Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, summarized by Blinkist:
• Explores the mindsets and techniques to help you overcome the distractions of modern digital life.
• Focuses on how to control the use of digital technology and cultivate healthy use of technology.
• Suggests five steps to help you reset your digital life: (1) Declutter: Prioritize what matters to you, (2) Avoid Infobesity: Limit the access to information, (3) Choose a Social Media Diet: Choose which activities bring value, (4) Connect With People and Ideas that Matter, (5) Change Your Environment.
Why UX Designers should read this book: As UX Designers, we are inundated with ever changing technologies and are often at the forefront of developing products that shape the digital age. Reading Digital Minimalism will help you remain aware of the dangerous effects of overconsumption of digital technologies, and enable you to become intentional in your own use of technology.
Other recommended reading for UX Designers: A Practical Guide to Design Thinking by Kedrosky & Hollan; Designing for Social Change: Strategies for Community-Based Design by Kelly; The Elements of User Experience: User Interface Design Guidelines by Wroblewski.
🎀 Highlights
people are finally starting to push back against social media and recognize that these technologies may be doing more harm than good.
steady output of research has been opening our eyes to the many negative effects related to social media and smartphones.
many negative effects related to social media and smartphones.
social media is like big tobacco;
Amish can help you to better use your smartphone;
urge to take out your smartphone and check your texts, email or social media feeds
the technology at the center of this problem was never intended to be used in the way it is now.
Jobs dismissed the idea of the iPhone becoming a platform for third-party apps and gaming.
In a 2017 episode of the HBO talk show Real Time, Bill Maher referred to the “social media tycoons” as being the new big tobacco, selling products designed to be as addictive as possible.
natural human desire for social approval.
tech companies take advantage of the natural human desire for social approval.
the author of one such article said he disabled the notifications on 112 apps, which begs the question, do you really need that many apps in the first place?
Does this website, app or service really support what I value in a way that nothing else can?
the benefits of social media were actually small compared to the time it cost him.
For instance, if you want to buy a car to drive into town instead of walking, Thoreau would remind you that the price you pay for the car isn’t its only cost, it’s also the time, stress and effort it takes to earn this money and to keep the car secure and in working order. In the end, the cost may far exceed the healthy act of walking
For instance, if you want to buy a car to drive into town instead of walking, Thoreau would remind you that the price you pay for the car isn’t its only cost, it’s also the time, stress and effort it takes to earn this money and to keep the car secure and in working order.
what you are really gaining from it, and what the time and attention costs are.
People often mistake the Amish for being anti-technology,
The Amish don’t reject technology without testing and questioning it first.
if it doesn’t support their fundamental values of family and community, it’ll be banned.
digital declutter begins with a thirty-day break,
Instagram may support the value of staying in touch with faraway relatives, but calling them on Skype every Sunday may be the far more meaningful way to do this.
solitude – a valuable commodity that new technology often takes away.
people born between 1995 and 2012 essentially grew up with smartphones, and now spend an average of nine hours a day on these devices.
higher percentage of depression, suicide, eating disorders, homesickness and, above all, anxiety.
World-renowned generational researcher Jean Twenge noticed a shocking uptick in psychological health issues with this group, dubbed the “iGen,” with a higher percentage of depression, suicide, eating disorders, homesickness and, above all, anxiety.
lack of time away from screens and input from outside sources, which is crucial for processing emotions, reflecting on relationships and what’s important in life, and giving the brain a chance to find some calm clarity.
solitude is easy to find. It can be experienced in a crowded cafe or subway train, just as long as you’re free to be with your thoughts and your thoughts alone.
the more time spent on social media, the more likely you are to feel lonely.
So the next recommended digitally minimalist practice is to stop clicking “like.”
don’t even leave any of those superficial comments like “so cool” or “love it.” Don’t fool yourself or anyone else into thinking these are meaningful human interactions or a valid alternative to a real conversation because they aren’t.
actual phone call is more rewarding to our social needs than any number of emojis.
regular conversation hours. He tells everyone that any weekday at 5:30 p.m. you can call him and discuss anything. This
regular conversation hours. He tells everyone that any weekday at 5:30 p.m. you can call him and discuss anything
have a standing invitation to be joined at your favorite coffee shop on Saturday mornings at 11 AM,
schedule low-quality activities.
high-quality leisure while calling digital distractions such as social media and absent-minded bingeing low-quality leisure.
easily spend a rewarding weekend either building your own wooden headboard or learning some basic techniques to become a weekend carpenter.
Deadlines like this are great for keeping high-quality momentum going.
weekend-killing temptations of low-quality leisure,
growing worldwide movement known as the Attention Resistance.
the attention economy. Companies like Facebook make their money the same way tabloid newspapers did in the 1800s. They draw a big audience and then sell that audience’s attention to advertisers who pitch them their products and services.
These days, getting attention is more valuable than getting oil,
doing whatever it takes to keep you distracted.
methods and principles of digital minimalism, we can reclaim our attention and gain an increased sense of satisfaction in life.
reclaim our attention and gain an increased sense of satisfaction in life.
An increasing amount of data is contributing to two realities – that businesses in the attention economy are purposefully making their products addictive and that increased exposure to these products is detrimental to our health.
When most people apply the screening process of digital minimalism to any social media platform, they find that the costs outweigh the benefits.
people are finally starting to push back against social media and recognize that these technologies may be doing more harm than good.
steady output of research has been opening our eyes to the many negative effects related to social media and smartphones.
many negative effects related to social media and smartphones.
social media is like big tobacco;
Amish can help you to better use your smartphone;
urge to take out your smartphone and check your texts, email or social media feeds
the technology at the center of this problem was never intended to be used in the way it is now.
Jobs dismissed the idea of the iPhone becoming a platform for third-party apps and gaming.
In a 2017 episode of the HBO talk show Real Time, Bill Maher referred to the “social media tycoons” as being the new big tobacco, selling products designed to be as addictive as possible.
natural human desire for social approval.
tech companies take advantage of the natural human desire for social approval.
the author of one such article said he disabled the notifications on 112 apps, which begs the question, do you really need that many apps in the first place?
Does this website, app or service really support what I value in a way that nothing else can?
the benefits of social media were actually small compared to the time it cost him.
For instance, if you want to buy a car to drive into town instead of walking, Thoreau would remind you that the price you pay for the car isn’t its only cost, it’s also the time, stress and effort it takes to earn this money and to keep the car secure and in working order. In the end, the cost may far exceed the healthy act of walking
For instance, if you want to buy a car to drive into town instead of walking, Thoreau would remind you that the price you pay for the car isn’t its only cost, it’s also the time, stress and effort it takes to earn this money and to keep the car secure and in working order.
what you are really gaining from it, and what the time and attention costs are.
People often mistake the Amish for being anti-technology,
The Amish don’t reject technology without testing and questioning it first.
if it doesn’t support their fundamental values of family and community, it’ll be banned.
digital declutter begins with a thirty-day break,
Instagram may support the value of staying in touch with faraway relatives, but calling them on Skype every Sunday may be the far more meaningful way to do this.
solitude – a valuable commodity that new technology often takes away.
people born between 1995 and 2012 essentially grew up with smartphones, and now spend an average of nine hours a day on these devices.
higher percentage of depression, suicide, eating disorders, homesickness and, above all, anxiety.
World-renowned generational researcher Jean Twenge noticed a shocking uptick in psychological health issues with this group, dubbed the “iGen,” with a higher percentage of depression, suicide, eating disorders, homesickness and, above all, anxiety.
lack of time away from screens and input from outside sources, which is crucial for processing emotions, reflecting on relationships and what’s important in life, and giving the brain a chance to find some calm clarity.
solitude is easy to find. It can be experienced in a crowded cafe or subway train, just as long as you’re free to be with your thoughts and your thoughts alone.
the more time spent on social media, the more likely you are to feel lonely.
So the next recommended digitally minimalist practice is to stop clicking “like.”
don’t even leave any of those superficial comments like “so cool” or “love it.” Don’t fool yourself or anyone else into thinking these are meaningful human interactions or a valid alternative to a real conversation because they aren’t.
actual phone call is more rewarding to our social needs than any number of emojis.
regular conversation hours. He tells everyone that any weekday at 5:30 p.m. you can call him and discuss anything. This
regular conversation hours. He tells everyone that any weekday at 5:30 p.m. you can call him and discuss anything
have a standing invitation to be joined at your favorite coffee shop on Saturday mornings at 11 AM,
schedule low-quality activities.
high-quality leisure while calling digital distractions such as social media and absent-minded bingeing low-quality leisure.
easily spend a rewarding weekend either building your own wooden headboard or learning some basic techniques to become a weekend carpenter.
Deadlines like this are great for keeping high-quality momentum going.
weekend-killing temptations of low-quality leisure,
growing worldwide movement known as the Attention Resistance.
the attention economy. Companies like Facebook make their money the same way tabloid newspapers did in the 1800s. They draw a big audience and then sell that audience’s attention to advertisers who pitch them their products and services.
These days, getting attention is more valuable than getting oil,
doing whatever it takes to keep you distracted.
methods and principles of digital minimalism, we can reclaim our attention and gain an increased sense of satisfaction in life.
reclaim our attention and gain an increased sense of satisfaction in life.
An increasing amount of data is contributing to two realities – that businesses in the attention economy are purposefully making their products addictive and that increased exposure to these products is detrimental to our health.
When most people apply the screening process of digital minimalism to any social media platform, they find that the costs outweigh the benefits.
