Can you even be a digital minimalist when it comes to social media? I have certainly not perfected this (what’s perfect anyway?), but I have focused on this for a while to help declutter my digital world.
Today I thought I’d share my 3 best tips on how you can simplify and declutter the role social media has in your life.
Where to start?
- Choose the platforms/apps that inspire you. FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) can sometimes mean we have apps or social media platforms that don’t really support and inspire us. I’d encourage you to have a quick look on your phone/computer and a) list the ones you have on there b) ask yourself which ones you actually WANT to use. If you’re not sure, you can temporarily remove/uninstall them for at least 7 days and see if you actually do miss them.
- Monitor how much time you spend on social media. We are in lockdown here in Australia as I write this, and when you’re stuck at home it’s easy to turn to your phone and life through other people’s experiences on social media channels. Of course it’s fine to connect with and be inspired by others! At the same time, remember to put your phone down and move your body, do something creative or snuggle up with your family/partner and make the most of the time you have with them. Nothing lasts forever, and I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I’ll miss spending 1 hour less per day on social media!
- Filter and/or clean out who you follow and are friends with. This can be a very tricky one and it’s very personal of course. Have a think about the platforms you use and why you use them (back to point 1 above). For example, I only use Facebook for close friendships, so I go through my friends list every 6-12 months and remove anyone I’m no longer close friends with. For some it’s important to have lots of connections, but for me personally it’s more important to focus on close friendships. Remember: the people you are connected with is what you’ll see in your feed every day when you log on. Do they share things that contribute to your life or do they cause you pain or frustration?
In the video below I share my thoughts in a bit more detail if you’re curious to find out more!