Digital Solitude vs Loneliness

There is 1 thing I know about you for sure: with total digital connectivity, YOU have not experienced a moment of true solitude in years, and yet you ARE feeling LONELIER that ever.

Recently I have dived into DIGITAL MINIMALISM and research about the rise of anxiety and loneliness among the Gen Z. Studies show that technology suppresses the actual human interactions and make us addicted to digital social approval indicators, such as Likes, hearts comments.

We crave more of what is bad for us and then feel even worse for ignoring actual important analogue interactions. We get addicted to psychological hooks on the screen but don’t get enough of dopamine through human contact. In fact, human interactions are becoming quite exhausting and we would rather run to the bathroom to check our phone for messages and notifications.

At the same time you are probably getting more stressed at home with long to-do list, running out of digital storage on your device, overwhelmed by 100s of e-mails and can’t get away from spam and useless notifications.

It feels almost like your device is smarter than you are. Because it knows your habits and weaknesses. It knows how to manipulate you into more consumption, by principles of scarcity and intermittent reinforcement – two of the most powerful triggers and motivators of our time. Surveillance consumerism has not only deprived you of your privacy, but also turned you into a digital junkie.

And as true addict – a minor digital detox will not make a difference for you. If you want to make a change – you have to go into full declutter. It is definitely not easy, but you can get a good advice from Cal Newport and his book on Digital Minimalism.

I have first heard of it through Ezra Kleins podcast and it got me reflecting on my life – both digital and analogue. Here are the steps that I am taking to declutter my life and bring more calm to my every day activities.

Steps toward digital minimalism – a 30 days digital de-clutter process:

1. Make a list of analogue leisure you used to enjoy
2. List all Apps, services and devices and assign each 1) amount of time to spend on it and 2) the amount of value it gives you
3. Make a list of people who are important to you
4. Make a list of people you have not seen for a while
5. Start your 30 days by “ripping off the band aid” and removing all Apps from devices, cancel subscriptions and turn off devices. Go complete cold turkey NOW.
6. Only add Apps, services, devices that bring SIGNIFICANT value to you
7. Completely ignore stuff that brings minor value
8. Fill in the time with analogue leisure
9. Actually spend time with real people that matter to you or inspire you
10. Read more actual analogue books
11. Enjoy solitude and being bored – this is when the true creative ideas will come to you

Other valuable activities:

Read Cal Newports (analogue) book: Digital Minimalism

Listen to Ezra Kleins (digital) podcast on how to avoid digital burnout and stay human: