how to declutter your tech life to find more joy + meaning

Studies show that at the quantities we are ingesting digital content, there is a backlash of some of the highest rates of loneliness and depression, yet we’re led to believe that these tools are to help us live fuller, more connected lives. What do you make of that? And what’s their impact on you?

As we head into the holiday season, it can be a great time to reflect before we look ahead. One consideration is to do a full or partial digital detox in order to clear your mind of the external noise and inputs that happen in our relationships with our devices.

Phones, tablets, computers, social media... they’re all simply tools, neither good nor bad inherently. It’s how we use them and are in relationship to them that matters.

I spoke with Georgetown professor and acclaimed author Cal Newport about his studies on digital minimalism and broke out our interview (you can read it in its entirety here) into a few highlights to help you get to the core of the matter:

-what’s a digital declutter and how can it improve your life? (45 seconds)

-the science-backed benefits of real-world interaction over digital ones (25 seconds)

-phone office hours: how to make time to stay in touch (29 seconds)

-the formula for a thriving social life (even when you’re busy) (21 seconds)

-why quality non-digital hobbies are “like a magic pill” (24 seconds)

There’s no prescription or judgment here on what to do with this information.

Once you have an awareness of something, the next step is to run it through your circumstances and see how you choose to digest it, without defensiveness or automatically going back into an old habitual action.

What’s your biggest takeaway from this, and how (if at all) will that impact your relationship with yourself and others in real life vs online going forward?