3 Steps Toward Digital Minimalism

Introduction

I am excited to finally publish this article. I’ve been working on it for the past few weeks and it will soon become a video series on my YouTube channel. Digital Minimalism does not come easy in a mobile-first world, but I believe it’s possible to help others in their journey. Thus, I have tried to create a system to help those on the fence or those struggling with compulsive digital use. Below is my 3 step system towards Digital Minimalism. Enjoy!

Step 1: Inventory

In similar fashion to spring or fall cleaning, we start by listing the usage of all of our apps. Let it be on desktop or mobile, we must first know what we have and how we are using it before getting rid of anything.

Luckily, smartphones have tools that can help us learn about our usage. On most Android phones we can find digital well-being under settings or the ability to set an app to track our usage. iOS, on the other hand, has Screen Time as a helpful resource. These applications reveal to us what apps we are using, how long we use them for, and at what time of the day. It is pretty comprehensive and these findings will help us focus on identifying what is essential and not. If you are looking for a similar product for your PC usage either on Mac or Windows, Clockify is a 100% free method to learn about what services, apps, and other software you are using on your laptop or desktop computer. Another alternative is Rescue Time. The free version lets you know your usage time and also keep track of it.

After evaluating our usage (around 1 week if you have no input from the above apps), it is time to categorize the apps and services in 4 areas, Essential, Nice To Have, Time Wasters, and Operations. The definitions are as follow:

Essential: Apps and services that help you communicate with others. After all, your phone and laptop should help you reach out to those who you love most. Examples include: Phone, Messages, Signal.

Nice to Have: Apps and services that add value to your day. These apps help you become a better person or relay information that is important to you or your work. These apps are passive and do not demand your attention to receive this information. Examples include: Podcasts, Music Player, Maps, Meditation timer.

Time Wasters: Apps and services that take time away from you or make you less productive. These apps are constantly demanding your attention, sending you notifications, or creating unnecessary inconveniences that keep you away from your job, studies, or relationships. Examples include: Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, E-mail, News.

Operations: Apps and services that are necessary for your job or studies. These apps usually have a desktop alternative and it is preferred to use it through a PC rather than on mobile. Examples include: E-mail, Slack, Notion, Calendar.

Step 2: Time Zones

Time is a finite resource. As a digital minimalist, I have had my fair share of shortcomings. Seasons in which I found myself very productive and others were I was attracted to the screen again and again. Regardless of where you find yourself today, you can change with purpose and determination. That is where step 2 comes in.

Time zones allow you to choose how you want to spend your time. There are two kinds of digital minimalism time zones: Offline and Online Zones. When entering an offline zone, no online activities should be present. This means no devices, interruptions, or anything that can bring you back into connection with the online world. Offline zones are meant for conversations, woodworking, walks in the park, meditation, anything that does not require a computer, phone, or digital medium to operate. Online zones by contrast provide an opportunity to use digital devices. It could be podcasts, social media, e-mail, anything that requires your presence online.

In order to maximize your time zone potential, grab a paper calendar or a digital one. After, jot down blocks of time (or input them into the digital version) containing the categories mentioned in Step 1. Color code your offline and online time zones as pictured above or for whichever color you desire. You can even color code each category to provide the aesthetic part of your brain some stimuli and better organization! During online time, try to choose activities that belong to the essential, nice to have, and operations categories. Leave time wasters behind and try to eliminate them as much as possible. This practice will help you to regain agency and boost productivity.

“Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent Return on Energy!” — Bryan Tracy

Step 3: Companions (another name for accountability and helpful tools)

It would be a wonder if we could just stop at Step 2. Yet, human beings are fragile and prone to error. Furthermore, we are reluctant to ask for help or recognize we have issues that are beyond our control. It is imperative, therefore, that we find like minded individuals and tools that help us in the journey towards digital minimalism. This is the hardest step, one that I am still in the process of mastering and becoming consistent with it.

If you need guidance with Internet or Technology Addiction, ITAA (Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous) can help.

First of all, you are not alone. There are thousands (dare I say millions) of people who feel trapped in the web’s cage of isolation and constant feeds. Digital fatigue is real and common, especially for those who work remote, have to keep up with projects, or manage online content. As a result, we must seek help and create safeguards to curb our time on the web. In the quote above, I mention ITAA, a great organization to help those who feel addicted to the feeds and have not encountered other methods to curb their use. They have a great sponsorship program and robust meetings to encourage you in the journey. Besides ITAA, here are some of the strategies that have helped me during my time learning about Digital Minimalism.

Get a flip phone for offline time

I know it’s not possible for everyone to adopt a dumbphone as their main device, but having one for the weekends or your scheduled offline time can be a game changer. Swap your SIM card to the petite companion and you will find the online world does not have as much power to distract you.

Modern feature phones have a lot of tools available, including Whatsapp, podcasts, and other helpful apps. Consider getting one as your main device if your operations, nice to have, and essential categories can be covered by them. Here is a tool to sort through carrier compatibility, features, and other categories when it comes to these devices. In my personal set up, I have a Light Phone 2 as my main device and a Nokia 6300 4G for my work phone (a secondary number). This allows me to separate family time, work hours, and messages without compromising my attention to either of them.

Download App Blockers

If you find yourself cheating your schedule, create some tightening measures by downloading apps that disable your ability to cheat. My favorite ones for PC (Mac or Windows) are Cold Turkey’s Writer App, Freedom.to, and StayFocusd. These services can create a helpful barrier between you and the consumption of content. The writer app is extremely helpful for students or those in writing professions as it will not let you exit until you have written a certain amount of words or for a period of time (determined by you).

The premium versions of Cold Turkey and Freedom can go further into blocking you from accessing your laptop for a limited time as well, which can become useful when you are not able to rely on willpower alone. It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but these companion websites and blockers can help you in the path towards digital minimalism and create distance between the web and yourself.

Friends and Family

I cannot think of a better way to spend time offline or online than to plan activities with friends, family, or like minded people. In my estimation, spending time with those who I love is the best way to use this finite resource. Calling a parent, doing a Zoom birthday party, or talking about my week with people close to me provides a hit of dopamine that overpowers any kind of social media algorithm.

As I continue to grow in my journey, I cannot wait to spend more time with the people I love and care for. There is no digital replacement that can come close to mimic them, not even deep-fakes.

Thanks for reading this article. I’ll see you on my next online day.