TL;DR - I'm cleaning out my “digital closet” so I can set some boundaries around the amount of information I'm taking in on a regular basis. If that sounds cool/helpful to you, here's a Notion template to help you Marie Kondo the shit out of your tech/subscriptions.

Backstory, for my real friends…

I went to a local garden twice last week to walk around, wake myself up, and experience sunlight for once in my life. On my way home from sitting with the trees, I remembered how much time I used to spend outside as a child. 

Hopscotch. Foursquare. Trampolines. Bikes. Roller Blades. Double Dutch. (I wasn't coordinated enough to do that last one but I did watch other people do it while thinking to myself, I could totally do that.)

Life was pretty much perfect up until I started learning math in school. I'm not saying that's the specific reason why things started getting so complicated, I'm just identifying patterns and you can come to your own conclusion based on the data provided. 

Perhaps I'm oversimplifying my life as a 5-year-old. I'm sure I had things to do, people to avoid, problems to solve. But I also had very few choices to make, zero bills to pay, limited technology, and little to no responsibilities. Sounds like a dream to moi! 

As I got older, I started becoming more aware of these things called thoughts and feelings. The pressure to perform and perfect my work, my image, myself started coming into play. The media I consumed as a pre/teen was quick to tell me what was “wrong” with me and how to make it better.

First of all, I don't believe anyone's life was truly improved by calling 1-800 and making three payments of $19.99. And you didn't suddenly become cool because your mom bought you one of those machines that braids and beads your hair at the same time (speaking from experience). 

I have a love/hate relationship with technology, which is so unique of me! While I lovvvvve talking and learning about tech hacks and platforms that can make life easier, walking around outside with limited cell service this week helped me remember how nice it is to switch off the near constant feedback, input, and consumption technology provides. 

While I was walking back to my car after my garden stroll—clear eyes, full heart, can't lose—I felt a little vibration from my phone. It was reminding me there was a task due soon…

I immediately turned off my calendar and task notifications on my phone and it got me thinking… my tech capacity, unlike Vicki Gunvalson's love tank, is full. Very few of these little apps actually make my life easier. It's like the Conair hair braider all over again!!!

I think it was Marie Kondo who once told me (through her popular Netflix show), it's easier to know what you really want once it's gone. She absolutely did not say it like that but that's how I interpreted it. For example, when cleaning out your closet, she recommends removing everything from the racks and only putting back the things you want to keep vs. leaving everything in your closet and only pulling out the things you'd like to get rid of. 

My intention for the next few months is to simplify, starting with my technology and subscriptions. I'm pulling them all out of the closet to see if they still fit (my needs). 

Totally rocked that metaphor. 

If you want to join me on this quest toward feeling more like a 5-year-old again, check out this Notion board I made to help me sort my digital life out. Maybe it'll help you too.

Peace, love and workflows,

Andrea