10 Digital Self-Care Tips to Feel Happier
Self-care is something that goes beyond the physical, especially in our modern days when digital life feels so real… we need to take greater care of ourselves. In this article, we will explore powerful and actionable self-care tips to feel your best in a connected world.
I remember in high school when my English teacher asked us to make an essay to determine if the internet was good or bad. When we put our thoughts in common, we concluded that the internet is a powerful, but neutral tool. It is not inherently good nor bad, but could potentially become one or the other depending on how wisely we use it.
In a world where our digital lives often overshadow reality, many of us (including me) may feel a love-hate relationship with the online world. Which is why reclaiming sovereignty over your own inner kingdom is essential for your mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Let’s explore how to positively harness this tool by implementing 10 self-care tips to our digital world.
1- Check In With Yourself Regularly
As with many aspects of life, improving your digital habits begins with mindfulness. Before implementing any other tips, start by taking the time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. Reflect honestly on the following prompts:
What aspects of your digital life make you feel bad, and what specific emotions do they bring up (ex: anxiety, fear, shame, disempowerment, etc.)?
How do these feelings spill over into other areas of your life?
What about your digital life makes you feel good, and what specific emotions do they bring up (ex: joy, excitement, hope, inspiration, etc.)?
How do these positive feelings influence the rest of your life?
What digital devices do you use? How often do you use each of them and for how long? What are your specific purposes for using each of them?
Ideally, how would you like to use these devices in terms of time, purpose, and frequency?
In the light of all of this, why do you want to change your digital habits?
Pondering with complete honesty on these questions might surprise you. You could uncover patterns, which can ignite a deep desire to make meaningful changes. For a deeper dive into dopamine addiction and its effects, check out this insightful piece.
2- Limit Your Screen Time
Breaking free from excessive screen time, takes both diligence and self-compassion. Start by setting realistic time limits on the apps you tend to overuse. Focus on the apps that feel draining or addictive. If you already use other apps mindfully, there’s no need to restrict them.
However, being overly strict can be counter-productive. For example, when I wanted to reduce the time I spent on Instagram, I initially set a very strict 15-minute daily limit on the app. It felt way too restrictive for me, and I kept pushing the limit, completely defeating the purpose. So, I adjusted to a more reasonable time limit, allowing me to enjoy content from my favourite creators, with a little extra time to spare.
Additionally, you could use screen-free periods, like no screens between 9 pm and 9 am. Or screen-free zones in your home, like no screens in the bedroom or the bathroom. Think of these limits not as restrictions, but as invitations to be more present with yourself and the world around you. You can find many tutorials on YouTube for how to set up those time limits on your specific devices.
3- Turn Off Notifications
For gentle souls who feel easily overwhelmed, turning off notifications can truly be life-changing, which was definitely the case for me! You don’t need a pop-up every time someone likes your post or emails you. If you are a private person like me, it can feel like an invasion of your personal space and disrupts your peace.
Start by auditing your apps on each device. Personally, I only keep essential notifications, like calls and texts, and disabled the rest. Of course for work, you may need to keep your notifications active during your office hours, but log out at the end of your day.
As for personal emails or social media, I would suggest turning off all alerts. Even those overwhelming email notifications from your social media apps telling you yet again about likes or comments. You will simply check your apps when it suits you, and see the notifications there, no need to have them twice.
This simple step lets you set digital boundaries, reduce distractions, and stay present, whether you’re focused on work, enjoying time with loved ones, or savouring quiet moments. It’s time to protect your peace!
4- Declutter Your Digital Life
During most of my twenties, I used to be a minimalist, which taught me a valuable lesson: much like physical clutter, digital clutter can weigh on your mind and energy. Since so much of life happens in the digital world (working, socializing, and relaxing), a thoughtful declutter can help to restore your sense of calm and focus.
You can get inspired by Marie Kondo, asking yourself: Does it spark joy? Do I truly love it? Do I honestly need and use it? Be honest with yourself. Then, let go of everything in the following list that no longer serve you:
Apps on all your devices ;
Accounts (social media, subscriptions, all sorts of platforms, etc.) ;
Digital files (photos, videos, documents, etc.), on your devices, external hard-drives, and cloud storage ;
For the apps and accounts you no longer need, take time to manually delete your personal informations before closing down your accounts. If you feel hesitant to delete certain accounts, give yourself a deadline and set a reminder to reassess in a couple of months.
If you want to go even further after that clean-up, here’s a list of other things to declutter: Pinterest boards, notes apps, music on Spotify, projects on creative software programs (Canva, Procreate, Lightroom, etc.), old emails, websites saved on your navigator’s favourites bar.
5- Organize Your Digital Life
After decluttering, it’s time to bring a sense of order to your digital world. A nicely streamlined system will make it easier to find what you need and maintain a serene space. By thoughtfully organizing your digital life, you will gain so much clarity and ease.
Start with your phone and tablet: organize your apps into folders based on similar purpose. For example, you might create folders like “Music & Audio”, “Social Media”, “Travel”, “Admin”, etc. Keep your 4-8 most vital daily apps easily accessible on your home screen, and enjoy the calm aesthetic of a visually clear layout that lets your background photo shine!
For documents, photos, and creative projects, create an intuitive system on a cloud service or external drive. Use folders and sub-folders to ensure everything has a home without becoming overwhelming. Think of it as creating a digital home, where everything is beautifully arranged and easy to find. You can even do the same for your favourites bar on your navigator.
6- Reassess Who You Follow
This step is vital for your mental and emotional well-being. Everything you consume has a profound effect on your mindset, beliefs, and feelings. Your digital space can either uplift you, or weigh you down. Also, your time is so precious, so why would you waste it on following hundreds of accounts on social media if you can’t actively keep up with that many? For each platform, take a close look at who you follow and asking yourself:
Does this account lift me up or drain me?
Does it bring me joy or stress?
Do I genuinely love and feel inspired by this creator?
Why am I following this person? Is it a wise use of my time to actively follow them?
Once you’ve unfollowed those accounts, the algorithm will need your help to adjust to what you now want. So, as you see undesirable posts popping on your feed, you can signal to the app to hide them because you are not interested in that post, and request it to stop showing you similar posts. As you engage more with content that aligns with what you want more of, your feed will change for the best.
For platforms used to connect with friends, family, or colleagues, consider compartmentalizing as potential future employers can easily find you on social media. Can you create separate accounts for work and personal life? Also, if certain loved ones' posts lower your mood, but you don’t want to unfollow them, consider muting them. This way, they remain in your contacts without polluting your feed.
Lastly, declutter your email inbox: unsubscribe from newsletters, brands, or news that no longer interests you, or bring heaviness into your day. Keep only what feels useful, inspiring, or necessary. By reassessing what you consume, you’re nurturing your inner world with things that makes you feel good, nourishes your soul and inspires you to create the life that you want.
7- Protect Your Online Privacy
When I first started using the internet as a teenager, I had no idea how many potential dangers lurked online. With time, I’ve learned the importance of safeguarding your digital space. Protecting your privacy is less about fear and more about empowerment and peace of mind. Here are some ways to protect your online privacy:
Connecting to public Wi-Fi at places can leave your device vulnerable to hackers, but using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your data, keeping your information safe. It also helps protect your privacy by masking your online activity, reducing targeted ads based on your habits, and giving you greater control over your digital footprint.
Be mindful about what you post, because the internet is forever! Even if you delete it, someone could have downloaded, and reposted it without your permission. Opinions and preferences change over time, so think carefully before sharing anything online, even privately. As a content creator, I personally choose to share a few slices of my lifestyle, not my whole private life. Reflect on what’s truly worth sharing: are you contributing something meaningful to the world, or simply adding to the noise?
Strengthen your online security, using strong, unique passwords for each platform and store them safely with a password manager like LastPass (free and reputable). Enable two-factor authentication for sensitive accounts, update your passwords regularly, and never reuse them across platforms. Avoid sending personal information via email, it’s an easy target for hackers.
8- Reduce Blue Light Exposure
Did you know that exposure to blue light through your screens can disrupt your circadian rhythm? Numerous studies have shown how blue light impacts our natural sleep-wake cycle and, consequently, our health.
A simple way to combat blue light exposure is by switching your screens to emit warmer, yellow-toned light at night. For computers, the free app F.lux is incredibly effective. It automatically adjusts your screen's colour temperature based on the time of day and your location, mimicking natural sunlight cycles.
Most phones and tablets now come with a built-in "Night Mode" or "Night Shift" setting that reduces blue light during the night. You can easily enable it in your device settings. If you need it, YouTube has many tutorials to set it up in your specific devices.
9- Use EMF Protection Tools
The potential health effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) emitted by wireless devices are rather concerning, especially as we spend most of our days in proximity with them. One way to protect us from EMFs is the use of shungite, a carbon-rich mineral.
Some studies suggest that shungite may offer protective benefits against EMF exposure, such as this one, and that one. You can also find various studies on shungite compiled here. Another way to show its efficiency is to see it with our own eyes, like in this video, using an EMF measuring tool.
You could use it by attaching flat shungite pieces to your devices or placing larger pieces near Wi-Fi routers. Some people also wear shungite jewellery to shield them. However, there are many counterfeits out there, especially on Etsy. Here is an article that explains how to tell if a shungite is real or fake. Also, black tourmaline is another crystal you could use for that purpose, but shungite is the most effective.
10- Prioritize Real-Life Joy
As wild as it may sound, we spend so much time online that the virtual world can often seem more real to us than our physical world. The carefully edited pictures and videos of people you follow on social media may affect your mental health, especially if you are prone to comparison and living vicariously. Numbing ourselves after a long day by mindlessly scrolling and binge-watching a show make us forget how much our real life matters.
Don’t hesitate to seek professional support if online pressures or addiction affects you. This may even be the most important tip of this whole article: focus on your real life. If you’re unhappy with your reality, reflect on your dreams and the life you truly want, and go make it happen! Take small steps to create a life that brings you joy, fulfillment, and happiness, because only you can change your life.
If you loved this post, Pin it to Pinterest👇
The digital world is what we make of it—a tool that can enrich our lives if used wisely. By setting boundaries, protecting our well-being, and prioritizing what truly matters, we can create a healthier, more balanced relationship with technology. Remember, the power to craft your own fairytale life is always in your hands, both online and offline.
With infinite love and gratitude,
-Anne 🧚♀️
*** Did any of those tips spark an insightful reflection for you? Do you think you have a dopamine addiction? Which one are you the most excited to implement? Let me know in the comments! ***