Digital Minimalism Is Saving My Sanity

I used to have over 2,ooo bookmarks.

Half were things I might want to read, the other half were things I’d forgotten existed.

Heck, the vast majority dated back over 10 years ago.

They weren’t resources—they were digital clutter. Just another layer of mental noise every time I opened a browser tab.

While I was sorting through the mess, a sort of epiphany came to me: what if I did this in most aspects of my digital life?

So, today became about engaging in a major exercise of digital minimalism.

Step 1: The Great Bookmark Purge

I wiped the slate clean. Brutally.

If I hadn’t used it in the last 30 days, wasn't something I could use as reference, or went to a dead link, it went in the trash. No second chances.

I've used Raindrop.io for a long time. It's a beautifully simple tool for organizing bookmarks. I created clean, minimalist folders for only what I actually use.

Now I have less than 300 bookmarks, and the vast majority of those are saved just to share with the newsletter audience at some point.

No rabbit holes. No hoarding. Just clarity.

Step 2: Decluttering My Pocket Computer

I’m a Pixel user, and I used to treat my phone like a Swiss Army knife. Now, it’s more like a journal and a map.

• Switched the entire phone to greyscale
• Installed a minimalist launcher (I use Minimalist Phone)
• Only 7 apps on the home screen—non-negotiable
• Rid myself of all social media apps

No red dots. No dopamine traps. My phone is a tool now, not a trap.

Step 3: Opting Out of the Crowd

Digital minimalism isn’t just about deleting stuff. It’s about making intentional choices.

I stopped chasing trends, “productivity hacks,” and the illusion that I had to be always on.

Instead, I ask myself one simple question:

“Does this serve my peace?”

If the answer is no, I’m out.

That means:

• Unsubscribing from noisy newsletters
• Ignoring social feeds until I’m ready
• Not posting content just to stay “visible”

Step 4: Shutting Down the Feed

Social media feeds are engineered slot machines. Swipe. Maybe you win a dopamine hit. Maybe you don’t.

I got tired of gambling with my time.

So I stopped scrolling.

Deleted TikTok.

Deleted X.

Deleted Instagram.

Deleted Substack.

I didn’t need to know what every stranger or semi-acquaintance thought about every trending topic. I've shut down the FOMO at the source.

I did keep Facebook, much to my chagrin, but that's only due to having a lot of family and friends that I know in real life who use it. The only time I even open it is when they message me or I feel like reading some things about comics books or pro-wrestling, which dominates my actual timeline.

I also kept Reddit because I find it useful.

Mastodon is the only active social media "home" I have now, and I quite like it. I only post when I have something to say, there's no algorithm, and it doesn't feel like I'm being manipulated. (You can follow me and interact at https://mastodon.social/@nicheofone if you want!)

Now I treat social media like a bulletin board—not a lounge. I post when I have something to share. Then I leave.

I don't owe the algorithm my attention. Neither do you.

Step 5: Inbox Minimalism

Email used to feel like a never-ending to-do list that other people wrote for me.

So I cleaned house:

• Unsubscribed from 90% of newsletters (even the “smart” ones)
• Created filters so only important stuff hits my inbox
• Check email twice a day, not 42

Inbox zero isn’t the goal. Inbox peace is.

Step 5: Notifications = Digital Junk Mail

I turned off almost every notification on my phone. The only things that make a sound now:

• Phone calls from real people
• Calendar reminders for things I actually care about

Everything else is silent. Because constant pings aren’t urgent. They’re distractions wearing urgency’s clothes.

The Benefits I Didn’t Expect

• Sharper focus. Fewer tabs = more clarity
• Better sleep. Less mental residue from digital noise
• More presence. I’m actually here, not somewhere online

Digital minimalism isn’t about being perfect.

It’s about protecting your headspace.

And in a world that profits from your distraction, choosing peace is a radical act.

Start with one thing today:
Pick one folder, one inbox, or one app—and delete what doesn’t serve you.

More clarity. Less chaos.
That’s the game.