DIGITAL MINIMALISM

In the digital age, we look at screens more and more every day, and this is no longer a coincidence, but a habit. From entertainment to education, from shopping to socializing, much has moved to the web and dragged us along with it. Leaves and ink lines on paper have become fewer and fewer, and notes, books, news and more are trapped between a small screen and two fingers.

This development of course made human life much easier in terms of communication, sociability and ease of access to information. However, after a while, this convenience began to restrict us rather than liberate us with the necessity of being accessible at all times.

The Shift We Are Experiencing

Once upon a time, the internet was a tool for connecting with people far away from us and accessing information. Today, however, it has become a space dominated by content of questionable veracity, sensational headlines and attention-grabbing images that we are exposed to without even asking for it. While third-party algorithms decide what we see, we lose our own attention and get lost in an endless vortex.

The Snowball Effect: Habits Shaped by the Pandemic

During the pandemic, we went through a long period of lockdown. Throughout this time, schools and most of the jobs that could be adapted to the internet moved to homes and we found ourselves surrounded by the internet network. The screen time of many of us increased so much during that period that the digital world became a routine, not a tool. Posting, sharing stories, watching what others are doing, and scrolling without losing track of time... Even though the pandemic is over, this effect has turned into a reality that we cannot get rid of.

FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out): Always Feeling Like You're Missing Something

So why can't we get rid of this condition that we are aware of?

FOMO is the main reason for this. FOMO, or “fear of missing out”, refers to a deep-seated anxiety that others are living more fun, meaningful or productive lives than we are. Social media is a tool that constantly feeds this feeling: Feelings of incompleteness, restlessness, comparison and inadequacy... This leads to time fragmentation, superficial experiences and distraction. Even if we are not happy to be there, we prefer unhappiness to our fear of missing out.

The first thing we look at when we open our eyes, the first thing we reach for when we see a beautiful view is the phone. Even when we sleep, we are afraid of missing out on what has happened; we don't feel like we have lived if we don't show others what we have seen and experienced.

JOMO (Joy Of Missing Out): The Peace of Choosing

JOMO, “the joy of missing out”, the opposite of FOMO (fear of missing out), may sound contradictory at first. After all, missing out is often perceived as a negative thing. But JOMO, on the contrary, describes the peace of mind that comes from really focusing on what you choose and being satisfied with it. Connecting to the present moment instead of following what's happening on the screen... Deep conversations, real connections and increased self-awareness are all gifts of this peace. Letting go of the constant feeling of catching up and incompleteness created by FOMO and switching to the calmness of JOMO is perhaps the greatest favor we can do ourselves in this digital age.

What is Digital Minimalism?
Digital minimalism is not about moving away from technology altogether, or about erasing everything from your life at once. Rather, it's an approach that invites us to rethink and reshape our relationship with the online world. This philosophy aims to make screen time more conscious and meaningful, rather than reducing it. Which apps, platforms or habits are actually good for us? Which ones are just automatic escapes or time fillers? It is precisely these questions that digital minimalism pursues.

It aims to simplify online time in line with one's own values and priorities, making space for only truly contributing, satisfying experiences. So it's not about ‘less’, it's about ‘better’. A focused mind instead of an attention divided by constant notifications; feeling truly connected instead of constantly connected... Digital minimalism is not about disconnecting from technology, but building a healthier connection with it.

Why Do We Need to Minimalize?

Personal Impact
That moment when we stop and look in the mirror while scrolling through a photo... no longer belongs to us. Our eyes are fixed on the lives of others; the more alienated we become from ourselves, the more we compare, the more we feel incomplete. Social media, once an inspiring window, has now become a stage where we often live according to the approval of others.

Yet the internet is still a powerful tool when used consciously. It holds unlimited potential for learning, connecting and producing. But in its current form, it has often become a trap that distracts us, steals our time and diminishes our productivity.
Real relationships, intimate conversations, quiet moments with ourselves... All of this is dulled by the screen light. We don't have to disconnect from the digital world, but we do have to redefine our connection to it. Because it is often not the screen where we find ourselves, but the moment we step away from it.

The Need for Solitude
Algorithms, constant notifications and an endless stream of content keep the human mind in a non-stop consumption mode. This makes it difficult to return to oneself, to weigh one's feelings, to listen to one's thoughts. Even being alone with yourself imposes a condition of "productivity": if you meditate, you must get results; if you read a book, you must improve. Spending time with yourself, on the other hand, sometimes involves just being and doing nothing. Another dimension is the change in our perception of loneliness. Being in touch with people all the time on social media causes us to forget being truly alone and its healing power. However, when experienced correctly, loneliness offers a ground for self-knowledge, realizing one's inner resources and discovering one's limits.

Social Impact
Social media is a powerful medium that can create massive public pressure. However, it also fuels lynch culture, manipulative information dissemination and polarization. Agendas shaped by algorithms can drown out the real problems of society or, conversely, become the voice of those seeking justice and justice that is not being done. Digital minimalism can lead not only to individual peace but also to a more conscious and healthy social structure.

Environmental Impact
The digital world has an invisible carbon footprint. Video streaming services, servers, constantly running devices... All these increase energy consumption. In addition, the fast fashion content we frequently encounter on social media encourages consumption and increases environmental destruction. Every "style inspiration" we follow sometimes turns into textile waste. By consuming less, we can protect not only our minds but also the planet.

Steps to Change
The impact of even a few small moves to minimize digitalization is undeniable. This transformation does not necessarily require big steps; even small and consistent changes can have a profound impact. For example, giving up looking at the screen an hour before going to sleep not only gives our eyes a rest, but also our minds. Instead, writing down your thoughts in a notebook, getting lost in the pages of a book or spending time on a favorite hobby can turn passive screen consumption into conscious production.

Reducing phone interaction during socializing moments is a sign of genuine attention to the other person. Because face-to-face connections are enriched not only by words, but also by gestures, tones of voice, even silences. Freeing these connection spaces from digital noise paves the way for more authentic relationships and emotional intimacy.
In the same way, making exercise a natural part of daily life instead of putting the body's need for movement on the back burner is another way to disconnect from the digital world. Because when the body moves, the mind becomes clearer and inner balance is restored. In this way, one-to-one connections make people's communication with themselves and with each other healthier.

Conclusion: Less Can Actually Be More

Digital minimalism is not about missing out on life, but reclaiming it. Scrolling less, living more; comparing less, feeling more... Maybe we won't see every notification, but we will hear ourselves better. Because sometimes, digital silence makes the loudest inner voice heard. spending time with yourself is no longer a passive act, but a conscious resistance. We are in a time when we need to make an effort to reclaim our attention, energy and time, to build meaningful relationships not only with others but also with ourselves. Perhaps the most revolutionary action is to turn off the screen for a while, sit quietly, do nothing, just be there.

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