Goodbye Mindless Scrolling: My Journey to Digital Minimalism
With the new iOS 18 update, I discovered the "Hide and Require Face ID" feature for certain apps I tend to open unconsciously. This small change has made a huge difference in how I engage with my phone.
Breaking the Habit Loop
I used to check my Gmail and Instagram apps many times a day without thinking. I would just ignore all those screen time reminders. But this new option of being able to “hide and require face ID”, forces me to pause before I open certain apps. During this pause, I’m asking myself: Do I really “need” to open this app? Is there something else I can do instead?
I’ve noticed that this simple intervention improved my mood. My go-to app to click into instead of Gmail and Instagram have been Libby and Kindle, so I’ve also been reading more now that there’s a barrier to the impulses.
Navigating Guilt and Self-Expectations
Sometimes I feel guilty for stepping away from IG because I get so much of my news and world events from this app. However, I’m noticing that I am still connected through certain newsletters and action-based Signal chats. Through those channels, I’m still taking action for social justice causes I care about, but without the drain of social media.
I’m realizing that the guilt comes from the false belief that I should be sacrificing my well-being for the greater good. It’s also coming from the false narrative that if I don’t burn myself out, it means I’m not working hard enough for a better world for all.
My hyperachiever is used to ignoring body signals and ignoring my well-being. My hyperachiever needs to be doing something, achieving, moving forward. Rest is not part of that in the hyperachiever’s eyes. My victim is used to suffering, sees suffering as a part of life, sees suffering as a constant.
So having more boundaries around media consumption has been revealing these false beliefs.
I’m also currently reading “Digital Minimalism” and reading it has been helpful on this journey as well by providing so many examples of people who have made adjustments to have less screen time while staying informed.
I’m still trying to figure out how much is enough. How much is too much? I think this answer is different for everyone since we all have different capacities.
Practical Adjustments for Mindful Tech Use
In addition to enabling Face ID, I also set my phone to grayscale. This makes apps visually dull and less tempting.
Since my main phone use when I’m out is the camera, I’m considering using a standalone digital camera instead. We’ll see how that goes!
Embracing a Quieter Holiday Season
Another benefit for me of trying this out during the holiday season is the added benefits of it being good for my mood. It’s so easy to compare to others during the holiday season. The decorations, the gifts, the gatherings, the food, etc…
But being off Instagram has quieted that noise. I can focus on what truly matters: spending quality time with my husband and tidying our home, which feels far more fulfilling than chasing holiday ideals online.
This season, I’m embracing reflection and dreaming of what’s next, free from external pressures. If you’re reading this, I hope you find some guilt-free solitude too 💛.
Resources
“Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World” by Cal Newport
How to lock or hide an app on iPhone (iOS 18)
How to grayscale your iPhone (iOS 18)
I use this feature and grayscale my apps. I notice that changing it all the same color has similar effects of making me want to click on them less
