Digital minimalism: how it can help get your life back

Background

Digital minimalism is an idea that was devised by the author and associate professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport. He created a method for detoxing your life from the digital overload that most of us have started to experience in our lives.

The Detox

I decided that it would be interesting to try his “digital detox” over the course of 30 days. The idea is that non-essential digital use is cut out when possible and then after 30 days I have to revaluate my usage of these services.

I was quite a regular user of social media (on average I would spend 2 hours a day using it), especially Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook. Life without the constant flow of information seemed impossible, as I thought these services were truly providing me with many benefits, socially and intellectually.

Short Term Effects

Initially, deleting the apps and disabling the accounts felt strange, almost like I had cut contact with everyone I know and love. In the initial days, I was dreaming about scrolling through Reddit posts and replying to tweets. After about a week though, I was spending the time I when used to be on social media engaging much more with the people around me, especially my wife and kids. Friends and family thought I was crazy and could not understand why I wanted to try living without social networks.

I did not stop reading but shifted my attention to books and my favourite newspaper (which I would never give up). I also stopped thinking about online friends and spent much more time with my real world ones.

Longer Term Effects

The biggest change was in my mood. I had also followed the advice of Newport and tried to spend more time in solitude. Just walking without music or distractions helped me to start to spend more time with myself. Not scrolling through newsfeeds and focussing on the world around me has made me feel relaxed and I definitely felt more focussed in dealing with my life rather than procrastinating.

The month is now over, and I have made several changes that will mean I can maintain the focus and not fall back into my old habits. I have deleted my Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and WhatsApp accounts permanently. I am still reading on Medium and using LinkedIn for work but not more than a couple of times a week.

Conclusions

I recommend everyone tries reassessing their digital habits because there are advantages to be gained from removing the activities that, truthfully, do not bring any real benefits. I still keep in contact with friends and family, through email and Skype. After the initial period of feeling lost, I now realise that I am having better, more meaningful and more rewarding contact with all my friends and my close family. As a researcher and professor, I am also doing much better because I am finding time to read and write. Most importantly, I feel much better mentally and I have become more focussed on the things that really matter in life.