“The ability to observe without evaluating is the highest form of intelligence.” – Jiddu Krishnamurti
Lately I have been using my phone a lot less than I used to. I do not have any social media, except for YouTube (which I delete from time to time).
And I believe it has a positive impact on me. I am being more conscious about the things I consume, even things like watching television or listening to the radio.
I think we are all getting a bit tired of the content we consume, because it is so addictive. You think that you need to watch another video to learn something new, but in reality, you are just pushing aside the things you want to do instead. Remove yourself from the noise, and you will be able to achieve great things.
Now don’t get me wrong, I also build an online presence while using social media, but it is a double edged sword. On the one hand, it lets you build something valuable and lets you share it with other people, that can find it helpful.
But on the other hand, people can become addicted to consuming content and experience all these negative consequences.
The difference is that when you make the shift from a consumer to a creator, you analyze content in a different way, and only consume content that enhances your work, or you feel inspired by.
Which is why I try to minimize the things I consume, by deleting unnecessary noise and only consuming content when I know what I want to watch, without doom scrolling or getting addicted.
Life Becomes Simpler When You Remove Digital Noise
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – Leonardo da Vinci
What you notice when you delete social media for a while, is that you become less reactive. You become more present, and feel more at ease with yourself.
After a while you notice that life is way simpler than you think it is. You do not have to change anything about yourself, you do not have to compare yourself with someone else.
Besides, you are not bombarded with advertisements all the time, trying to sell you stuff that you do not need.
You do not have to deal with world problems or concepts that other people fill your head with through social media all the time.
“Awareness is the greatest agent for change.” – Eckhart Tolle
The key here is awareness. When you become more conscious, you notice that you do not really need 80% of the information that you consume.
The space in between the times you scroll on social media will become bigger, as you start to rely more on yourself.
Lately I have been using a minimalist launcher app for my phone (like Dumbphone, Niagara Launcher or Before Launcher), and I think it really helps. It makes looking on your phone less attractive, and because of that I started doing other activities instead, like reading a book, cooking and writing.
Why You Don’t Need Most Digital Content
“You have power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.” – Marcus Aurelius
You are already capable to do anything you want. You do not have to be online all the time. When your mind is always occupied by these distractions, it becomes very difficult to have clarity. Your creativity suffers from it as well.
“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.” – Deepak Chopra
I think what you and me really need right now is more stillness. Because from that stillness, you can act with clarity. It is very hard to do activities when your mind is full of thoughts, and those thoughts are mainly caused by too much stimulation.
Take reading for example. It is very hard to read a story when your mind is always wandering. You need to focus and immerse yourself in the story to understand it and to imagine it.
Activities like scrolling on social media and watching television makes your attention span shorter, so that it becomes harder to focus. Because of this it also becomes harder to do important things, like building a business or creating systems that your future self will benefit from.
Luckily, you have entire control over this problem, because you can remove yourself from the noise. You can delete your social media apps and install a minimalist launcher like I did, and see if it works for you. You can start to embrace delayed gratification and eliminate instant gratification.
The system we live in is built for instant gratification. I think more and more people acknowledge this problem, and are starting to make changes. But only you can take control over your life, and it is easier than you think it is.
The first days you limit your phone use, you might still feel the urge to grab your phone to do something, but you will be surprised how quickly you can adapt to your new lifestyle.
Digital Minimalism Equals Minimalism
“The things you own end up owning you.” – Chuck Palahniuk
If you remove yourself from unnecessary digital noise, you also remove yourself from the temptation of buying stuff. Because you are not only consuming content, you are consuming advertisements and see people promoting products.
That is why digital minimalism is minimalism in general. You are less exposed to things you might want to buy out of craving or impulse.
Right now 95% of the things you can buy are distributed online, which means that you need to use your phone, computer, tablet or television to search for products and services.
“It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, who is poor.” – Seneca
What you will actually realize is that you do not need that much stuff. The system we live in today is designed to keep you trapped by buying more products. The way you can break free is by removing the noise through which companies sell you their products.
Finding Your Own Digital Rhythm
“Technology is a useful servant but a dangerous master.” – Christian Lous Lange
Things like social media and television certainly have their use cases, and I am not saying you should avoid it altogether, because it is part of the age we live in today.
But if you want more focus, clarity, patience and stillness, you definitely need to reduce the time you spend with these things. The way you do this is different for everyone, but what works for me right now is deleting social media apps and having a minimalist launcher on my phone.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.” – Alan Watts
Because of this I feel more present and am able to focus on the projects I want to work on. The way you can find your own rhythm is by experimenting.
Try deleting some of your social media apps for a while that are distracting you or causing digital fatigue. Try using a minimalist app on your phone, or reading a book instead of watching television in the evening.
The point is not to avoid using technology altogether, but more like a tool, instead of you being used as a tool. The point is to take back control over your life and to do things that feel more real. To experience more of life.
The Future of Social Media and Digital Wellness
“The future belongs to those who understand that doing more with less is compassionate, prosperous, and enduring, and thus more intelligent, even competitive.” – Paul Hawken
I think there will be a massive shift in the way we use our phones and consume digital content. Because many people are already experiencing the problems from using their phones in an unhealthy way.
I believe there will be a more sustainable solution in the future. One where we feel more in control, and is more focused toward creating rather than consuming.
But right now, the solution is not available. Which is why you need to change your behavior yourself. You need to make the shift from a consumer to a creator yourself, and it is certainly possible.
The way I like to think of it, is to live like people did before there was a smartphone and social media. Life was a lot less complicated. If you use this approach, you can still benefit from all of the technological advancements from today’s world.
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu
Start today: Delete one social media app, try a minimalist launcher, and notice how your mind feels with less digital noise. Your future self will thank you for choosing clarity over chaos.
I hope you found this article useful. Let me know how you deal with social media and consuming content. I am interested to hear about your approach to digital minimalism.
If you want to read more articles like this one, check out Digital Minimalism | My Creative Journey Toward a Focused Life
Take a look on my Youtube channel where I explain these things in a different light.
I wish you good luck on your journey of digital minimalism and becoming a creator,
Mart Bergsma
