5 Ways to Ease Information Overload with Digital Minimalism

Minimalism isn’t just about shedding material objects and simplifying our home and work life. The minimalist philosophy is extremely versatile and can be applied to many more facets of our lives.

At its core, the basic concept of minimalism is established around enriching our lives through the intentional promotion of actions that bless us with self-progress. While limiting and removing actions that distract us from achieving improvement in all aspects of our lives.

And, the same goes for technology.

In an age of constant input and stimulation, minimizing your interaction can be a difficult goal to achieve. Switching off from social media and streaming platforms is not an easy thing to do. Our minds have been trained to crave stimulus from years of looking at glowing screens.

[define: Digital Minimalism ]

Don’t get me wrong, smartphones and similar devices are an incredible tool. They allow connection with people around us like we’ve never had before. Taking gorgeous photographs, keeping in touch with loved ones, finding alternative sources of information, or using apps to help us find our way around overseas cities or on new hiking trails. It’s all at the touch of our fingers.

And, this is a remarkable thing, something indeed to be celebrated.

It has, no doubt, enriched our lives. But, as with most things, for every victory there comes a cost.

The digital world is taking over the real world.

The almost infinite availability drives a ceaseless hunger within us to constantly check work emails, post insipid selfies, update others on traveling experiences, or thumb through endless photographs. These nearly unconscious actions devalue the very thing we are searching for: Connection.

Yes, technology enriches our lives; but it can also take away from our experience of the world, our connection to other people and our connection to this great big beautiful rock we call Earth.

Technology such as smartphones are tools and should be treated as such. We are the master of our own minds, not slaves to an assembly of glass, steel, and plastic. The fact is, digital addiction is a major problem affecting more and more people every year.

But we always have a choice.

If you choose to value your time, you need to consciously take back wasted hours with these these tips.

5 Tips To Minimize Your Screen Time

The main focus of minimalism is landing on the fundamental components of your life that make you happy and leaving the rest behind.

A minimalist approach to technology can help us take back some of those fundamental components by limiting the amount of unnecessary time spent in front of a glowing screen.

Here are 5 tips that modern minimalists focus on when trying to live a more technologically minimal life.

1. Reduce The Amount Of Distraction

Accessibility, accessibility, accessibility.

Limiting digital distraction begins with reducing the accessibility of digital devices.

Most family homes have televisions in the lounge or dining room, some houses have a theatre room, sometimes there is even televisions in the kitchen or bedrooms. Then, there are smaller devices like laptops, desktop computers, or gaming device. And, of course, smartphones every member of the household will have one of those as well.

That’s a lot of distraction!

Try eliminating some. One good place to start is the bedroom, make it a device-free area. Charge your phone in the kitchen or livingroom rather than next to your bed. It’s too much of a temptation to pick it up and push out your bedtime another hour or two. It creates a disconnect between yourself and whoever you’re sharing your bed with.

You can also try reducing the number of televisions in your home as well. Do all of your family members or housemates need to be watching separate televisions all of the time? And, whatever became of watching a movie together? Somewhere along the line, we’ve lost sight of what made watching movies or tv shows fun. The very people around you that you can share the experience with.

2. Consciously Reconnect With People

Everywhere you look there is something to draw your focus away from the real world and your family or friends. It’s kind of scary, isn’t it?

Think about how many times during the day while you’re mid-conversation with somebody either yourself or the person you’re talking to trails away. There focus drawn elsewhere killing the connection.

This ties in well with the last tip.

Reduce digital distractions at social events. If you’re out for dinner with a group of friends perhaps suggest that everybody puts their phones in the middle of the table and the first to touch theirs has to fix up the bill. I mean it’s a bit of a joke but activities like this bring awareness to just how attached we are to our devices. At the very least, it will make for a better time with your friends.

Enjoy the people around you. Some friends or family are out enjoying themselves together, then all of a sudden, just like someone waved a magic wand and put everyone under a spell, everybody starts thumbing their phones. It’s a strange event to witness if you’re watching it from the outside. Do yourself and the people around you a favor, and reach out. Show an example that you don’t have to be connected to the social media world all of the time.

3. Seek Alternative Sources Of Information That Don’t Waste Your Time

Mainstream television or radio is littered with ads, marketing ploys, and top-selling stories that rarely give you the full story. Such big time wasters! Consciousness vampires that you let into your life with open arms, sucking your attention away from the people you love and the activities that fill you with joy and happiness.

Take back your conscious mind!

Look for alternatives to mainstream media. You don’t have to wait for the whole news broadcast just to see the few minutes of airtime that you stuck around for the last hour to see. A quick Google search and you’ll find other sources that outline whatever it was that interested you.
Prioritize unbiased sources. There are many unbiased sources out there that will deliver the same information in a much more efficient way. Saving you your precious time for other more wholesome activities.

4. Make Technology Use Intentional Not Habitual

Ever been lying on the couch and a hint of hunger snaps you back into reality? You check the time, damn! No wonder you’re hungry it’s late evening, where did all that time go?

How do you end up here?

Well, these sources of media are designed to keep you watching. It’s stimulation on steroids and you have to be careful because it will literally turn any spare hours of your day into dust. Be aware that some apps are more addictive than others and have been specifically designed to extend the time you spend on screen. Some of these apps are unavoidable (like email), so it’s a good idea to put some boundaries in place between you and the attention vampires.

Practice intentional use of technology. Before you turn on or pick up your device ask, yourself these questions: What is my intention here? Am I using this time to do something in particular or am I just wanting to waste time? What could I be doing instead? What is it I would rather be doing?
Swap time-wasters for mood-boosters. Try replacing wasting time with something that will bring you happiness. Maybe, that’s calling up a friend for a chat. Maybe, picking up your guitar that’s collecting dust in the corner. Or, maybe taking your dog for a walk to the park.

Whatever it is, replace habitual device use with intention.

5. Find Your Productive Place

I work from home, so I totally get how easy it is to be distracted by technology. The best tip I can give you is this: if you want to be productive at home assign a space or designate a room to do business in. And, by business, I mean something that you really want to spend some time working on.

Create a designated space for productivity. When I look around “my productive space” I see my yoga mat, guitar, exercise equipment, hiking gear, laptop, printer, desk, and chair. All the things that I need to kick the day right in the butt. If I don’t have this space designated it’s way too easy to get distracted. And, of course, you can do this also.

Create physical space for things you want to be doing. Ask yourself: what is it that you really enjoy doing and wished you had more time for? Whatever it is make a space for it, make it a phone or tv free zone and whenever you feel the urge to waste time go in there and just spend time. Imagine this, if you spent even just one of those wasted hours instead of on social media but on learning an instrument, drawing, or whatever it is you have a passion for you’d be an expert in no time at all!

Invest your time wisely, invest it into something you love and are passionate about. Investments like these ones will pay you back with happiness, joy, fulfillment, and a sense of accomplishment.

Everything Else

How you consume is a crucial question to ask yourself. It’s necessary to be aware, as an individual, of how you interact with the world. This is particularly important as technology evolves, changes our social behaviors, and finds new ways to seize our attention.

Be conscious that media and technology companies profit by holding your attention through whatever means necessary. Take back your conscious mind by replacing unconscious consumption with activities that you truly love.

Read more about minimalist living tips from experts to integrate the tech principles into your daily life.

Keep all technological interaction to a minimum, rediscover your childlike curiousness for the world, and find the happiness that you deserve.