Life after digital minimalism

What now? // Digital Minimalism Diaries #7

I feel like I’ve reached a point where I’m happy with my screen time. I don’t use my laptop except for study, writing this Substack and other admin tasks; I’m happy with my phone usage, and I don’t have any social media except YouTube and Substack.

My main goal when I started my digital minimalism journey last year was to reduce my phone screen time to 3-4 hours per day (a maximum of 28 hours a week). At the risk of sounding like I have this thing figured out, I’ve already achieved my goal and that has left me wondering: ‘what’s next?’

Please do not think I have somehow stumbled upon the secret to digital minimalism success. I enjoy lots of different analogue activities, but I could do more. I leave my phone at home when I go for walks, unless I want to do photography. I read every day and have a growing CD collection, but I’m also building a DVD collection (which of course uses a screen!). And over the past few months I’ve enjoyed completing puzzles and other analogue activities like adult colouring, but I still find myself gravitating towards screens when I’ve nothing else to do or am bored of these activities.

Which leads me back to the original question: what’s next? In the video below, Paolo asks the question: once you’ve reduced your screen time, what then? I’ve struggled to answer this question throughout my digital minimalism journey so far, mainly because I already spend quite a lot of my time engaged in analogue activities, so spending even less time online feels like I’m just doing more of the same. I don’t necessarily have a long list of other analogue activities I want to try, either (i.e. I’m not particularly arty or crafty, so I don’t have items like ‘learn to knit’ on my to-do list).

Towards the end of the video, Paolo suggests the answer is to “Just have so much fun without your phone that you don’t really feel the need to have your phone with you at all times.” He suggests creating new habits and finding joy in things and activities that don’t involve technology. He also touches on the idea of being ok with being bored, and how that’s something we need to cultivate if we don’t want to live tethered to technology.

I couldn’t agree more, but as someone who already reads, bakes, exercises, journals, and thinks without the use of technology, I’m wondering what else I can do in my ‘spare time’ that doesn’t involve screens. I’m privileged h to have all of this free time to begin with, but it’s also partly thanks to my decision to live a low-demand lifestyle, a life where I have the time to do as I please. I guess what I’m struggling with is this: is it ok to choose to spend that time online? When does ‘need’ turn into ‘want’?

I do sometimes feel that digital minimalism content takes the concept of digital minimalism too far and advocates for an existence that is void of meaningful connection and creativity. I enjoy being online, I enjoy using digital programs such as the Google and Microsoft suites, and I enjoy connecting with people online through platforms like Substack. I also occasionally enjoy watching films, doing graphic design and iPhone photography. I’m not going to use any of these activities as an excuse to spend 10 hours a day on screens, but where do we draw the line? We all know that excessive screen time isn't good for us, but should the goal of digital minimalism be to spend as little time as possible on screens — even if they have the capability and capacity to bring us happiness and, dare I say it, joy in small doses?

I started out this journey thinking that I would continue to reduce my screen time as the year went on, but now I’m realizing that shouldn’t be my goal. My goal should be to use my time intentionally and to curate my screen time so that I enjoy the time I do spend on screens. Maybe I’ve been blindsided by digital minimalists’ advice to keep reducing my screen time when in fact I largely enjoy the time I spend on screens. Do you resonate? I’d be interested to know if you feel the same.