What I return to when things feel noisy.

As the world becomes cluttered with headlines like “The death of…,” “The real reason…,” and “No one tells you…,” it starts to feel overwhelming and irritating. Everything is engineered for attention rather than truth.

Living in this constant noise, I’ve found myself fatigued, tired, and even a bit avoidant of social media. Yet my job requires me to live, breathe, and think it. So when it becomes too much, I return to one simple practice to cut through the chaos: digital decluttering.

Digital Decluttering (noun): The intentional practice of reducing digital noise by curating what you consume, when you consume it, and why.

Depending on various factors, digital noise can quietly pile up. For me, someone who is intentionally pursuing growth (spiritually, mentally, and professionally), decluttering feels like putting on noise-canceling headphones inside a crowded airplane and finding my favorite song.

During Black Friday is usually when I begin to get the itch to digitally declutter. My inbox fills with thousands of emails all saying the same thing: “money pls”. It’s giving Mr. Krabs. Much like in work, I move through the decluttering process in three phases:

Reflection

I take stock of where I am spending my time and what is leaving me feeling mentally drained or lethargic.

Alignment

This is where I honestly assess what I need and the steps it will take to get there. If something no longer aligns, it doesn’t get access to my attention. And conversely, if it supports me, it does.

Embodiment

Finally, put everything into practice. Unfollow, discover, and maybe even touch some grass. Make intentional choices on how to spend your time in a way that works and benefits you.

Since I spend most of my time on email and Instagram, during my digital detox I unsubscribe from brands and unfollow accounts that no longer inspire me or feel relevant. I make space for accounts that make me laugh, spark new ideas, or leave me smiling. I also make it a point to dedicate more time to other activities to stop the doom scrolling spiral that can sometimes happen. 

With IG, you can leverage the new “Your Algorithm” feature to make your feed work for you.

I truly believe that if the media (or literally anything) in your life doesn’t bring clarity, joy, or positive momentum, it’s wrong for you.

Happy decluttering!