I would never be considered a true minimalist…at least not by all the hard-core minimalists out there. I have far too many books and coloring supplies for that. But I am kind of a minimalist, at least when it comes to technology.
One of the things that came with brain damage and chronic illnesses over the years was the increasing inability to handle stimulus. Things like sights, sounds, lights, crowds (even small ones), lots of information all at once, all that kind of stuff began to take a toll on me really fast. That’s one of the reasons I can’t drive these days…driving is pretty much 100% stimulus. But driving isn’t the only thing that has been affected by my inability to handle stimulus. Pretty much everything has been, especially my desire to use technology.
At first I cut back on screen time out of necessity, but eventually I began to genuinely love it. These days I don’t even have a smart phone and it’s the best! I love being disconnected from the internet as a regular way of life. I love using electronic devices pretty much only to listen to audiobooks or to write. I love not being bombarded with notifications or having to fight that addicted-type feeling that constantly being connected to electronic devices used to have on me. And I guess I love feeling less like a cyborg too 😉
Basically, living in an overall state of “technology minimalism” has been one secret to a much healthier way of life for myself. Being unplugged has meant more time spent living in the moment without distractions. Being unplugged has meant more time looking up and around rather than down and into a screen. Being unplugged has naturally resulted in more time outside and more time surrounded by nature and animals and fresh air and all the other things that naturally seem to rejuvenate and bring an extra sense of healing to my body, mind, and soul. Being unplugged has made me way more productive, and ultimately being unplugged has just felt so right.
I’ve found that I’m happier without the bombardment of technology that the last decade has brought us. I’m happier without a smart phone. I’m happier living the much more chill, unobtrusive, slow-paced way of life that I began to live since making this shift. Honestly I’m just happier these days, plain and simple, and becoming a technology minimalist has had a lot to do with that.
The only down side to all of this is that most of the people I know are still happily addicted to their smart phones, and that means I feel even more different and out of place around humans than I already used to feel…haha. So if there are any other technology minimalists out there, please let me know! 😉
Yours Truly,
~Cassia Dee
Yours Truly, Cassia Dee 