I recently came across this NPR article that described a concept called digital minimalism. I recommend you go ahead and read or listen to the whole thing since this post builds off of it.

I feel that Nickalls' conception of digital minimalism perfectly described what I attempted to convey in my last blog post, where I talked about having quit social media but still finding myself wasting time online.

In Nickalls' view, "cutting out the Internet isn't as important as cutting down." I think this is a very healthy way to handle the disaffection with the digital world many of us feel. It can be tempting to just throw all of it out, go back to a flip phone, and delete all social media forever. But you didn't start using any of that stuff for no reason. It's not like satan himself plopped twitter into your hands and laughed as he shackled you to a life of endless misery. You started using technology because it did something you liked. Digital devices are entertaining AND useful.

In that sense, trying to quit digital life because it distracts you too much is a bit like trying to quit salt because you've been putting too much of it on your food. It can still work great for you in the right amount. This is where Nickalls' advice shines. She recommends really checking how you feel when you scroll, as well as asking what certain applications are really doing for you. If something isn't a net positive, it's usually a good idea to get rid of it. By trimming down your digital life to what really makes you happy, you can become a much more fulfilled person.

Seriously go read that article if you haven't yet, there's some actionable advice in there.