digital minimalism

I quit Twitter and deleted my account the day that Musk announced he confirmed he was buying it. Crossed a pretty big red line of mine not to support sociopaths.

Anyway, this post isn’t about that. It’s that in the click of a few buttons 14 years, 25,000 posts and thousands of hours was gone. The withdrawal was real. Instant loss of the happy little dopamine community I’d spent years following and speaking to.

Within hours I’d downloaded Reddit and Tumblr. A knee-jerk reaction. I deleted them almost immediately.

In hindsight it was 100% the right move. In part because Musk has gone from bad to worse since. But also I just didn’t need Twitter, or anything else like Twitter. Because the real world is richer and more vibrant than its digital form ever will be.

A dopamine hit from a like or comment will never be as good to your body and mind as a walk in the fresh air. Or spending quality time with your partner or kids or friends. Neither is it as satisfying as travelling abroad or even just reading a good book at home.

To embrace digital minimalism – focus on what is gained, not what is lost: Being alive and in the moment.