Digital minimalism post Signed-off-by: Anirudh Oppiliappan <x@icyphox.sh>
Anirudh Oppiliappan x@icyphox.sh
Sat, 05 Oct 2019 14:02:33 +0530
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+<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang=en> +<link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css" type="text/css"> +<link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/syntax.css" type="text/css"> +<link rel="shortcut icon" type="images/x-icon" href="/static/favicon.ico"> +<meta name="description" content="Put that screen down!"> +<meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1"> +<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> +<meta content="#021012" name="theme-color"> +<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true"> +<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> +<meta name="twitter:site" content="@icyphox"> +<meta name="twitter:title" content="Thoughts on digital minimalism"> +<meta name="twitter:description" content="Put that screen down!"> +<meta name="twitter:image" content="/static/icyphox.png"> +<meta property="og:title" content="Thoughts on digital minimalism"> +<meta property="og:type" content="website"> +<meta property="og:description" content="Put that screen down!"> +<meta property="og:url" content="https://icyphox.sh"> +<meta property="og:image" content="/static/icyphox.png"> +<html> + <title> + Thoughts on digital minimalism + </title> +<div class="container-text"> + <header class="header"> + + <a href="/">home</a> + <a href="/blog">blog</a> + <a href="/reading">reading</a> + <a href="https://twitter.com/icyphox">twitter</a> + <a href="/about">about</a> + + </header> +<body> + <div class="content"> + <div align="left"> + <code>2019-10-05</code> + <h1>Thoughts on digital minimalism</h1> + <h2>Put that screen down!</h2> + <p>Ah yes, yet another article on the internet on this beaten to death +subject. But this is inherently different, since it’s <em>my</em> opinion on +the matter, and <em>my</em> technique(s) to acheive “digital minimalism”.</p> + +<p>According to me, minimalism can be acheived on two primary fronts – +the phone & the computer. Let’s start with the phone. The daily carry. +The device that’s on our person from when we get out of bed, till we get +back in bed.</p> + +<h3 id="the-phone">The phone</h3> + +<p>I’ve read about a lot of methods people employ to curb their phone +usage. Some have tried grouping “distracting” apps into a separate +folder, and this supposedly helps reduce their usage. Now, I fail to see +how this would work, but YMMV. Another technique I see often is using +a time governance app—like OnePlus’ Zen Mode—to enforce how much +time you spend using specific apps, or the phone itself. I’ve tried this +for myself, but I constantly found myself counting down the minutes +after which the phone would become usable again. Not helpful.</p> + +<p>My solution to this is a lot more brutal. I straight up uninstalled the +apps that I found myself using too often. There’s a simple principle +behind it – if the app has a desktop alternative, like Twitter, +Reddit, etc. use that instead. Here’s a list of apps that got nuked from +my phone:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Twitter</li> +<li>Instagram (an exception, no desktop client)</li> +<li>Relay for Reddit</li> +<li>YouTube (disabled, ships with stock OOS)</li> +</ul> + +<p>The only non-productive app that I’ve let remain is Clover, +a 4chan client. I didn’t find myself using it as much earlier, but we’ll see how that +holds up. I’ve also allowed my personal messaging apps to remain, since +removing those would be inconveniencing others.</p> + +<p>I must admit, I often find myself reaching for my phone out of habit +just to check Twitter, only to find that its gone. I also subconsciously +tap the place where its icon used to exist (now replaced with my mail +client) on my launcher. The only “fun” thing left on my phone to do is +read or listen to music. Which is okay, in my opinion.</p> + +<h3 id="the-computer">The computer</h3> + +<p>I didn’t do anything too nutty here, and most of the minimalism is +mostly aesthetic. I like UIs that get out of the way. </p> + +<p>My setup right now is just a simple bar at the top showing the time, +date, current volume and battery %, along with my workspace indicators. +No fancy colors, no flashy buttons and sliders. And that’s it. I don’t +try to force myself to not use stuff – after all, I’ve reduced it +elsewhere. :)</p> + +<p>Now the question arises: Is this just a phase, or will I stick to it? +What’s going to stop me from heading over to the Play Store and +installing those apps back? Well, I never said this was going to be +easy. There’s definitely some will power needed to pull this off. +I guess time will tell.</p> + + </div> + <hr /> + <p class="muted">Questions or comments? Open an issue at <a href="https://github.com/icyphox/site">this repo</a>, or send a plain-text email to <a href="mailto:x@icyphox.sh">x@icyphox.sh</a>.</p> + <footer> + <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/"> + <img class="footimgs" src="/static/cc.svg"> + </a> + <a href="https://webring.xxiivv.com/#random" target="_blank"> + <img class="footimgs" alt="xxiivv webring" src="/static/webring.svg"> + </a> + + </footer> + </body> + </div> + </html>
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build/blog/feed.xml
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build/blog/feed.xml
@@ -11,7 +11,67 @@ <link>https://icyphox.sh/blog/</link>
</image> <language>en-us</language> <copyright>Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0</copyright> - <item><title>Weekly status update, 09/17–09/27</title><description><![CDATA[<p>It’s a lazy Friday afternoon here; yet another off day this week thanks to my + <item><title>Thoughts on digital minimalism</title><description><![CDATA[<p>Ah yes, yet another article on the internet on this beaten to death +subject. But this is inherently different, since it’s <em>my</em> opinion on +the matter, and <em>my</em> technique(s) to acheive “digital minimalism”.</p> + +<p>According to me, minimalism can be acheived on two primary fronts – +the phone & the computer. Let’s start with the phone. The daily carry. +The device that’s on our person from when we get out of bed, till we get +back in bed.</p> + +<h3 id="the-phone">The phone</h3> + +<p>I’ve read about a lot of methods people employ to curb their phone +usage. Some have tried grouping “distracting” apps into a separate +folder, and this supposedly helps reduce their usage. Now, I fail to see +how this would work, but YMMV. Another technique I see often is using +a time governance app—like OnePlus’ Zen Mode—to enforce how much +time you spend using specific apps, or the phone itself. I’ve tried this +for myself, but I constantly found myself counting down the minutes +after which the phone would become usable again. Not helpful.</p> + +<p>My solution to this is a lot more brutal. I straight up uninstalled the +apps that I found myself using too often. There’s a simple principle +behind it – if the app has a desktop alternative, like Twitter, +Reddit, etc. use that instead. Here’s a list of apps that got nuked from +my phone:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Twitter</li> +<li>Instagram (an exception, no desktop client)</li> +<li>Relay for Reddit</li> +<li>YouTube (disabled, ships with stock OOS)</li> +</ul> + +<p>The only non-productive app that I’ve let remain is Clover, +a 4chan client. I didn’t find myself using it as much earlier, but we’ll see how that +holds up. I’ve also allowed my personal messaging apps to remain, since +removing those would be inconveniencing others.</p> + +<p>I must admit, I often find myself reaching for my phone out of habit +just to check Twitter, only to find that its gone. I also subconsciously +tap the place where its icon used to exist (now replaced with my mail +client) on my launcher. The only “fun” thing left on my phone to do is +read or listen to music. Which is okay, in my opinion.</p> + +<h3 id="the-computer">The computer</h3> + +<p>I didn’t do anything too nutty here, and most of the minimalism is +mostly aesthetic. I like UIs that get out of the way. </p> + +<p>My setup right now is just a simple bar at the top showing the time, +date, current volume and battery %, along with my workspace indicators. +No fancy colors, no flashy buttons and sliders. And that’s it. I don’t +try to force myself to not use stuff – after all, I’ve reduced it +elsewhere. :)</p> + +<p>Now the question arises: Is this just a phase, or will I stick to it? +What’s going to stop me from heading over to the Play Store and +installing those apps back? Well, I never said this was going to be +easy. There’s definitely some will power needed to pull this off. +I guess time will tell.</p> +]]></description><link>https://icyphox.sh/blog/digital-minimalism</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://icyphox.sh/blog/digital-minimalism</guid></item><item><title>Weekly status update, 09/17–09/27</title><description><![CDATA[<p>It’s a lazy Friday afternoon here; yet another off day this week thanks to my uni’s fest. My last “weekly” update was 10 days ago, and a lot has happened since then. Let’s get right into it!</p>
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<h1 id="rssblogfeedxml">блог (<a href="/blog/feed.xml">rss</a>)</h1> <p><!–marker–!> -<code>2019-09-27</code> <a href="/blog/2019-09-27">Weekly status update, 09/17 – 09/27</a></p> +<code>2019-10-05</code> <a href="/blog/digital-minimalism">Thoughts on digital minimalism</a></p> + +<p><code>2019-09-27</code> <a href="/blog/2019-09-27">Weekly status update, 09/17 – 09/27</a></p> <p><code>2019-09-17</code> <a href="/blog/2019-09-17">Weekly status update, 09/08 – 09/17</a></p>
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<html lang=en> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css" type="text/css"> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="images/x-icon" href="/static/favicon.ico"> -<meta name="description" content="Memeing security since forever."> +<meta name="description" content="Memeing security since forever."> <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta content="#021012" name="theme-color">@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ <code>icyphox</code> on Rizon and Freenode.</p>
<h1 id="latest-post">latest post</h1> -<p><code>2019-09-27</code> <a href="/blog/2019-09-27">Weekly status update, 09/17 – 09/27</a></p> +<p><code>2019-10-05</code> <a href="/blog/digital-minimalism">Thoughts on digital minimalism</a></p> <p>(<a href="/blog">see all</a>)</p>
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<img class="footimgs" alt="xxiivv webring" src="/static/webring.svg"> </a> """ -template = 'index.html' # default is index.html +template = 'text.html' # default is index.html post_build = ['./bin/rss.py']
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# latest post -`2019-09-27` [Weekly status update, 09/17 -- 09/27](/blog/2019-09-27) +`2019-10-05` [Thoughts on digital minimalism](/blog/digital-minimalism) ([see all](/blog))
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# блог ([rss](/blog/feed.xml)) <!--marker--!> +`2019-10-05` [Thoughts on digital minimalism](/blog/digital-minimalism) + `2019-09-27` [Weekly status update, 09/17 -- 09/27](/blog/2019-09-27) `2019-09-17` [Weekly status update, 09/08 -- 09/17](/blog/2019-09-17)
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+--- +template: +title: Thoughts on digital minimalism +subtitle: Put that screen down! +date: 2019-10-05 +--- + +Ah yes, yet another article on the internet on this beaten to death +subject. But this is inherently different, since it's _my_ opinion on +the matter, and _my_ technique(s) to acheive "digital minimalism". + +According to me, minimalism can be acheived on two primary fronts -- +the phone & the computer. Let's start with the phone. The daily carry. +The device that's on our person from when we get out of bed, till we get +back in bed. + +### The phone + +I've read about a lot of methods people employ to curb their phone +usage. Some have tried grouping "distracting" apps into a separate +folder, and this supposedly helps reduce their usage. Now, I fail to see +how this would work, but YMMV. Another technique I see often is using +a time governance app---like OnePlus' Zen Mode---to enforce how much +time you spend using specific apps, or the phone itself. I've tried this +for myself, but I constantly found myself counting down the minutes +after which the phone would become usable again. Not helpful. + +My solution to this is a lot more brutal. I straight up uninstalled the +apps that I found myself using too often. There's a simple principle +behind it -- if the app has a desktop alternative, like Twitter, +Reddit, etc. use that instead. Here's a list of apps that got nuked from +my phone: + +* Twitter +* Instagram (an exception, no desktop client) +* Relay for Reddit +* YouTube (disabled, ships with stock OOS) + +The only non-productive app that I've let remain is Clover, +a 4chan client. I didn't find myself using it as much earlier, but we'll see how that +holds up. I've also allowed my personal messaging apps to remain, since +removing those would be inconveniencing others. + +I must admit, I often find myself reaching for my phone out of habit +just to check Twitter, only to find that its gone. I also subconsciously +tap the place where its icon used to exist (now replaced with my mail +client) on my launcher. The only "fun" thing left on my phone to do is +read or listen to music. Which is okay, in my opinion. + +### The computer + +I didn't do anything too nutty here, and most of the minimalism is +mostly aesthetic. I like UIs that get out of the way. + +My setup right now is just a simple bar at the top showing the time, +date, current volume and battery %, along with my workspace indicators. +No fancy colors, no flashy buttons and sliders. And that's it. I don't +try to force myself to not use stuff -- after all, I've reduced it +elsewhere. :) + +Now the question arises: Is this just a phase, or will I stick to it? +What's going to stop me from heading over to the Play Store and +installing those apps back? Well, I never said this was going to be +easy. There's definitely some will power needed to pull this off. +I guess time will tell.
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</image> <language>en-us</language> <copyright>Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 4.0</copyright> - <item><title>Weekly status update, 09/17–09/27</title><description><![CDATA[<p>It’s a lazy Friday afternoon here; yet another off day this week thanks to my + <item><title>Thoughts on digital minimalism</title><description><![CDATA[<p>Ah yes, yet another article on the internet on this beaten to death +subject. But this is inherently different, since it’s <em>my</em> opinion on +the matter, and <em>my</em> technique(s) to acheive “digital minimalism”.</p> + +<p>According to me, minimalism can be acheived on two primary fronts – +the phone & the computer. Let’s start with the phone. The daily carry. +The device that’s on our person from when we get out of bed, till we get +back in bed.</p> + +<h3 id="the-phone">The phone</h3> + +<p>I’ve read about a lot of methods people employ to curb their phone +usage. Some have tried grouping “distracting” apps into a separate +folder, and this supposedly helps reduce their usage. Now, I fail to see +how this would work, but YMMV. Another technique I see often is using +a time governance app—like OnePlus’ Zen Mode—to enforce how much +time you spend using specific apps, or the phone itself. I’ve tried this +for myself, but I constantly found myself counting down the minutes +after which the phone would become usable again. Not helpful.</p> + +<p>My solution to this is a lot more brutal. I straight up uninstalled the +apps that I found myself using too often. There’s a simple principle +behind it – if the app has a desktop alternative, like Twitter, +Reddit, etc. use that instead. Here’s a list of apps that got nuked from +my phone:</p> + +<ul> +<li>Twitter</li> +<li>Instagram (an exception, no desktop client)</li> +<li>Relay for Reddit</li> +<li>YouTube (disabled, ships with stock OOS)</li> +</ul> + +<p>The only non-productive app that I’ve let remain is Clover, +a 4chan client. I didn’t find myself using it as much earlier, but we’ll see how that +holds up. I’ve also allowed my personal messaging apps to remain, since +removing those would be inconveniencing others.</p> + +<p>I must admit, I often find myself reaching for my phone out of habit +just to check Twitter, only to find that its gone. I also subconsciously +tap the place where its icon used to exist (now replaced with my mail +client) on my launcher. The only “fun” thing left on my phone to do is +read or listen to music. Which is okay, in my opinion.</p> + +<h3 id="the-computer">The computer</h3> + +<p>I didn’t do anything too nutty here, and most of the minimalism is +mostly aesthetic. I like UIs that get out of the way. </p> + +<p>My setup right now is just a simple bar at the top showing the time, +date, current volume and battery %, along with my workspace indicators. +No fancy colors, no flashy buttons and sliders. And that’s it. I don’t +try to force myself to not use stuff – after all, I’ve reduced it +elsewhere. :)</p> + +<p>Now the question arises: Is this just a phase, or will I stick to it? +What’s going to stop me from heading over to the Play Store and +installing those apps back? Well, I never said this was going to be +easy. There’s definitely some will power needed to pull this off. +I guess time will tell.</p> +]]></description><link>https://icyphox.sh/blog/digital-minimalism</link><pubDate>Sat, 05 Oct 2019 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://icyphox.sh/blog/digital-minimalism</guid></item><item><title>Weekly status update, 09/17–09/27</title><description><![CDATA[<p>It’s a lazy Friday afternoon here; yet another off day this week thanks to my uni’s fest. My last “weekly” update was 10 days ago, and a lot has happened since then. Let’s get right into it!</p>
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<html lang=en> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/static/style.css" type="text/css"> <link rel="shortcut icon" type="images/x-icon" href="/static/favicon.ico"> -<meta name="description" content="{{ subtitle }}"> +<meta name="description" content="{{ subtitle }}"> <meta name="viewport" content="initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"> <meta content="#021012" name="theme-color">