8 Lessons From Digital Minimalism That Improved My Life 

Just wow at the "remember the last 5 reels you've watched." If that doesn't show how much of a time waster it is, I don't know what does.

1. Perform the great reset (0:25) 2. Be intentional with your technology (1:22) 3. Embrace solitude (2:26) 4. Limit social media (3:43) 5. Schedule your screen time (4:20) 6. Engage in leisure activities (5:42) 7. Managing attention (6:21) 8. Practice slow media consumption (7:11)

Literally just putting my phone on a different room and picking up a good novel/gardening/playing cards etc

I find cal’s book really motivating. His best arguments, for me, centre around thinking about “would this interaction be better offline”. His example is of clicking “like” on a photo of your cousins baby. He says yeah sure that makes you feel closer to the family and that you have seen the baby and kept in touch. But you haven’t. If you live near enough, wouldn’t it be immeasurably better to take them a meal or help out in some way. Social media gives the illusion of action and of interaction.

Great stuff here. I am all about the daily walk to clear my mind. Also as a physician there is legit literature about the health benefits of this habit. I try not to carry my phone with me and I do not take it on walks. I recently bought Field Notes small pocket notebook and as thoughts pass through that need to be noted, I empty my head into that little notebook. Later I can put that into my system, this keeps me off my phone and my head is clear. TRANSFORMATIONAL!

I have removed social media from my phone. If I want to check FB, I log on the website from my laptop like a boomer. 😅 it works. My phone is used for communication, gps, music, and organization. That’s it. Get off those apps folks. It’s damaging.

Really love your videos. Straight forward, simple and effective. You did a great job! Keep it up ! ❤ God bless you and your family.

The best way I’ve found to handle social media and distractions is to only use it when I physically can’t/don’t have something more important in front of me. Ex) waiting in the car or in a long line. It’s just enough time to get the jist of the information I feel like I’d benefit from but without the “doom scrolling”

i have depression and not watching news helps a lot

Waking up early and going outside to read and spending time with the Lord. I feel like after that I can be more productive if my phone just stays in my room on my desk. I do listen to RU-vid or podcasts when I’m cleaning or showering. That way I’m not sitting not accomplishing things. I think I take my phone out more for pictures to capture moments more than anything. I have thought about taking my Nikon out that I haven’t used in years and using it instead.

Brilliant as always. Will definitely check out the book.

I mostly use media for knowledge. If I catch someone “stretching out” with irrelevant useless junk I’ll unsubscribe in a heartbeat I’m still with you, Gabe

Digital minimalism is life changing!

Love the thoughts on slow media. Something I plan on integrating for sure! Also going to add Cal Newports book to the list. Thank You Gabe.

Wow I decided to start digital minimalism tomorrow and you make this video. Thanks, this is gold for me right now

Brilliant, Gabe!

Excellent video. Thank you❤

I cut out instagram, and omegle to follow digital minimalism. Installed a youtube shorts blocker and haven't watched a single youtube short since the start of 2024. Life is infinitely better now. I actually think before i use my ohone. There's no mindlessness involved. But i wanna cut down on my screentime even more, and actually cultivate a life that doesn't involve being on my phone for a long time. My mental health is good but i haven't been doing much except reading books and reading Wikipedia pages all day . I am reaching to the point of boredom and a lot of days feel tedious.

1:09 can you even remember any of the last 5 tiktok and so on. I wanted to add to this, one time I did an experiment that popped in my head. I scrolled through facebook and read a short summary out loud each post or ad that my attention focused on and swiped past to the next. When you read it out loud it shows you how much irrelevant micro data your brain processes when scrolling through all these apps and no wonder you feel all wired from constant exposure to all this data that lacks meaning, of course unless it happened to be an important read or video you actually found which honestly doesnt happen very often. It’s like nonstop browsing blockbuster for an interesting movie to watch but for hours at a time and at a much faster speed.

Thank you for this video! I am wanting to reduce my screen time and be more mindful of my media consumption so will be implementing some of these tips!

Living in the moment is crucial. When you are on vacation, exploring, with your kids. It’s great to take pictures or videos but focus on the present. Memories are more beautiful than pictures.

I've been getting rid of all social media now for the past 6 months. Unbelievable how more at peace I am with myself. I don't have much spare time as I've got two young children but with the little spare time I have, I'm finally starting to get through the stack of "to read" novels I have sitting for years

Glad i watch this😊

Love this video! I’ve been noticing that I’ve been spending a little too much time on my phone watching podcasts, but also aimlessly scrolling on Instagram. I’m reading Cal’s book Deep Work right now, so it’s interesting to hear the ideas in his Digital minimalism book!

What habits have helped you use your phone less?

Hey Gabe. Nice video, definetely goona implement some of these tips. Just a small mistake I noticed, you numbered "Shceduled your screen time" as 4 (Same as limit social media)

A phone screen, a computer screen, a tv screen. Have never found any of that really deepening any of my relationships. Trying to limit my "screen" time in general.

I am inspired for the Australian long weekend to do a 3 day detox!! I alwsys journal about it when I do them, and it's always so healthy.

On March I deleted Instagram from all my devices, then I downloaded it again 2 weeks ago and I can already feel the pressure and the discomfort that it cause to my mind and mindset. I'm constantly distracted, I feel this urge to control what is going on every two hours and this desire to publish something just to show to other people what I'm doing (which it doesn't make any sense because I'm not really into showing people who I am and what I do). I'm really convinced that social media can be addictive even because they were conceived to be used from all the users as much as possible... just forget for a while of your phone, take a deep breath, a walk or simply sit down in a spot and get a look around. It will be worth it!

I use boomerang in Outlook at work to pause emails until lunch (or for any 2 hour focus session). Phone also goes in my drawer.

Hey Gabe, I didn't know you had visited Edinburgh?! That's just up the road from me 😀

Dude the second you said limit social media I got an add for TikTok. 😂

5:47 I would be worried about the board getting stolen

That phone buzzer sound gave me a shiver. (I really hate that sound)

Great video Gabe, as usual, appreciate that! Could you please maybe make a video about digital minimalism in a form of cleaning your inbox, subscriptions, organizing your folders, pictures, music, etc? I love minimalism to the point that most of my books and my calendar are digital but I get the feeling that it is so easy to make a screenshot of something interesting, make another to do list, add another tv show to the watch later list and it starts to be a bit overwhelming. Maybe you've got some advice on that? Thanks a lot for all your work

Of course*

"What am I looking for?" - "What do I need to achieve?" those are other 2 questions that I asked. Loved the one about "What are you hiding from?"

I’m gonna try this!

thank you for sharing! sending love from singapore 😃

I have been using what I call “dream walks” recently. No phone, I just take my dog on a walk in nature and think about my life goals and dreams. This has helped me so much and I recommend it to everyone!

Adore this book! Love from South Africa ❤

Enjoyed the tips, and are already quite a few I follow already; but found the face tracking editing a bit distracting. Is it supposed to mimic natural head movements of the viewer? genuinely curious about the editing choice:)

The link to the 10 Habits video didn’t post. Not in the description links either. Help!?!?

This book changed my entire day to day living. Not touching my phone in the morning is really helpful for me. Did you switch your pixel for an iPhone?

This video made me realize that i really am not doing that bad in terms of technology lol. I spend about an hour on my phone a day and have an average of less than 100 pickups a day so to know that that's better than most of the population is cool.

The challenge is every store and good and service wants you to make an online account for it, get an app for it and spam you with emails. Wish you could just buy a product or get a discount without all that stuff like it used to be.

I have been mentally downloading this book since 2016. How do people know when they have an idea worth sharing, especially when ppl in your life roll their eyes at your ideas? Thanks for this! ❤🎉

❤👍

If you don't have any friends, social media is all you do for fun! 😢😢😔

Ok, this is a bit off-topic but I’m curious about what phone case you are using, thanks!

Hey its my favorite minimalism

On my phone. Watching this thumbs up if you are

I love the intention, I completely follow it. But by that logic, does it make using Facebook, etc wrong? Is there something wrong with mindless scrolling on TikTok every once in awhile?

Coarse?

My phone is the most annoying thing in my life.

I'm curious - why do you want a tesla? Have you done a video on this before? Side note, I've heard from my mechanic that Tesla's are great like a rocket ship driving around. However, the wear and tear on the tires and suspension is unreal. Averaging replacing tires every 2 years due to the weight of the battery.. I'm just curious what the hype is??

Pareto principle: Value is not found in repetition.

This content is enlightening. I read a parallel book that redefined my outlook. "A Life Unplugged: Reclaiming Reality in a Digital Age" by Theodore Blaze

別說七天，現在的人連一個小時不看手機都很難😭～～～

RU-vid content creator asks followers to delete RU-vid… bold move

Hi, Gabe. I’m wondering if you’re still feeling the same about getting a Tesla once you hit 500,000 subscribers. Maybe things have shifted for you because you’ve changed so much since when you first started?

The camera movement is really distracting. Are you trying something new with your editing?