The world has changed since the first iPhone was released in 2007. The smartphone has transformed the way many of us live. We’re always “on”, always reachable, forever checking and refreshing.


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The world has changed since the first iPhone was released in 2007. The smartphone has transformed the way many of us live. We’re always “on”, always reachable, forever checking and refreshing.

Long hours spent on social media, staring at a phone during dates and family reunions, or texting while driving – these are abnormal, extreme behaviors. We just don’t see them this way because they’ve become so common.

Long hours spent on social media, staring at a phone during dates and family reunions, or texting while driving – these are abnormal, extreme behaviors. We just don’t see them this way because they’ve become so common.


If you’d like to reclaim your life by radically reducing the time you spend online, you may be interested in “digital minimalism”, an idea promoted by computer science professor and popular blogger Cal Newport.

If you’d like to reclaim your life by radically reducing the time you spend online, you may be interested in “digital minimalism”, an idea promoted by computer science professor and popular blogger Cal Newport.


His book Digital Minimalism: Choosing A Focused Life in a Noisy World, is a manifesto for reclaiming your life from the online giants that make fortunes from your attention.

His book Digital Minimalism: Choosing A Focused Life in a Noisy World, is a manifesto for reclaiming your life from the online giants that make fortunes from your attention.


Newport defines digital minimalism as a philosophy of technology that’s about focusing on a small number of very important things while gladly giving up everything else. It’s based on three principles: the cost of mental clutter, optimization and intentionality.

Newport defines digital minimalism as a philosophy of technology that’s about focusing on a small number of very important things while gladly giving up everything else. It’s based on three principles: the cost of mental clutter, optimization and intentio

Digital minimalists understand that the real value of most electronic devices, apps and websites isn’t enough to justify the large investment of time and energy we make in them. We have to analyze the costs and benefits of technologies before we make them part of our life.

Digital minimalists understand that the real value of most electronic devices, apps and websites isn’t enough to justify the large investment of time and energy we make in them. We have to analyze the costs and benefits of technologies before we make them

Newport admires Henry David Thoreau, who spent two years in a small cabin in the woods near Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Thoreau’s 1849 book Walden describes the experience of “living deliberately.”

Newport admires Henry David Thoreau, who spent two years in a small cabin in the woods near Walden Pond in Massachusetts. Thoreau’s 1849 book Walden describes the experience of “living deliberately.”


Thoreau realized that by hiring out his labor for one day a week, he could cover all his basic needs and live at a very low cost. The bulk of his time could then be spent reading, writing, and enjoying nature.

Thoreau realized that by hiring out his labor for one day a week, he could cover all his basic needs and live at a very low cost. The bulk of his time could then be spent reading, writing, and enjoying nature.


Most people had to work hard, maintain assets and be constantly stressed, only to afford some luxuries to make it all seem worthwhile. In short, Thoreau said, they endured lives of “quiet desperation.”

Most people had to work hard, maintain assets and be constantly stressed, only to afford some luxuries to make it all seem worthwhile. In short, Thoreau said, they endured lives of “quiet desperation.”


Cal Newport compares these 19th-century workers to modern people who spend 10 hours a week on social media just to obtain a few “likes”, the odd laugh or nuggets of news. A cost-benefit analysis would show they were squandering their precious time.

Cal Newport compares these 19th-century workers to modern people who spend 10 hours a week on social media just to obtain a few “likes”, the odd laugh or nuggets of news. A cost-benefit analysis would show they were squandering their precious time. 


What is digital minimalism?

Despite being a computer science professor and blogger, Cal Newport has no social media account. People often berate him for this choice, arguing that he “might be missing out on something.”

Despite being a computer science professor and blogger, Cal Newport has no social media account. People often berate him for this choice, arguing that he “might be missing out on something.”


For him, that’s the worst sales pitch ever. Digital minimalists aren’t afraid of missing out. Rather, Newport says, “what worries them more is diminishing the large things they already know for sure make a life good.”

For him, that’s the worst sales pitch ever. Digital minimalists aren’t afraid of missing out. Rather, Newport says, “what worries them more is diminishing the large things they already know for sure make a life good.”


When digital minimalists do go online, they optimize. They only engage with the particular features of particular apps or websites that unambiguously help them in their work and life. They don’t check things just because they’re bored.

When digital minimalists do go online, they optimize. They only engage with the particular features of particular apps or websites that unambiguously help them in their work and life. They don’t check things just because they’re bored.


If you watch or read the news every hour, you’ll get lots of breaking news headlines, but you won’t necessarily learn any new insight. Instead, try to carefully select which news sites you follow, even which writers, as well as when and where you read or listen to them, say only on a weekend morning in a favourite café.

If you watch or read the news every hour, you’ll get lots of breaking news headlines, but you won’t necessarily learn any new insight. Instead, try to carefully select which news sites you follow, even which writers, as well as when and where you read or 

This way, you’ll cut through all the clutter, repetitions and fake news, and you’ll be more likely to learn all the important stuff in one sitting. Better still would be to read a book that goes deep into the issues behind the news.

This way, you’ll cut through all the clutter, repetitions and fake news, and you’ll be more likely to learn all the important stuff in one sitting. Better still would be to read a book that goes deep into the issues behind the news.


The final principle of digital minimalism is intentionality. Newport suggests that aspiring digital minimalists could learn about the principle from an unusual source – the Amish.

The final principle of digital minimalism is intentionality. Newport suggests that aspiring digital minimalists could learn about the principle from an unusual source – the Amish.


Contrary to popular belief, the Amish are neither stuck in the 19th century, nor are they completely isolated from the modern world.

Contrary to popular belief, the Amish are neither stuck in the 19th century, nor are they completely isolated from the modern world.


The Amish sometimes use expensive cutting-edge technologies such as solar panels or computer-controlled precision milling machines, but they believe in simplicity and intentionality. Only if the benefit is unquestionable will they make an investment. They’ve thought it through.

The Amish sometimes use expensive cutting-edge technologies such as solar panels or computer-controlled precision milling machines, but they believe in simplicity and intentionality. Only if the benefit is unquestionable will they make an investment. They

Newport encourages you to rethink your relationship with your devices in a similar way. Do you use them just because some start-up from Silicon Valley offers them, or do you use them intentionally, as tools which make your life simpler and more satisfying?

Newport encourages you to rethink your relationship with your devices in a similar way. Do you use them just because some start-up from Silicon Valley offers them, or do you use them intentionally, as tools which make your life simpler and more satisfying

The cost of clutter, optimization and intentionality are the three underlying principles of digital minimalism. But to put them into practice, Newport encourages you to implement what he calls a “digital declutter”.

The cost of clutter, optimization and intentionality are the three underlying principles of digital minimalism. But to put them into practice, Newport encourages you to implement what he calls a “digital declutter”.


Let technology work for you

Step one of Cal Newport’s “digital declutter” is define your technology rules. Schedule a 30-day period (preferably a calendar month) in which you’ll take a break from optional technologies.

Step one of Cal Newport’s “digital declutter” is define your technology rules. Schedule a 30-day period (preferably a calendar month) in which you’ll take a break from optional technologies.


Newport defines these as “apps, websites, and related digital tools that are delivered through a computer screen or a mobile phone and are meant to either entertain, inform, or connect you.” So, don’t worry, your electric toothbrush and toaster are safe.

Newport defines these as “apps, websites, and related digital tools that are delivered through a computer screen or a mobile phone and are meant to either entertain, inform, or connect you.” So, don’t worry, your electric toothbrush and toaster are safe.


Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, video games and TV would be considered optional technologies for most people. Checking your work email, for example, or calling your family overseas by Skype, fall outside this category.

Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, video games and TV would be considered optional technologies for most people. Checking your work email, for example, or calling your family overseas by Skype, fall outside this category.


It's important that you don’t confuse “convenient” with “critical” though. There are many devices and programs which can make your life a little bit more convenient, but they aren’t essential. You know what they are.

It's important that you don’t confuse “convenient” with “critical” though. There are many devices and programs which can make your life a little bit more convenient, but they aren’t essential. You know what they are.


Step two is to actually begin the 30-day break. This is harder than it sounds. You may find yourself reaching for your smartphone while standing in a line or commuting, even while talking with friends or driving. But this uneasiness and habitual phone checking should pass after a few days.

Step two is to actually begin the 30-day break. This is harder than it sounds. You may find yourself reaching for your smartphone while standing in a line or commuting, even while talking with friends or driving. But this uneasiness and habitual phone che

Many novice digital minimalists exchange newsfeeds for books, social media for journal writing. Instead of texting family and friends, they actually visit them. In place of mindlessly swiping pictures, they resume long-abandoned hobbies such as painting or playing an instrument.

Many novice digital minimalists exchange newsfeeds for books, social media for journal writing. Instead of texting family and friends, they actually visit them. In place of mindlessly swiping pictures, they resume long-abandoned hobbies such as painting o

Once you have defined your technology rules, obeyed them for 30 days and replaced the optional apps and devices with more meaningful activities, it’s time for the final step in your digital declutter. Perhaps surprisingly, step three is reintroduce technology.

Once you have defined your technology rules, obeyed them for 30 days and replaced the optional apps and devices with more meaningful activities, it’s time for the final step in your digital declutter. Perhaps surprisingly, step three is reintroduce techno

If you go back to your old habits and treat the decluttering experiment as just a short detox, you’ll miss the whole point of digital minimalism. Instead, think about the optional technologies that you’ve avoided, one by one, and ask three questions about each.

If you go back to your old habits and treat the decluttering experiment as just a short detox, you’ll miss the whole point of digital minimalism. Instead, think about the optional technologies that you’ve avoided, one by one, and ask three questions about

First, does this technology directly support something that I deeply value? Second, is this technology the best way to support this value? Third: how am I going to use this technology to maximize its value and minimize its harms?

First, does this technology directly support something that I deeply value? Second, is this technology the best way to support this value? Third: how am I going to use this technology to maximize its value and minimize its harms?


When you follow the three steps, you’ll regain control over your digital life and liberate a lot of precious time. Amidst the digital fog, you might have lost track of the things you really enjoy doing. In the final part, we’ll discuss some of Newport’s suggestions for cultivating leisure time.

When you follow the three steps, you’ll regain control over your digital life and liberate a lot of precious time. Amidst the digital fog, you might have lost track of the things you really enjoy doing. In the final part, we’ll discuss some of Newport’s s

Declutter your digital life in 30 days

For the first time in the history of human species, the ability to spend time with yourself and your thoughts is disappearing. We now think it’s natural to have a constant background noise of music, beeps for incoming messages, and lights flashing from multiple screens.

For the first time in the history of human species, the ability to spend time with yourself and your thoughts is disappearing. We now think it’s natural to have a constant background noise of music, beeps for incoming messages, and lights flashing from mu

Yet Cal Newport claims that “humans aren’t wired to be constantly wired.” Solitude ought to be an integral part of our experience. From Abraham Lincoln to Virginia Woolf to Steve Jobs, great minds have always resorted to solitude. Our most creative ideas come during time spent alone.

Yet Cal Newport claims that “humans aren’t wired to be constantly wired.” Solitude ought to be an integral part of our experience. From Abraham Lincoln to Virginia Woolf to Steve Jobs, great minds have always resorted to solitude. Our most creative ideas 

There’s now a ton of research pointing to the mental benefits of time spent in nature. So schedule nature walks in a calendar and treat them as appointments with yourself. And crucially, leave your smartphone at home (or in your car, if you must).

There’s now a ton of research pointing to the mental benefits of time spent in nature. So schedule nature walks in a calendar and treat them as appointments with yourself. And crucially, leave your smartphone at home (or in your car, if you must). 


Another good solitary pursuit is writing and journaling. Writing structures and clarifies your thoughts, records your memories and helps you organize your life.

Another good solitary pursuit is writing and journaling. Writing structures and clarifies your thoughts, records your memories and helps you organize your life.


Newport recommends “conversation-centric communication.” The basic idea is to engage in a slow, complex and nuanced conversation with another person, preferably face-to-face, but videoconferencing or even telephone are also acceptable.

Newport recommends “conversation-centric communication.” The basic idea is to engage in a slow, complex and nuanced conversation with another person, preferably face-to-face, but videoconferencing or even telephone are also acceptable.


Set aside time to contact friends, or have what Newport calls your “conversation office hours” - times when they know you’re available to take calls. Otherwise, keep your phone on Do Not Disturb mode (with allowances for calls from certain numbers) so that you’re not always “on call.”

Set aside time to contact friends, or have what Newport calls your “conversation office hours” - times when they know you’re available to take calls. Otherwise, keep your phone on Do Not Disturb mode (with allowances for calls from certain numbers) so tha

As for texting, deal with messages in one go, at a given time, to avoid being drawn in to a to and fro, waiting on responses. In other words, use your phone as a tool for enabling communication, don’t be a slave to it.

As for texting, deal with messages in one go, at a given time, to avoid being drawn in to a to and fro, waiting on responses. In other words, use your phone as a tool for enabling communication, don’t be a slave to it.


This digital minimalist discipline may result in some weaker digital-only ties falling by the wayside, but the richer, genuine relationships you’ll be nurturing offline will be ample compensation.

This digital minimalist discipline may result in some weaker digital-only ties falling by the wayside, but the richer, genuine relationships you’ll be nurturing offline will be ample compensation.


Newport’s case is all the more persuasive when you think about the psychological vulnerabilities that the tech giants are exploiting – the human craving for social approval, for example – and the billions of dollars they’re earning from our time.

 Newport’s case is all the more persuasive when you think about the psychological vulnerabilities that the tech giants are exploiting – the human craving for social approval, for example – and the billions of dollars they’re earning from our time.


If becoming a digital minimalist means rebelling against big business, feeling more free and in control, and rediscovering your own leisure time into the bargain, it’s a hard-to-resist philosophy. Newport may have started a quiet revolution.

If becoming a digital minimalist means rebelling against big business, feeling more free and in control, and rediscovering your own leisure time into the bargain, it’s a hard-to-resist philosophy. Newport may have started a quiet revolution.


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