My Digital Declutter - Reflections
So I’m at the end of the one-month digital declutter inspired by Cal Newport’s book Digital Minimalism. For the last 30 days I haven’t used personal social media or played games on my phone, haven’t been walking around with headphones on 24/7, and haven’t been listening to anything while driving.
Here are some observations, confessions, and thoughts about where to go from here.
SOLITUDE
On of Newport’s biggest themes in the book (that I took away from it) is the importance and value of solitude. There are so many distractions that become habitual that we find ourselves without any real moments of solitude.
I definitely enjoyed time just thinking, and truly enjoyed it. When I was walking, driving, sitting around, or laying on the hammock (missed that a ton), I didn’t find myself pining for the phone or focusing on the absence of external stimulation. It was great, and I look forward to keeping that in my life.
I even had a few revelations about problems I was trying to solve at work or home. Felt good to think uncluttered.
PAPER
As much as I love audiobooks, reading paper books is nice. I’d done some things with audiobooks to enable me to take notes, but there’s nothing like marginalia. I have a beautifully marked up copy of Brittany Hodak’s Creating Superfans, and I do believe that reading the paper book helped me see things that I wouldn’t have caught in the audio as easily, if at all.
As far as games go, it’s been a fun little adventure to try to get the New York Times crossword puzzle from the library. It certainly helps that I work in the library, but I have somewhat enjoyed going to the periodicals section to get the day’s NYT. It is frustrating that the paper is in use or has been taken somewhere else many times, and that the library doesn’t have the Sunday magazine, so no Sunday xwords this month. Maybe I’ll go back into the app for the crossword, but i worry b/c the app also has other very attractive games. Probably a good place to try Screen Time
SCREEN TIME
Apple’s Screen Time has been somewhat helpful in thwarting temptation, but it is a bit too easy to override. That’s been my downfall with the browser installed or with work social apps. it’s too easy to say “Ignore for 15 minutes” (even though you have to hit it twice for it to stick). Still, 15 minutes at a time is better than two hours without realizing two hours have gone by, so I think I’ll keep Screen Time on. I might look into the Freedom app, but not certain I want to organize that much control.
SAFARI BROWSER ON IOS
The biggest time-suck I’ve found and the hardest to shake has been the browser on the iPhone. That portal into so many other time wasters has killed my screen time avoidance this month. While I don’t know that he said it this way, I see a great reason now that Steve Jobs didn’t want to add a browser to the iPhone. It’s a gateway to a world that brings nothing to Apple, save a little more affinity for the device because it has a browser. Apple Music brings revenue, phone service brings revenue, but the browser is a massive world of advertisements, products and services that Apple gets virtually nothing out of. The browser may in fact be truly evil.
I’m going to continue to force periods of no browser on the phone and see if that can become the norm rather than the exception for me. If I want to use a browser, I’m ok with having to grab and pop open a laptop. And now I can see how that really is different. Using the browser on the phone feels almost shameful because it’s so small and hidden from the world around you. A laptop or PC helps to make browsing a bit more of a task than a habit.
ADDING BACK
I mentioned possibly adding back the NYT crossword app (still on the fence) after the month ends. There are other things that I truly miss that I would like to test out.
I really miss listening to podcasts. Business and casual ones, both. Here’s what I’m thinking to see how these fit back in:
BUSINESS PODCASTS
I do feel like several of the marketing-related ones I subscribed to provide insights, solutions, and innovations that help. I’m going to try two of those: This Old Marketing with Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose—-such a wonderful roundup of marketing news with two guys who are consummate experts in the field of content marketing—-and Marketing Made Simple with Dr. J.J. Petersen and April “Sunshine” Hawkins—-past guests of the Library Marketing Book Club, and proponents of the Storybrand methodology that I completely believe in.
I’m still going to listen to these at 1.5x speed, which I feel doesn’t take away from the content, and saves some time that can be used for other purposes.
The others that I listened to with some regularity will be missed, but here’s a thing I noticed (even when I was listening to them). I kind of almost dreaded listening to them, not because they were bad, but because it felt like a chore. It meant I’d HAVE to listen to them before I could get to the podcasts I really liked and valued. Did I learn new things? Sure! But then those were new things I now had to ALSO figure out how to incorporate in my work and life. The cost wasn’t worth the benefit, but I figured that it was keeping my mind occupied with some benefit, so not much harm. Not true. (Not going to mention any by name because that’s not important and they’re good people with good content, just not as valuable for me as the ones I mentioned).
CASUAL PODCASTS
I definitely miss my humor and pop culture podcasts, but again see some of the same scale of ones that I truly enjoy versus ones that I enjoy in the moment.
The one that I’m going to resume is Stop Podcasting Yourself with Dave Shumka and Graham Clark. The podcast is thoroughly enjoyable, and I’m going to extend it to the bonus content they offer for subscribers to the podcast network because those episodes are just as, if not more fun than the main feed. This is the podcast that one time I laughed so hard at that I wrecked my car. I miss it terribly and hope that I enjoy it as much when I turn it back on.
AUDIOBOOKS
I will be reading the paper copies of the books for the book club, but may also see about resuming listening to the audiobooks. The audiobook listening gave me the opportunity to listen to the books a few extra times, and while it’s not quite the same experience, I do feel like more listens helps with my comprehension, especially if it’s been a few weeks since I’ve read the book and I want to be up to speed for the book club meetings.
WHEN TO LISTEN
Will I pop the headphones back on to listen with ever walking, sitting, and chore-doing moment? I don’t plan on it. Will I plan times where all I do is sit and listen to podcasts or audiobooks? I don’t know that I see that either.
I think I’ll try three times: 1. daily commute, 2. doing chores, 3. air travel. Other times that i’d typically fill my ears with things—-walking around town, spending time with the dogs, working on hobbies, driving new places—-I prefer to be observing and enjoying the experience. Okay, maybe on solo road trips on I-10 or I-95 would be an exception, but I’ll see. Those could be good times to catch up on phone calls. Something I didn’t really do as much this first month.
PRODUCTIVITY AND FOCUS
I definitely feel more focused and have seen an increase in my productivity and creativity during the month. I often find myself behind schedule with things and missing details. While this wasn’t a 180 in that respect, I know I’ve gotten more work done, come up with more creative solutions to things, and been closer to on-time with assignments and expectations than before. I look forward to the time when that’s changed enough for people to recognize it and point it out.
RECOMMENDED?
Yep, I recommend everyone give the 30-day declutter a try. I bet most of us don’t realize how much solitude we lack, how much we actually are on our small screens, and what the world really looks like today. I highly recommend reading Cal Newport’s Digital Minimalism, and seeing how your own declutter helps. And if you do try it, let me know in the comments how it goes, or send me an email.
Thanks for listening!