By Crystal Zanders, More Life, Less Stuff Freelance Writer
I spent most of 2024 stressed out — it felt like one thing after another. Luckily, everything has worked out, but dealing with it gave me a new perspective on stress.
There are a lot of things in life we have no control over. When bad things happen, we choose how we are going to respond. I have learned to identify the energy-wasters in my life and to do what I can to declutter my mind so that after I deal with the real problems, I have more space and energy to live my life and experience joy. More joyful life, Less joyless stuff.
While reading online forums about having less stuff, I learned about digital decluttering, a relatively new concept. I realized that much of the time I spend using technology is ‘energy-wasting’ instead of ‘joy-bringing.’ So, I am starting my decluttering process there.
To be clear, I am not anti-technology. There are some ways that it helps us create a better, more enriching, more fulfilled life. I work remotely and live far from many of my friends and family. I am very grateful for current technology because not only does it enable folks with disabilities to live fuller lives, but it also allows us to connect with each other. However, it can also distract and disrupt life.
This isn’t about judging folks or myself for using technology but about making sure the technology is bringing life, not just more stuff.
So, how do we optimize the use of technology to create more life? How can we be purposeful about when, where, and why we use it — so that we are using it, it isn't using us?
Ask yourself, how much time are you spending in digital spaces?
Before I could begin to declutter, I had to stop and take stock of how much time I was spending in digital spaces and what I was doing during that time. Luckily, my phone tracks that for me.
Due to health issues, I spent the holidays alone. So, I spent more time using technology. I want to make sure I am spending my unstructured time doing things that matter to me. For example, I spent almost eight hours on my phone on New Year's Day.
Four hours were spent on calls and texts to and from people I care about. For me, connecting with them was a good use of technology. However, it might not have been such a good idea if I had been surrounded by family and/or friends in person. So, be sure to consider the context.
I spent another hour on YouTube. Since I listen to news and documentaries on YouTube while walking my dogs, I consider that an hour well-spent. I was outside getting fresh air and exercise, a positive use of time and technology.
The last three hours of my screen time were split between an online game and social media. I see my online gaming as neutral. It helps me relax. Some people knit; I play merge games. Learn more about healthy gaming.
That week, in addition to my groceries, I bought some dog toys. I felt guilty because, in an attempt to buy less stuff, I gave my dogs last year’s toys for Christmas. When you put a dog toy away for a few months, then bring it back out, dogs treat it like a new toy. Now that I think about it, I wonder if my guilt came from me or from the daily emails that I get from the pet supply store. Was this my idea, or was it a result of the targeted ads that I see all the time on social media because I have purchased dog food online?
My relationship with social media is more complicated because some of my time there is associated with my work. I use Facebook to network with writers around the world; LinkedIn is where I connect with other academics; I do some of my research on Reddit.
On New Year's Day, however, I was just reading and watching random things. I spent time watching a video of a dog hopping through the snow over and over again. I read comments to see how "the internet" responded to the news of a reality TV star's imminent (and third?) divorce. Although I find all of this entertaining, looking at my digital use with a critical eye, I need to consider:
Am I on social media because I am afraid that I'll miss out on something? If I go to social media for entertainment, am I having fun? (Dog video, yes. Reality star, not really.)
A University of Michigan study found that the more time people spent on Facebook, the less happy they were. Social media can increase feelings of anxiety and depression, especially in children and teenagers. For young people, this problem has gotten so bad that the US surgeon general is calling for a warning label on social media platforms. More Life, Less Social Media.
In my years of working in education, I've learned that kids tend to emulate what you do, not what you say. So, our relationship with technology affects the children in our lives. We have to be careful that what’s supposed to entertain us isn't bringing us down instead.
If you aren't benefiting from the use of this technology, then it might be time to digitally declutter your life–set time limits, especially on social media and the news.
How is your use of technology impacting your life?
- What & who matters most to you in life?
- How much time are you spending on those things and with those people?
- Is your relationship to technology interfering with your relationships with people?
- Is the time you are spending with technology improving your life?
- Would using less technology give you more life?
- Are there things in your technology usage that aren't serving you or connecting you with what and who matters the most?
- When looking at entertainment, are you having fun?
The More Life, Less Stuff campaign hopes to inspire you to connect with your community and use less stuff (technology included!) Stay tuned for Part 2 of digital decluttering: Set limits for your digital use.