Scholarch's Blog

Digital minimalism: Part 1

Last night I wrote a post on the tech I use saying:

Sometime in the year ahead, I'd like to revisit Cal Newport's ideas in Digital Minimalism and Slow Productivity to discern my current slate of tech and tools.

Well, I afterwards read the first part of Digital Minimalism and am motivated to begin the transformation in earnest.

I'm already convinced by the arguments for reducing one's reliance on technology and for minimizing technology's ability to distract. Indeed, one of the reasons why I like the Bearblog community is because others also reflect on their relationship with technology. So, I'm going to implement what Newport calls the Digital Declutter Process, which entails:

  1. Taking a break from optional technologies in my life for a 30-day period;
  2. While (re)discovering activities and behaviours that are satisfying and meaningful to me;
  3. Subsequently, reintroducing the optional technologies with respect to the value they bring to my life, and with consideration of how such technologies will be used to intentionally maximize that value

That's what it says on the tin, but I'm making one adjustment: I'm extending the 30-day period so that it runs until the end of March 31 of this year, more than two months from now. Why? Testimonials from the book suggest that the standard 30-day window is sufficient, but I want the challenge to truly test my resolve. If this exercise results in a clearer philosophy of technology use (so-called by Newport), then I'm willing to really engage in the training.

Aside from that, to embark on this quest I'll carry out step one of the process which is to define my technology rules. This is needed to clearly qualify what constitutes "optional" and "technology" for otherwise the lack of clarity will render the exercise half-hearted.

Newport suggests that the declutter focus on "new" technologies, involving apps, sites, and tools delivered through a computer or mobile phone screen. Video games and streaming video should be considered in this category. (All this as opposed to "old" technologies like a microwave oven or a dishwasher, which hopefully isn't a source of distraction in one's life like the Internet is lol.)

Well all right, based on that definition and what I currently have in my inventory, I can put away:

"New technologies" that will remain in active use are the following. As Newport suggests specifying "operating procedures" to clarify how a technology is to be used, I also note my intentions for them.

Tangent on reading

I've set my procedures to be—oh, let me use the word—depriving. I've noted the minimal cause for use of each device, with constraints intended to encourage intentionality of use and to actively mitigate dependency. For instance, knowing myself, I need to set an additional parameter so that I don't turn the e-reader into a source of distraction (for, reading, too, can detract from responsibilities elsewhere). Here's what I'm "allowing" myself to read on my Kindle in the next two months:

Granted, I can read any of the physical books I have in my personal library and not affect this exercise, but I've been meaning to declutter that aspect of my life as well given my fondness for the e-reader. I consider it another set of decisions to make in developing my philosophy of technology use.

Remaining commentary

While I enjoy video games, I suppose one thing I'm proud of in my adulthood is having learned how to step away from them for long stretches of time. They aren't essential in my life, and so it's not difficult for me to put aside both the gaming laptop and the handhelds in the next two months. The source of this ease? My friend group enjoys board games so I have a means of getting my gaming fix and socializing.

Relatedly, I don't subscribe to streaming services, so that's a non-starter for me in this challenge. I also don't have a social media presence, so it's not like I have any apps to delete or block. I acknowledge I'm entering this challenge with a considerable head start relative to the average user.

Really, this challenge is to help me address the remnants of the web that I know aren't good for me, or that I need to adjust how much I engage with: the news (Reddit or otherwise), tech blogs, fan communities, etc.