Sage advice for a calmer, more fulfilling digital life
Autumn 2021
- Disable notifications. Yes, all of them. Yes, on all platforms. Notifications for incoming phone calls and text messages are acceptable, but make it a rule rather than exception to set your phone to vibrate only. You're still going to check your mail and chats with regular intervals. If something really is important, someone will call you.
- Scrutinize your software usage in order to simplify it. Do you use even 10% of the features in that massive market leading application? Find alternatives that are not only FOSS, but also aimed at performing the core task and nothing but the core task. For example, does your word processor even really need a GUI? If it does, that's fine. If not, find a text mode replacement.
- In fact, avoid applications. Yes, as many as possible. Yes, on all platforms. Do you really need that amazing new piece of software you've apparently managed without for your entire life so far? Did you read the fine print? Can you live with that for your entire remaining life? Is it worth the trade-off? Ok, sure, go ahead and install it.
- If you can't decide between two applications, pick the one with less input lag.
- Don't use laptops for extended amounts of time. Your body deserves a larger screen, a proper keyboard and a mouse.
- Avoid social media. Yes, all of it. Yes, on all platforms. You know what's meant by social media: it's not your local phpBB for knitting enthusiasts or that one particular subreddit for screenshots of 30 year old video games. If it wants to send you notifications, avoid it even more.
- Explore the net outside the beaten path. Find and bookmark personal sites about your interests. Find specialized forums and IRC channels.
- Avoid desktop environments whenever possible. GUIs are fine. Window Managers are fine. Desktop environments will try to limit your choice of applications and control your workflow. They act as aggregates for notifications you probably won't need and stats you can easily find if you have to. How's the WiFi connection? Probably just fine if you're not already troubleshooting it.
- Don't leave lingering ghost accounts on services you don't use anymore. Haven't logged in for a couple of months? Delete it. God knows who owns that site in five years' time and what they decide to do with it and the data they paid for.
- Avoid sites where you can't delete your account. Try to find out in advance.
- If a company says it cares about your privacy, it almost certainly does not. Tread lightly.
- If you think an EULA isn't subject to change at any time and without notice, think again.
- Use an ad blocker. Use a tracker blocker.
- Don't "monetize" everything. Do things because you enjoy doing them. Then stop doing them when you don't enjoy them anymore.
- Contribute to open source projects. With code, bug reports, end user support, translations and even well-mannered advocacy in the right time at the right place.
- Contact the maintainers and developers of FOSS software you use, the authors of blogs you read and the administrators of websites you enjoy. Thank them for their work. No, don't cram a bug report in there as well while you're at it. Just a simple thanks. Perhaps even a few lines about what it is that makes you like their work.
- Don't outsource simple things you can do yourself to an advertising giant's "free" service because it seems convenient.
- Use e-mail more. Use plaintext. Personal correspondence makes you better at conveying thoughts and emotions in writing.
- Think before you post. If you drink, never post drunk.
- Never take long, opinionated lists of advice as irrefutable truths to live by.
- Disable cursor blinking whenever possible.