By Bergsy | February 28, 2026
In an age of infinite scrolling, the most radical act is to simply stop. This is the core premise of Digital Minimalism, a philosophy popularized by Cal Newport that asks a simple question: Is this tool serving me, or am I serving it?
Most of us treat technology like a buffet—we pile everything onto our plates because it’s there. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok. But Newport argues for a more intentional approach: treating technology like a specialized toolset. You don’t carry a hammer everywhere you go; you pick it up when you need to drive a nail.
The Attention Economy
As reported by The New York Times, the average person spends over four hours a day on their phone. That is not just time; that is life.
The digital minimalist does not reject technology. They reject the compulsion to use it. They clear the clutter to make room for what matters: deep work, real conversation, and solitude.
How to Start
- The 30-Day Declutter: Remove all optional apps from your phone.
- Reintroduce with Intent: Only add an app back if it supports a specific value (e.g., “I use Instagram to see my sister’s photos,” not “I use Instagram to kill time”).
- Use It Like a Pro: Set strict boundaries. Check email at 9AM and 5PM, not every 5 minutes.
In a noisy world, silence is a superpower.
Recommended Reading:
* Cal Newport, Digital Minimalism
* Jenny Odell, How to Do Nothing