Ever Heard About Digital Minimalism? Because You May Need It…

Let's be honest, how long have you sorted out your email? Is your phone always running out of storage? Messy files over your desktop? Overwhelmed with digital consumption in this noisy world? If you keep saying yes, this post is for you.

I looked into my phone. It had 4387 photos. It didn’t feel a lot to me but when I think of back then, when we did not have a DSLR camera or smartphone, people just used to take rolls of film with just 24 shots. Every shot has to be perfect to the point that you need to be meticulous and mindful to catch a moment of history. How did people even do that?

What’s My Issue?

Just like clothes and physical assets, emails, smartphones, social profiles have become staples in our lives. Our society is rapidly hyper-connected and we are always-on consumers. Technology should add values but I've been using it imprudently these days. Barely a moment passes by without a phone on my hand. I have junk files on my laptop, unused apps on my phones, tons of unread emails. I get irritated even with my virtual world due to the fact that my feed is full of advertisements (I get it, it was part of social media’s algorithm) and toxic, unwanted news, just like fast food. I was so not mindful about my media consumption. I did allow them to consume me rather than I consumed them intentionally and consciously. It should not be that way.

What’s My Approach?

Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. (Cal Newport, 2016)

Just like food, I want to have a relationship with my digital world. Digital Cluttering is the thing I start considering immediately. I have an iPhone and a Macbook that need to be reorganized. Due to part of my major, I have numerous social media platforms to sort it out. With every single category, I start to go from narrow to broad. Then I list out all things that need to be done. The process has taken me quite some time but it's worth it. I've been checking on this book by Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a focused life on a noisy world, definitely would love to give you a review after I finish it.

What Have I Learned?

This is the one habit that you need to know: Build a system. You should focus on building one and be aware of what you consume daily because the process matters. Just like organizing your closet, develop a habit of putting things in places. What’s the point of tidying it and then you just get back to your usual routine? It doesn't work like the magic of fairy godmother, your mess doesn't disappear overnight. Just like decluttering your clothes, you have to consider what to keep and be patient.

What Are The Benefits?

I did feel like an achievement when I finish decluttering. I feel peaceful and calm. I am no longer so overwhelmed with working on devices lately. It doesn’t steal my attention from important priorities in my life. It boosts my productivity as I can focus better. I am more conscious of my digital consumption. What's more, I save time for self-reflection and true relationships. Nothing is more meaningful than real-life connections.

Follow Instagram @theminimalmillennialvn, I will soon update the checklist and template to make your digital cluttering easier. See you soon!