This is a collaborative post

For all the talk about how technology makes life easier, it often feels like the opposite, and you’ll often have notifications piling up, emails that never stop, and loads of apps you don’t remember downloading all taking up space on your devices and in your head. The fact is that the digital age has a way of cluttering life almost as much as it helps, but the good news is there are ways to make it much more simple, so with that in mind, keep reading to find out more.

Photo by Irina Iriser

Cut Back The Noise

The first step is trimming down the constant noise, and by that we mean things like notifications, alerts, and reminders. They’re meant to be helpful, but most of the time they’re just distracting, so put some time aside to go through your apps and only leave the ones you really need to hear from. Do you really need an alert every time someone likes a post? Probably not. Switch off the unnecessary signals so when your phone does buzz, it’s actually worth paying attention to.

This idea extends beyond phones too. Laptop pop-ups, smart speaker reminders, and even news notifications on your watch can add to the noise, and simplifying means cutting back across the board so you have space to think.

Fix, Don’t Replace 

In a culture where everything is disposable, it’s easy to think the answer to a glitchy laptop or a cracked screen is to buy a new one, but often, repair is the simpler, and more sustainable, option. Something as straightforward as arranging a quick phone repair can save money and reduce stress, and choosing to fix rather than replace keeps devices out of landfill and reminds you that new isn’t always better.

It also makes your digital life calmer because instead of rushing to learn a new interface or move data across to a replacement device, you simply carry on with the tools you already know.

Reduce Digital Clutter

Simplifying life isn’t just about the physical devices, it’s also about the digital clutter inside them, and the truth is that most of us are guilty of keeping hundreds of emails, dozens of unused apps, and endless files we never open. Taking a little time to clean up reduces that low-level stress every time you swipe through your phone or laptop.

Unsubscribe from newsletters you never read, group documents into folders, delete duplicate photos – they’re all small jobs, but they make a difference. 

Make Tech Work On Your Terms

Technology is designed to keep your attention, which means if you don’t set limits, it will happily take up all your time, and building boundaries flips that balance. Maybe you set an hour in the evening with no screens, or avoid checking your phone in the first half-hour after waking up. Some people even go as far as tech-free Sundays (or whatever day works for you).

Make Offline Habits Again

Simplifying can also mean remembering there are other ways to do things too that don’t rely on tech. That could mean writing a quick note on paper, reading a book before bed, or perhaps cooking without a recipe app open beside you, for example. Having a few offline habits balances out the constant digital pull and makes your routine feel calmer.