DIGITAL DECLUTTER
Decluttering for a Greener Tomorrow
Discover how small actions make a big impact on our environment
✨ Aah let’s embrace the “modern desire to organize” ✨
Let me tell you a bit about the digital chaos that’s been quietly overwhelming us.
It’s funny how we don’t realize the weight until we accept the task.
E-Waste is real
On a more serious note, research shows that digital decluttering is not only benefiting our mindfulness and productivity. It is also helping us save a considerable amount of CO2 and extend the life of our gadgets.
Each year, the internet and its supporting systems produce more than 900 million tons of CO2. (source)
We can help individually by cleaning up our own e-waste. I know it is at a really small level, but I believe each person’s contribution counts in the quest for a better environment, as well as our mental well-being and health.
E-waste is a health and environmental hazard, containing toxic additives or hazardous substances such as mercury, which damages the human brain and / or coordination system. — E-Waste Monitor
Did you know?
“In the digital world, similar to the environment, there is a huge amount of trash. Unnecessary emails, files, apps, duplicates of photos and videos are all digital waste.
This digital waste creates digital pollution that continues to consume energy even when we have forgotten it. Digital trash sits in the backups on servers that provide us with cloud service and continue consuming electricity.”
Emails galore
A few weeks ago, I started clearing my email inbox, which was as dense as a novel. You can read the story of my finding harmony in email management here. It was a very satisfying process, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to you.
My phone needed a Marie Kondo
As soon as I was over my email disaster, I moved to my phone.
There were a lot of apps on my phone. Some of them I use regularly, and others I downloaded to make my life better but don’t use anymore.
I tried to Marie Kondo my apps to get rid of them if they make me sad or aren’t used anymore.
That fitness app that still needed me to sign up and give my card details? Not going to happen. So I pressed remove app.
What about the paid mindfulness apps? I needed to cut the digital cord and be mindful without using my phone.
OK, I kept going. What next?
Social Media a.k.a. the Bermuda Triangle of work
I needed to rethink how I used social media because I’ve been constantly looking for and liking things that don’t matter. I also tend to create lists that never get used.
Do I really need to follow that person who posts cat jokes every hour? Unfollow.
How about those people who question the choices I make in life? Unfollow.
My feed slowly got more interesting.
I also wanted to avoid those posts about saving all the dogs and the cats. Nothing personal against them; I just don’t have the digital or mental capacity to see more such posts.
Digital files
Getting my digital files in order was the next spiritual practice. I used the digital version of the Dewey Decimal System, which includes rules for names and groups inside folders. Another long process, but totally worth it. Maybe I will write about it in more detail in another article.
Still ongoing but already better
Now you know all the details. I’ve been busy getting rid of all the digital junk. It might not look as good as an Instagram minimalistic clean closet, but its simplicity makes me feel calmer already.
I am feeling stronger and more motivated to keep going and apply the few strategies that have worked so far.
I have the power to take back my online area one email, app, and digital corner at a time, byte by byte!
How about you? Are you applying any strategy regarding digital chaos?
Did you know about the data on E-Waste and the dangers of all those apps running in the background consuming resources while we’re sleeping?
Let me know in the comments. I’m curious to read your thoughts on this topic.
Gabriela is studying to become a full-stack developer while being a mother of three small kids. This requires her to pay for some graduate programs and boot camps to gain experience. She is writing articles on Medium and Substack to inspire others and fund her journey.
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