Digital Declutter: Strategies for Effectively Decluttering Your Digital Life

We didn’t sign up for the digital lives we now lead. They were instead, to a large extent, crafted in boardrooms to serve the interests of a select group of technology investors.

Cal Newport

The book “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport significantly enhanced my understanding of technological evolution and particularly how social media platforms are constructed to be addictive. It definitely tweaked my perspective towards social media. While I may not embrace every radical idea presented by the author, the book has certainly inspired me to be more deliberate and intentional in my use of technology.

We need is a philosophy of technology use, something that covers from the ground up which digital tools we allow into our life, for what reasons, and under what constrains. 

Cal Newport

The essence of the book is the introduction of principles of digital minimalism and its process.

The Foundations of Digital Minimalism: Core Principles for Digital Declutter

Principle 1: Clutter is costly.

When evaluating tools or behaviors in their digital lives, people often focus on the value each produces. However, they should balance this against the cost in terms of the minutes of their lives. Considering how much time and attention is invested to gain the perceived benefits is crucial for decluttering one’s digital life.

Principle 2: Optimization is important.

When adopting new technology, pay attention to what you adapt, but also to how you use it. Consider only using the features that are relevant to your needs, rather than the entire range of capabilities. This selective strategy will likely result in less time spent on the technology and contribute to digital declutter.

Principle 3: Intentionality is satisfying.

Actively choosing which digital tools to use based on their potential to either enhance or detract your personal life leads to greater satisfaction than what is lost from avoiding certain technologies.

The Digital Declutter Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Take a break from optional technologies in your life for 30 days.
2. During the break, explore and rediscover activities and behaviours that you find satisfying and meaningful.
3. At the end of the break, reintroduce optional technology, but before you do, decide what value does it serves and how specifically you will use it to maximise its value.

Before you start the entire process, decide which technologies fall under the optional category. Then, if needed, create required exceptions. For example, if you won’t be using Instagram but still need to stay informed about community networking events exclusively advertised there, set a predefined schedule. Choose a particular day and time to check their profile for updates. This structured approach allows you to stay connected to essential information while minimising unnecessary digital engagement.

When you come to the end of your 30 day break and you are about to reintroduce technology ask yourself 3 crucial questions for each platform:

1. Does this technology directly support something that I deeply value?
2. Is this technology the best way to support this value?
3. How am I going to use this technology going forward to maximise its value and minimize its harms?

This approach will help you make the right decisions, allowing you to reintroduce technology into your life on your own terms while maintaining a digitally decluttered lifestyle.

Personal Reflections: My Digital Declutter Journey

During my few digital declutter experiences, I found the initial one to two weeks most challenging. I frequently caught myself instinctively reaching for my phone to check Instagram, a habit mirrored by others who also underwent the decluttering process, Interestingly, by the end of the process, I didn’t feel like I had missed out on anything significant.

Personally, I’m deeply appreciative of having grown up in the pre-internet era. I recognize the value of being offline, yet I can’t deny the convenience that certain technologies bring.

Reading the book’s section on “leaving your phone at home” was particularly thought-provoking for me. The author points out how our mobile phones have transitioned from being occasionally useful to something we can never be apart from. He challenges the exaggerated sense of urgency and availability we have created. We told ourselves we have to be always available and online just in case,

I remember a time when plans were made with a landline call, and there was a mutual trust that we all would show up at the agreed place and time, without the constant contact mobile phones now provide. However, nowadays, forgetting my phone at home feels like a mini-crisis, forcing me to return for it even though I know better.

Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword

The book’s research on social media usage presents a divided picture: studies highlighting positive aspects tend to focus on specific user behaviors, while those showing negative impacts concentrate on the overall usage of these platforms.

It’s a simple truth that the more time you spend online, the less you will have available for real-life interactions. For heavy users of social media, this often leads to feelings of loneliness due to reduced physical socializing. However, we gravitate towards online interactions because they are quick and effortless. This aligns with our brain’s preference for low-energy activities in the short term, despite potential long-term negative consequences.

Today, many people associate leaving a comment or ‘liking’ a post with having a real conversation, which it clearly isn’t. Our brains struggle to differentiate between the significance of face-to-face interactions and digital messages. This blurring of lines is why we often feel compelled to check our phones immediately upon receiving a message, driven by the fear of missing out.

From my personal experience, I find it harder to resist checking notifications when wearing an Apple Watch. By contrast, when I wear an analog watch and keep my phone’s sound on, the temptation to check every WhatsApp beep is significantly reduced. Sometimes, when I’m fully engaged in the moment, I don’t even notice incoming messages. This difference in reaction highlights the impact of how we interact with our technology.

Restructuring My Approach to Social Media

To be more conscious about my social media engagement, I’ve set a weekly limit of 30 minutes for research. This involves checking a pre-selected number of accounts to stay updated with new trends and advice on effective social media posting strategies.

I’m also changing my approach to social media content. The focus will shift to creating more video content, which can be adapted for use across various platforms, while decreasing the overall time spent on social media platforms. This is part of my ongoing digital declutter strategy.

Choosing Technology Wisely

In addition to the principles and processes of digital minimalism, it’s crucial to understand the broader impact of our digital habits, particularly on our mental health. The phenomenon of information overload, a common consequence of excessive digital consumption, has significant mental health implications. Information overload can lead to increased stress, decision fatigue, reduced work quality, and a general sense of being overwhelmed.

The book offers several valuable practices for those looking to redefine their relationship with social media and technology designed to capture attention. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice how you decide to utilize the pervasive technology in our lives. A particularly impactful line from the book that resonated with me was:

You can’t, in other words, build a billion-dollar empire like Facebook if you’re wasting hours every day using a service like Facebook.

Cal Newport

This highlights the critical need for intentional and thoughtful engagement with technology, reminding us that the true value of our time lies not in passive consumption, but in purposeful action.