Hello!

I have a DVD collection of roughly 300 DVDs, and I'd like to digitize my collection. I'm in no rush, so it doesn't need to be done quickly; I know it's going to be a time-consuming venture.

I'd like it to be lossless -- I want to retain special features from the DVDs, etc.

What is the simplest way to do this? Walk me through it step by step like I'm an idiot. What exactly do I need to buy? What hardware and software should I use (to rip? to store? etc.)? What file formats? Do I back everything up on a hard drive? Or in a cloud somewhere? Should I use a Plex server? If so, which one should I buy? How do I set it up?

Again, assume basic competence in using software but no experience with this kind of project.

Thank you in advance!!!

I've seen, particularly on YouTube, many people claiming to be Digital Minimalists but using an iPhone 14, or even 15.

I'm not here to judge the iPhone - actually the opposite (Besides the SE - it is a objective rip off new IMO). It's a powerful device, but that's the point here. The 14 is £600, the 15 is £700, and the next 16 is £800 - this pricing is very standard for iPhone. It's a similar story when looking at high end Samsungs, for example, I only mention iPhone since those phones are consistently high end.

Can that really be used by someone who's trying to be minimalist when there are devices that still have most features for £300 and less? I've only ever used devices in that bracket and I've never really missed out. My screen was duller, as were my cameras, and I had less storage. But the usability wasn't impacted in any meaningful way and all the features people I know used were present on my phones too.

Now I use a £60 phone, and even that can run most things - although it's obviously slower and does lack some features like NFC.

I'm not saying you need to go out and buy that to be minimal, but I'm not sure how I feel about people trying to be minimal with high end devices. What do you think?

View Poll

Some of you may remember me posting here after 6 months, 1 year and 2 years… Well, guess what, it’s been another year!

I’ve tried to take on comments from the previous years and format it a bit friendlier (I’ll even include a TLDR for you lazy lazy boys)

From a high level, here’s what’s changed in the 3 years since deleting:

• I found a quiet ability to simply do the work.
• I can commit to long term goals and not get swept up in trends or new ideas.
• My ability to connect with people and foster relationships is the best it’s ever been.
• My attention span (both long-term and short-term) has improved 10 fold.
• I’m more confident in myself and less needing of validation

These positive changes has lead to these tangible results:

• I retrained from a youth worker to a marketer and have now became a marketing manager (more than doubling my yearly salary and found career satisfaction)
• I ran a marathon!
• I started a youtube channel and got monetised.
• I’m about to start a business and launch a product - a guided social media detox journal.
• I’ve read countless books (ok maybe I could count if I really wanted to).
• I spent 6 months travelling the world with my girlfriend.

Why did you delete social media?

Short story: I was completely addicted and not where I wanted to be in life.

Long story: I grew up a quiet kid and then at the age of around 13 became popular. This shift meant I was never quite comfortable with the people I was hanging around with on a day to day basis. Social media became a way for me to be outgoing and confident with a layer of  protection. It also allowed me to get instant feedback and validation and for someone who never quite felt like he fit in, this was like a drug to me.

Overtime, my addiction to social media grew and grew and before long I was wasting hours and hours everyday just scrolling.

I think it’s perfectly ok to have vices; small things that make day to day life more bearable. But I wasn’t achieving even the bare minimum of what I wanted to. I couldn’t allow myself to keep using such an addictive vice when my life was staying still.

So, 3 years ago on my birthday, I deleted my social media.

What’s been the biggest changes? 

Definitely my focus. I was always that person that’d have a new hobby every  couple of months along with a new life ambition twice a year. I thought this could be ADHD (and heck it still might be), but ultimately what I’ve found is that by reducing my social media content, I’m better able to sit and focus and I get less swept up in latest trends and new passions. This has allowed me to pick goals and accomplish them, rather than pick goals, lose interest and pick new goals.

But you’re on Reddit and Youtube, aren’t they social media?

When I first got rid of social media, I deleted everything including reddit and youtube. I made the choice to come back to youtube pretty quickly after the first 30 days or so as it’s never felt quite right categorising that as social media. To me, it’s just like netflix or TV, it’s media. That being said, I have an addictive personality so I have to be damn careful. I set daily time limits (25 mins) on my phone for youtube. I allow myself longer if it’s on the Playstation because like I said, i see very little difference between that and tv.

I originally allowed myself back on Reddit to share a youtube video I made (and then later these posts), and never felt like my usage got out of hand enough to merit deleting again. Again, I’m very strict on how i  use it; I do not have reddit on my phone, and luckily I’ve never been too drawn to the web version. But reddit has some decent uses for finding genuinely good advice (and a ton of horrendous advice), so it’s a handy resource to have (or check for football transfer news…COYS).

What about your relationships? Did you fall off the face of the earth?

The hard truth of this is that I have lost contact with quite a few people. It’s hard to know how much of that is a consequence of simply growing over 3 years and how much is due to social media. There are some people that I used to be quite close to that I genuinely don’t know what they’re doing now which if I still had instagram I’d be able to be updated with and show support etc. Although this seems kinda sad, clearly neither me or them are bothered enough to message each other so it’s probably a blessing and frees up energy for those I am in contact with. And who knows, maybe 

For everyone else my relationships have improved. I’m better able to give more attention to people and the fact that I’m not constantly seeing their life unfold through  timeline means we always have interesting things to catchup on.

As for meeting new people, that can be a struggle. The first 6 months or so I found myself genuinely craving social interaction and I actually felt quite lonely.

Overtime though I’ve become much more social and better at meeting people and forming relationships. I think I used to satisfy this craving for social interaction with online likes. Now I need to find that in the real world and it’s made me a more approachable, less awkward person because of it.

Advice to others?

Over 3 years, my life has been transformed. I always think, why didn’t I delete sooner? Imagine how much further along in my journey I could be if I deleted earlier. That’s just something I have to live with. But if you’re reading this, wondering if you should delete or not, take this as your sign to delete your social media. Don’t be here next year wondering how much progress you could have made if you started now, just start now. 

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, the second best time is now.

TLDR: Social media did a great job of distracting me from the real problems in my life. By deleting it I was able to tackle these problems, find focus and carve out a life path for myself that I love. Great decision, 10/10 would recommend. 

The Quiet Mind 🧠

The quiet mind is the cognitive state in which you are alone with your thoughts. This state usually unfolds when you have an internal discussion inside your brain. This discussion might go quiet for a while because you notice something around you, and you stop to contemplate it. Then, the internal voice will return for a while and fade away as you notice something else in the world. Rinse and repeat.

This is the default state for the human brain ever since the development of speech.

Why is it important? Here are three key aspects:

• It is calming. If you go for a hike with nothing in your ears, you will feel restored when you return. You will enter a state of mind that will defragment your brain.
• You are able to make sense of yourself and the world around you. Let’s say that maybe you had an experience that elicited pride or shame. You want to learn from that, digest it, and distill it to the point that it makes sense to you. The only way to do that is by reflecting on it.
• You figure out what matters to you. This requires discernment. It requires you to pick up and notice feelings of resonance. To distinguish what goes with your core thoughts and beliefs and what does not. Which is, ultimately, the best way to build your own master narrative.

The current problem is that this state is eliminated by the behavior of constantly looking at our phones. For the first time in human history, we have the opportunity of not being bored at all times. There is an eerie feeling when you look around and see everyone facing down, staring at their phones. And that is because, in some sense, we are not being fully human.

This quiet brain state is inherently human, and we are always sabotaging it.

So, what should we do if we want to regain that state and, ultimately, a piece of our humanity back? Here are four suggestions to help us all achieve that goal.

Make Your Phone More Boring 📱

Take any app where someone else makes more money every time you open it, and delete it from your phone. This applies to social media apps, mobile games, and even YouTube.

What does this make your phone? It makes it the iPhone that Steve Jobs first presented in 2007. Its main uses are:

• Communication
• Audio
• Navigation
• Looking up information relevant to the moment.

So, you are still getting an excellent interface for communication with calls and messages, great tools for music, podcasts, and audiobooks, excellent map services with real-time updates, and access to search for anything on the web on demand.

This was a fantastic vision for a smartphone. It is a very useful tool, but it does not make you reach for it every time there is one lapse of boredom.

In my case, ever since I implemented this, my daily average screen time dropped from ~150 minutes to ~80 minutes — the main culprits: the Instagram app and the Clash Royale mobile game. I’ve been living just fine without these apps for months now, but when I had them, I knew I could go in and play a 3-minute match or scroll down for a few reels.

Guess what? These products are engineered to draw your attention without you even noticing. Before I knew it, I had played five matches instead of one or spent 30 minutes watching random people do random things in who knows what part of the world.

Phone Foyer Method 🔥

People usually don’t want to do this, but it will change the relationship with their phones. This is how it goes:

When at home, keep your phone plugged in in a set location. It can be your kitchen or home office. If you need to do something with your phone, you go to the phone and do it there. Need to call someone? Go to the phone. Need to look something up? Go to the phone. You get the idea.

By doing this, you don’t eliminate any phone use but eliminate immediate access to it. So, when you are having dinner and feel bored, you don’t reach out to your phone in your pocket. You embrace that this is dinner time, and if you want to make it less boring, then it is up to you to get more comfortable with your thoughts.

Even better, if you are having dinner with your family, focus on them and have a good conversation. It goes a long way.

Since I have been doing this, I can get so much more done. And I don’t do things just for the sake of doing them. What I mean here are things that I have actually been wanting to do for a while (like keep writing in this newsletter), and I could not seem to find the time.

Don’t Read on Your Phone 🚫

Don’t get me wrong. Reading material is excellent. But your phone is not supposed to be a device where you scroll to read. This advice should help you disengage your phone from your reading habits.

Email newsletters are a great way to read quality material. But even so, the recommendation is to send the articles to a reading app or your Kindle. You can also read them on your computer or tablet.

Because these devices are less portable, you will have the opportunity to choose a place to do your reading. See it as something ritualistic, even magical — very different from always reaching out in your pocket.

You can go to a coffee shop on Sunday morning to catch up with articles of interest.

I certainly do a version of this, where I save all the articles of the newsletters I subscribe to and read them on Sunday morning while having my first coffee. It is a ritual now and a great way to stay up-to-date with the content I decided to be exposed to.

Practice Boredom 🎈

Be alone with your own thoughts. It will take some time, but you will get used to this.

Try to run errands without listening to music or a podcast; don’t bring your phone or bring it in the backpack if you are expecting an important call. This is a time of deliberate practice, which should be intentional. So, practice being alone with that internal voice.

You will start to find out that, more often than not, creativity sparks from our moments of extreme boredom. And this is a great thing. It is especially useful when raising kids. Instead of giving them some device where they can spend hours entertained watching a screen, you tell them to go out and play in the backyard. I bet they will come up with very creative ways to stay entertained.

Hi everybody,

I was just wondering how can the Stayfree app be free, but proposing the same cross-device sync as freedom ? Will they collect all my data and sell them to gain money ? I have a hunch that it's not a good idea to use StayFree but can't tell why, does somebody know ?

How have people managed to stop using Facebook without feeling like your out of the loop with the local community and happenings in the area and local shop specials as they all communicate through Facebook nowadays.

Especially since local newspapers no longer print. Been using for around 15 +years and I'm twiddling my thumbs.

(In South Australia and we no longer have the local Messenger or Southern times)

I know app recommendations isn't the best idea in a minimalism space, but unfortunately I've found that on my phone despite deleting social media apps or adding timers, I've started just logging in through the awful mobile Web versions.. I have zero reason for it beyond straight up boredom as even the games on my phone do nothing for me sometimes.

But, I keep getting adverts saying "learn something instead of doomscrolling!" But they're all paid for. Which I understand - but why would I, unemployed and penniless, pay for that when social media is right there instead for free?

I like the idea of learning but I'm not a big reader. Like in school I was a practical learner rather than read a bunch of textbooks.

So does anybody know of one that is actually free? Or at least has a free version though limited? Wikipedia doesn't count lmao

If you struggle with procrastination, you need to understand what's causing it and how to overcome it. Procrastination isn't a lack of discipline. You are 100% disciplined to your current behavior. Procrastination is a freeze response, caused by a fear signal.

Fear signal is released when the stress response system in your brain is activated. The stress response system is activated when one or both things happen:

1. When the subconscious mind recognizes a potential pain or danger that can happen as a result of performing the task.

2. When the subconscious mind sees the task as a waste of energy (outside of the comfort zone, not a habitual pattern).

Procrastination is a protection mechanism, and also an energy conservation mechanism. You shouldn't try to change the effect (procrastination), you should change what's causing it. The root of the problem. There are multiple causes to it, and therefore multiple solutions.

Motivation isn't the cause of the problem, it is an effect. This is how the brain tricks you into not wanting to perform the task. When the stress response system is activated, the motivation circuits in your brain significantly decrease.

This is one of the brain's way to stop you from performing the task. You cannot always have motivation, it's not something you can control directly like a button. You can affect it indirectly and learn how to be motivated more frequently and even act without it.

So:

• You are not lazy.
• Watching motivational videos will not fix the problem.
• Trying to change your behavior with will power isn't effective, since your subconscious controls about 95% of your behavior.
• Rewiring your subconscious mind is the answer.

I'm trying to block myself out of some websites but I need permission from my work IT department to install Chrome extensions. What is the most basic site blocker with the least security risk? A lot of them say they need permissions to see the content of webpages I visit. I just need something that looks at a URL I am trying to visit, and if it is on the list of bad URLs, blocks it from loading or something. I can't do any Windows-level stuff because I don't have admin permissions.

Hey so like the title says I deleted all social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and oh yes YouTube. I can always access it on my laptop but I want to do a 3 month break from everything then I may at least resume YouTube. In the meanwhile what do I do? I just feel kinda bored I’m new to this I wanted to focus on my last college semester and losing weight but I haven’t felt this bored in ages lol 😂 so now what? Any helpful tips and tricks would suffice.

Your children, atleast in their formative years, learn as much from watching you, watching what you do & from their environment as they learn from what you communicate verbally to them.

If you’re aggressive with your spouse or your colleagues or if you are sarcastic, abusive, condescending, dismissive, angry or ignorant to the people around you, that is exactly the kind of behavior your child will imbibe to a certain degree.

If you are sitting at the desktop or on the phone with your neck bent over it for the majority of the day, that is the kind of life your kid will emulate & live out too. Somewhere they will tell themselves, albeit unconsciously, that the virtual worlds that mommy & daddy peer into their devices with bent necks & folded arms is more fascinating than the world outside of it.

Even with their developing brains, they will for sure find it hypocritical if you ask them or scold them to not spend excessive time on screens and devices when you yourself spend the better part of your day on a screen.

You are leading them up for screen addiction sooner or later because all they see is how mom or dad just cannot stop using these digital devices themselves.

Not to mention that the age by which kids now have access to personalized screens like Ipad or a smartphone has dropped lower and lower over time. What used to be ages of 10 or 15 two decades ago before a child could access a smartphone has now dropped down to as low as 3 or 5.

A 2020 study conducted in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan of 346 English-speaking parents or guardians with kids between the ages of 3 to 5 found that: “The sample comprised 126 Android users (35 tablets, 91 smartphones) and 220 iOS users (143 tablets, 77 smartphones); 35.0% of children had their own device*. The most commonly used applications were YouTube, YouTube Kids, Internet browser, quick search or Siri, and streaming video services.* Average daily usage among the 121 children with their own device was 115.3 minutes/day (SD 115.1; range 0.20–632.5) and was similar between Android and iOS devices.”

Parents need to be mindful that in addition to denying access & creating barriers between their kids & addictive technologies, they themselves need to de-addict & distances themselves from their devices AND more importantly live a fun & happening life alongside it rich with hobbies, quality social connections and great family time. Because the impression that you want to leave on your kids is not just of digital minimalism but that by minimizing digital time-spend, you actually get to live a fantastic life in place of it.

When your kids see the fun things they will miss out on if they spend too much time on their devices, they will atleast have something worth abstaining digitally from. Doesn’t mean they are immune to the lure of the web and they will be renounce their devices with open arms.

You will still have to fight for it because the dopamine high of the social medias & digital graphics is too strong for their nascent developing brains. But at the very least you will have a fighting chance of raising them right, in this generation that is born into digital, where the entire ecosystem is centered around digital technology, where even before kids reach the age of 10 they are addicted, dependent & shaped by their devices and have with very little frame of reference outside of their digital worlds.

The last thing you want while quitting social networks is to deepen the emotional hooks created by these platforms in your brain and for your inbox to light up like a Christmas tree with all the endearing messages of encouragement coming in from friends & strangers alike.

I get where the idea comes from. Most people believe making a public declaration of the beginning of their recovery will keep them socially accountable like it usually does in the case of other addictions like drugs, alcohol and smoking.

It a mechanism based on shame & guilt, where it would be too shameful for you to break from a social vow you’ve committed to even if it is a bunch of strangers online that you’ve never met or never will meet ever. You’d feel guilty on a personal level & even more guilty telling your close ones that you broke a promise you made.

i. The problem with using the same method for digital addiction is that unlike other addictions where you’re intervening a substance addiction with a social mechanism, in the case of digital addictions, the cause of the addiction & the medium of intervention are one and the same.

When you post online that you’re about to quit a certain platform, friends will tell you they’ll miss you and send you emojis. Strangers will tell you how brave you are for taking this decision and how they need to follow your path soon.

The messages will be overwhelmingly positive and it would be the most traction you will have received in a long time for something you’ve posted.

All those emotions will latch on to your emotional state which is already shaky & disoriented while you’re quitting the app because let’s face it, you’re quitting from a point of despair. This will cause a high first & will be followed by a subsequent come down. You want to avoid that.

To imagine it in an analogy, it would be like trying to quit alcohol by going on a weekend bender.

ii. Messages and comments are one of the strongest hooks that keep you returning to your devices. There is a reason why the brightest red color has been assigned to messages & notifications.

It is evolutionarily engraved in us to cherish & crave for social connection. It is very difficult to stay away from your device when you know a bunch of messages are waiting in your Inbox or a bunch of conversations are half-completed in your chats.

Even after deleting your apps or platforms, you’ll be wondering if someone has commented on your last post, if your post has received any up-votes, if someone has tried reaching out by messaging and you will get the urge to visit the problem platform again.

The voice inside your mind will go: “I’ve quit it. One last time won’t hurt”

Iii. Unlike substance addictions, digital technology is something that is completely enmeshed in our work & personal lives today and something that we are reliant on for day to day functioning.

You can go go to work tomorrow without indulging in alcohol or junk food but you cannot work without replying to a bunch of emails, attending a few online meeting and answering calls i.e. without using your phone or laptop.

For substances, the drug in question is physical & foreign which need to be purchased, transported, deposited or sanctified in your home. For digital addictions, the drug is on you every given moment of the day & the Internet is ethereal and omnipresent.

Unlike substance addictions where the act of indulgence is more physical and conscious where you feel an urge & act upon it, even if it’s against your desire to, in the case of digital addictions, it takes a single, unconscious touch, scroll or swipe to stray & relapse.

This makes digital addiction a different specie of addiction altogether with it’s different interventions & remedies.

The chances that you’ll fail or relapse in digital addiction is higher in digital addictions and you do not want to create a habit of failing on your social declarations because over time you will become apathetic to this method of intervention. Neither do you want to lie and secretly continue to use the apps and have it weigh on your conscience.

---`

Next time you decide to quit, just do it in the most nonchalant way. Don’t tell your friends, don’t make a post, don’t make a declaration, don’t message anyone. Shut that voice in you head that is daydreaming looking back at things cinematically.

Instead just delete your profiles & treat it like a skill that you’re learning. Expect to fail & rise over time, repeatedly. Set the goal to be more mindful over-time. Trust me, you will have your moment of fame when you adhere to digital minimalism over a long duration of time.

When your close friends or people that actually matter ask you why they cannot see you online, when you joyfully find yourself unaware of the latest celebrity gossip or when you tell someone to send a screenshot of a social media post instead of the link they sent, they will inadvertently be curious and you will end up telling them why and their reaction will be that much more pronounced, louder and rewarding.

I'm still working on my setup LOL 3 years later.

■ phone □ laptop ■ websites

I guess I did decently. I'm pretty happy with my online presence usage finally and data online again.

I use my phone productively. The last thing is fixing my work flow on my laptop to make it optimal for studying and working. And then, winner winner chicken dinner.

You know, it took me a few years (middle, high school, and a year in college) to originally turn my laptop into a workstation.

I mistakenly made my devices into a media consumption device in 2015 (that was the trend) and realized the trap in 2019 but fell into it cuz of covid response until 2022 when I tried to reintegrate back into society

Recently, I have finally succeeded at dumbifying my iPhone with zero workarounds. No social media or any other addictive feed-like apps are available on my phone anymore, I have pretty much stripped it down to it's basic functions (phone, messaging, gps, macro tracking, etc.). There is zero way for me to turn these restrictions off. However, since doing this, I have run into another problem. I have turned to my macbook air to check all my social media platforms, and I was wondering if anybody else had any tips for making my laptop strictly utilitarian aswell instead of another cheap dopamine rectangle. Let me know if anyone else has tried something similar and what tips and outcomes you've had! Thanks :)

https://youtu.be/RYruuhcA7Cw?si=lyKb4Ivmb2cfF_w-

Video (It’s NOT Minimalism: Conscious Computing for Beginners) by Ryder Carroll, the inventor of the Bullet Journal

Thought this was interesting. Considering our technology use with a 5 factor model: Inputs, Throughputs, Stayputs, Compute and Outputs

I had the grand idea to make a long, thought out post regarding this topic, but I decided I just wanted to ramble instead :)

I estimate my dedication
to DM occurred about 2 years ago. In Fall 2022, a coworker of mine got me into
reading again. It started with thrillers - easy to hook you in and I was so into the book, I wanted to keep reading. When I was young I was a huge reader, which fell off after I turned about 13, which also coincides with me spending more and more time on social media.

Here’s my history. I’m 24 years old, which puts me in Gen Z. I had a childhood without a phone, but got my first sliding phone at about age 11-12. I got my first iPhone (an iPhone 4!) approximately age 13-14. Like most people, it was so hard for me to disengage from my phone. I would use it in my spare time, sneak glances during classes, etc. I gradually lost the hobbies I had as a kid: bike riding, writing stories, and reading are the main ones I can remember. During the pandemic was the worst – if I remember correctly, my screen time indicated between 8-10 hours of phone use per day. I would rotate between the same 3 apps (Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit) endlessly.

My current stint at digital minimalism was definitely not my first. It took many tries to fully establish the habit of choosing to use my phone as a tool rather than a device in which to occupy my time. I’d like to share some tips I’ve implemented along the way. Keep in mind, using just one or two of these tips will likely not be enough for you to rewire your habits. It also requires a lot of repetition. You need to keep making the choice to put your phone down, to find something else to do. The good news is that with time, this choice becomes a lot easier, and your brain will eventually rewire to the point where it prefers other activities.

Keeping an eye on your screentime is the most obvious place to start. I used the default Apple screentime for most of these 2 years, it should do you well. If you’re not ready to immediately delete all of your social media, try limiting your screentime to an hour or two less to begin with. For example, if you’re using your phone 8 hours a day, try and set a goal to use it only for 6-7 hours. I haven’t used this feature in a while, but I’m pretty sure you can set app time limits per day if that’s how you’d like to approach it. However, if you’re reducing screen time, you need to find something else to fill your time with. Otherwise, you risk getting sucked right back into your phone. For me, it was easy to substitute screentime with reading. As previously mentioned, it was a main hobby for me as a young one. I’d love to talk further about getting back into reading for anyone interested.

In general, find less reasons to use your phone. Many folks suggest charging your phone away from your bed. I recommend this as well and have been using a regular alarm clock for years. If you read on your phone, I highly suggest a Kindle for those who prefer an e-reader. Other options are typical paper books or audiobooks. It takes practice, but try to start placing your phone away from you when you’re home. Even if it’s still within arm’s reach but you have to lean forward to grab it, adding this little speed bump can help you be more mindful in your choice to use your phone.

I’d like to add that my flexibility regarding using my phone has shifted with time. When I was first breaking out of the habit, I was very strict regarding phone usage. I refused to use a search engine on my phone unless it was urgent. I am lucky enough to share an iPad with my partner and so began using this as my main technology tool – I used it for Googling, using the grocery store app, displaying recipes while cooking, etc. I needed to do this until I was able to build trust with myself to know that I wasn’t going to get sucked in. However, as time went on, I became a little looser with my usage. I do limit my searching on my phone, but I am mindful about this. I use the Kroger app on my phone, both to add ingredients to my shopping list and I have the app open while I’m in the store. This was a tough decision to make, however I decided this was a tool that ultimately improved my quality of life, and I made peace with the increased screen time as a result.

I’d like to share where I am regarding my usage present day. As mentioned, I still use the iPad as my main technology tool. However, I’m getting a little impatient sharing the iPad with my partner, so we may be looking into getting one on my own J Using a larger device helps me stay mindful about my usage. I do enjoy using Reddit and Facebook, but as time has gone on, I find I have a lot less patience for it. Being online is annoying! But I keep Reddit around specifically to engage with others that share my identities and/or hobbies. Otherwise, I may use the iPad for drawing or casually researching topics of interest. My other hobbies include reading (of course), cross stitch and embroidery. Next week I plan to do a version of a “digital detox” and maybe avoid texting entirely! In this case, I plan to keep in touch with friends via a phone call or setting up a time to hang out in person.

I’m happy to answer any questions! If you made it this far, thanks for reading my ramble :)

What are some easy to do things that can scratch my itch to use the phone or PC for viewing unwanted things and wasting time? (like YT,reddit, reading stupid articles etc)?

It must be an easy activity which allows me to de-focus, while not being mind numbing like the phone.

Please recommend something other than the standard ones like music, reading etc. I want variety.

Basically looking for a physical version of the app Sleepcycle, feel like it’s lost its touch recently.

So basically an alarm where you choose a 30min window and it wakes you up when you’re sleeping your lightest by using a movement sensor.

So far I’ve found 2 that appear to do it, the Withings Aura and the ResMed S+. Anyone got some recommendations?

Thanks

Digital minimalism doesn’t work in the traditional sense. You can change phones, add blocking apps, strip down app experiences, reduce content consumption, but then what?

I’ve spent years working toward a more minimal footprint and this advice might not be for everyone, but here’s what I’ve found.

No matter how many steps you take toward a digitally minimal lifestyle, unless you lead into the journey with replacement activities and passions, you’ll be left feeling lonely and “bored”.

Try to remember the most engaged you’ve ever been in an experience — maybe a day where you were working on a hobby or with a person you really enjoy. Remember the feeling of coming back to your phone at the end of the day and seeing notifications, news articles, social media posts, and not feeling like you missed a single thing?

You can’t replicate this kind of feeling every day. Life is full of moments that encapsulate you, but if you lead into a digitally minimal lifestyle with the knowledge that time is meant to be filled (even if that means being alone, meditating, exercising, or calling a loved on) you’ll have a lot more success.

Apps have the ability to block you from ingesting content, effectively, too. But the staying power of digital minimalism is filling that void with meaning — whatever that means to you.

It’s impossible to not feel lonely and isolated when you deprive yourself of digital usage based on “app-created sanctions” alone. Lead with intent and a plan on how to fill the time first, and you’ll find the apps supplement your journey, but don’t define it by slapping you on the hand.

This won’t apply to everyone, but from what I’ve experienced, the only way to cut down on screen time in general is to NEVER rely on software solutions. Rely on HUMAN solutions. Rely on being engaged in what brings you joy. Get lost in your town or city, do something that you never thought you’d do just to keep your mind guessing.

Life flies by fast as you age because we fall into repetitive habits that don’t stimulate your mind but rinse over you like lukewarm water until it’s time for bed. If you surprise yourself, take a left turn at the park instead of a right turn, you’ll find something NEW — something that reminds you that you’re living in a dynamic universe where your love and passion will return back to you in contentment and balance ten fold.

Wishing you all the best on your journey, and I hope this helps someone.

I have practiced the "dont watch any tv alone" rule for a while but I accidentally stopped doing that and just got really into books and ambient background music on the tv while I read. it was awesome, but felt unsustainable. Might try again soon i don't know. Link to full article below if interested.

https://medium.com/soul-magazine/goodbye-narrative-897ec86daded

I had this kind of thought for a while and wanted to see if anyone else has felt this and/or their thoughts. for some context I am neurodivergent person so maybe this is not others' experience so much as mine. (also not sure if there's a better sub for this so just trying here)

I keep running into the thought that for me personally there's something so weird about how many strangers I see talking about things to "me" but I have no physical ties or relationships to. sometimes it's in obvious ways such as thoughtlessly judging myself or others too quickly because of how others in my algorithm would, but sometimes just the fact that I'm seeing all these people on a screen is weird for my brain. it also feels like I've integrated their eyes into my own sense of self and my perspective on life and I live with a veil of that draped over reality, so I get strong desires to cut out consuming any kind of content or social media, but in the end don't really do that and just get back to the dopamine of scrolling, like many others.

wondering if there's anything about this? I can imagine we weren't originally built to be "in contact" with as many people as we are but curious on others' perspective

I have been using my phone as an alarm clock for years, but recently thought about changing this up. A simple minimal alarm clock could be a great way to reduce screen time before bed and also much healthier for getting out of bed in the morning. Does anyone know of a simple minimal no-thrills alarm clock that would fit this need.

Hi all! I’m working on an idea for a potential product aimed at helping people who want to embrace or enhance a digital minimalist lifestyle. Before moving forward, I’d love to get insights from this community to ensure I’m building something that truly aligns with your needs.

I’m looking for a few volunteers to participate in a short market research study. Your input would be invaluable in shaping this project and making it as helpful as possible. I'm looking to have a call (video not necessary if you don't want to) around 20-30 minutes.

If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to comment or DM me. Thank you!

Hi all,

I have been working on leading a digital minimalistic lifestlye for around 2-3 years. This has had its ups and downs, sometimes I'm completely offline, sometimes I'm on socials.

I have a job where I'm never really in one place for too long. I've spent the last 2 years travelling A LOT for work and then trying to catch up with friends when home. Now a lot of my friends have left the city to do their own thing, and I'm realising I only have 1 or 2 friends in the city.

Without friends around me, and being offline, I realise I barely keep in contact with anyone. I don't post on social media, so nobody knows where I am and therefore I'm never invited out anywhere. Or I think maybe people assume I'm with friends as I'm always travelling for work - but actually I'm mostly alone.

I'm sure most of us have experienced a loss of friendships from coming offline - I'm wondering how you navigate this and prevent loneliness?

Hello,
looking at getting a "dumb phone" but ones on the market don't interest me. was looking at getting a Blackberry just for the use of calls and text, keyboard and nostalgia but thinking about it, i think i really need whatsapp, came up with the idea of getting an older smartphone like a iPhone 6 so on Samsung 7 so on, but will it drag me back into just using it as much as my iPhone 14 pro, the whole point is to take a brake.