Digital minimalism

Great work requires focused attention.

Each app on your phone is a tiny contract that you silently agree to: it gives you something, but it also takes some of your attention. I think that this transaction is rarely in your favor.

Consider:

Tools multiply complexity
Complexity increases cognitive load
Cognitive load decreases capacity for deep work
Deep work is necessary for creating things of value

The math is simple. More tools = less focus = less valuable output.

Digital minimalism isn't about rejecting technology. It's about being intentional with it. Every tool must meet a high threshold: it must provide substantially more value than it consumes in attention.

We don't notice the cumulative tax these tools impose until we remove them. Then, suddenly, our minds feel clearer.

The best technologies are those that disappear. They fit themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they're indistinguishable from it. The opposite is also true: the most disruptive technologies are those that constantly demand our attention, fragmenting our consciousness into a thousand tiny pieces.

I'm a big fan of the book Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World, Cal Newport argues that we've been sold a false bill of goods. We adopted these attention-stealing technologies without fully understanding the bargain we were making. If you want to get into digital minimalism and how to apply it to your life, this book will offer you an excellent starting point.

The equation for creating meaningful work is ruthlessly simple: eliminate distractions, focus deeply on what matters. Everything else is just noise.