Digital Minimalism
Title: Digital Minimalism
Author: Cal NewPort
Quote
“Is this technology the best way to support a value? We justify many of the technologies that tyrannize our time and attention with some tangential connection to something we care about. The minimalist, by contrast, measures the value of these connections and is unimpressed by all but the most robust.”
Why I like it
I love my hobbies: Painting, reading, walking, attending community events. These were things I genuinely valued. But somewhere along the way, excessive screen time had quietly taken over. Youtube started as a way to learn about new hobbies, now it’s just entertainment.
There's a concept in the book about the Amish and how they evaluate new technology. They don't reject tools outright, but they ask: what is this for? What value does it serve? Modern Tech culture tends to do the opposite. We adopt first and justify later.
That wasn’t me though. I intentionally left Facebook a decade ago. I cancelled all streaming services last year. But Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, they were tools. Learning about DIY, home decor, FIRE movement all real and useful topics, right? But what would start with good intentions ended up in scrolling for hours and not actually making anything.
That's the lifestyle creep of attention. Digital Minimalism was the mirror I needed.
How I use It
Cal Newport's 30 day digital declutter is simple in theory: step away from optional technologies completely, then only let them back in if they genuinely earn their place. So I tried it. No Instagram, Reddit, or YouTube. No wifi on my laptop after 9pm or before 8am.
What I didn't expect was how quickly the inspiration came back. Within days, ideas started flowing again. I finished two watercolors for my office. I read four books. Wrote 2 blog posts. Went to a board game night. Went to my senate district town hall. Without the noise of the whole world, I found myself being more present to the people and places actually around me.
That’s not to say I was productive 100% of the time. I still found myself browsing Pinterest and playing Stardew Valley on the Switch. But the time spent was much more mindful and aligned with my values.
Now the 30 days are over but the limits stay. 15 minutes on Instagram. One hour on YouTube. Every tool that came back had to answer the same question Newport asks: does this directly support something I deeply value? When the answer is yes, it gets some of my time but not all of it.
