Rethinking Our Relationship with Technology
I have a complicated history with minimalism. What started as an inspiring movement for me eventually turned into a source of frustration. The exclusivity and privilege inherent in mainstream minimalism led me to dismiss it altogether. However, the emergence of digital minimalism sparked my interest once again.
What is Digital Minimalism?
Digital minimalism is about being intentional with our technology use, stripping away unnecessary tools and focusing on what sparks joy. Unlike mainstream minimalism, digital minimalism is accessible to almost everyone, considering 80% of the global population owns a cell phone.
My Digital Declutter Experiment
I was drawn to digital minimalism’s promise of helping me feel grounded and productive. I bought Cal Newport’s book, “Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World,” and embarked on a month-long digital declutter. For a while, it worked. I deactivated my Instagram account, spent less time in front of screens, and focused more on experiencing life. However, the changes didn’t last. I realized that my digital declutter didn’t fundamentally transform my relationship with technology or make me feel better.
Why Digital Minimalism Falls Short
Jenny Odell’s book, “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy,” helped me understand why my digital declutter didn’t lead to lasting happiness. Odell critiques the value of productivity itself, encouraging us to spend less time on social media not to become better workers, but to be more human. Digital minimalism often focuses on optimization, clearing space for consumption of a different kind, which perpetuates the cycle of production and consumption.
Breaking the Cycle
Rather than redirecting our attention towards socially acceptable activities, we need to determine whether and why we believe those activities are worthwhile in the first place. We must interrogate where and how we direct our time and attention, and what those choices say about our values and identities. This involves tuning in to our bodies and adjusting our technology use to make us feel restored, connected, and supported.
6 Questions to Ask for a Better Relationship with Technology
Instead of obsessing over “good” or “bad” technologies, I propose asking ourselves:
- Why am I using this technology?
- How does it make me feel?
- Where does my attention go when I use this technology?
- What are my values, and how does this technology support/detract from them?
- Where am I and what am I doing right now?
- What makes me feel good, and how can I use technology to support that?
These questions won’t provide a quick answer, but they’ll start you down a path of observation and reflection, leading to a more intentional and fulfilling relationship with technology.
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