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I can’t deny that I’ve spent too much time in front of a screen. Especially in the last few months.
The pandemic has really limited activities that didn’t involve a screen.
Date nights have involved Netflix. Drinks with friends have involved Zoom calls. And the rest of the time has been spent writing and learning about blogging. It’s definitely a lot of screens!
Screen time is bad enough for your eyes, but what I also noticed, that I was also getting more anxious.
Between the watching the news, the stock market, emails from brands, catching up on more than enough Instagram stories. The list really could go on.
I always felt tired. There seemed to be no escape.
I thought I was feeling overwhelmed was because of my never ending to-do list, but I realized it was actually my relationship with technology and all my devices!
Decluttering my digital life, has drastically improved my relationship with technology.
If you’re in the same boat as me, here are some tips to help you!
10 tips to help you declutter your digital life
#1 Unsubscribe from email lists that you don’t need
Since the coronavirus and Black Lives Matter, every brand has come out of the woodwork in attempting to offer words of comfort. It was eye-opening to see how many brands and newsletters I had subscribed to. Yes, this is 100% my fault.
But I used the opportunity to clean house. Tackling my inbox was a great first step to declutter my digital life!
I’ve become more aware of brands that are emailing me, and if I am no longer interested in the products, I started to unsubscribe. It has made my inbox so much more manageable.
Going through this manually was a pain. But I have heard good things about Unroll.me if you’re looking to go through this exercise yourself!
#2 Clean up apps on your phone that you used that one time
There is probably an app for everything out there. But realistically, maybe we don’t need them all.
I have become more mindful of the apps that I use and deleting those that no longer serve a purpose.
If you feel attached to certain apps and are not ready to part with them yet, you can at least keep your home screen free of clutter. Over time you’ll realize what apps you actually use, and which apps are just taking up space.
#3 Turn off notifications that you don’t need
Another source of overwhelm for me comes from a constant stream of notifications. I have now turned off notifications for emails, social media, and especially news apps.
This way the only notifications I get are for calls and messages. All other forms of communication have to be intentional.
This has also helped me focus a lot better during the day, while working and writing.
#4 – Unfollow people on Instagram/Twitter that aren’t relevant
If you’re like me and have a variety of interests, then chances are you follow brands and influencers in different niches.
Over time, brands or influencers may no longer be relevant, or they may have pivoted their businesses or branding. Unfollow them, if they don’t serve you anymore.
I also found that while planning my own wedding, over a year ago now, I had followed many accounts for inspiration. I no longer needed the inspiration, and have chosen to follow only a handful of accounts that actually inspire me every day!
Cleaning up my Instagram and Twitter feeds has also helps reduce mindless scrolling, as I actually pay attention to and engage with the content I am consuming!
#5 – Delete files from your Desktop & Downloads folder that you do not need
Unsurprisingly, I spend most of my days on my MacBook. I also of course spend a lot of time on the internet, telling myself I am researching ideas for “content”. There are always files and photos that I find that I want to save or look at, but I also forget to delete them once I no longer need them.
Deleting files from my desktop and downloads folders has helped a lot with my sanity!
#6 – Back up your files – that you need
Once you’ve cleaned up your desktop and downloads folder, backup any files that you intend to keep.
I use Google photos to backup my photos, and use external hard drives for other digital files.
Cleaning up my desktop and downloads folders makes me feel like I’m no longer looking at a mess I can’t handle!
#7 – Digital notes and post-its
I use the Apple Notes app heavily, but I had never taken the time to delete notes that were no longer needed or should be saved in a better place.
It was a nice trip down memory to find recipes I had jotted down, or addresses, and phone numbers that I didn’t really need.
#8 – Browser extensions and bookmarks
Similar to apps on my phone, my chrome browser is a place where I experiment. Going through this exercise, I also found bookmarks on Chrome from previous trips, study materials for exams, and other items I no longer find relevant.
I had stopped using both these functionalities, because they had become too overwhelming to deal with!
Decluttering browser extensions and bookmarks were not only cathartic but also reminded me to use the functionality as it can be productive!
#9 – Build a digital declutter routine
Once I started to tackle the areas of my digital life that were making me feel overwhelmed, I scheduled a recurring reminder every 90 days to declutter my digital life.
You can build a routine every 90 days, or schedule a few tasks every month, whichever works with your schedule and workflows.
This exercise in decluttering my digital life has helped me feel less overwhelmed and more focused!
#10 – Let go of perfection
I will admit that I am a perfectionist. If I can’t get things 100%, I feel like there’s no point in even trying.
Over time, I’m sure there will be other areas of my digital life I will find to be cluttered, or I might not have time to go through the entire routine every 90 days. But this is not an all or nothing exercise.
It’s possible to feel better, just by tackling a few of these tasks!
Your Turn
Are there any tips you have to declutter your digital life? I would love to hear if you follow any of these tips!
[…] I spent some time sorting through my digital clutter, and here are some tips if you’re also looking for ways to declutter your digital life. […]