ease a cluttered mind.

The point of digital minimalism is not to deprive ourselves of all the benefits technology has to offer, but to learn what is truly important to us to be able to use technology in a more resourceful manner.

You’ll find you will have a lot more spare time, to be put to use on things we truly care about.

“Human beings are not wired to be constantly wired.”

Newport, 2019

Lawson, E., 2019. Debrief: Digital minimalism and the Deep End. Available at: <https://bjgp.org/content/69/681/189.full>

Newport, C. 2019. Digital Minimalism: Chasing a Focused Life in a Noisy World.