Joya Mahbub

This age of digitalisation presents us with the blessing of constant connections. However, the bane of it is that many of us are quietly drowning in digital clutter now. Our devices, meant to make life easier, have now become a source of stress for us. We wake up in the morning to touch our phones first even before our feet touch the floor. Thus our brains start running a digital marathon and our minds are flooded with random notifications, emails and social media updates. The mess is not just in our inboxes but in our minds too.

The Hidden Weight of Digital Clutter

Once, clutter meant piles of paper or unwashed dishes. Today, it lives inside our screens. There are thousands of unread emails, endless WhatsApp groups, random screenshots, and forgotten apps. This invisible accumulation diverts our attention and destroys our peace of mind. If you scrolled through any average Bangladeshi user’s phone, and you would find dozens of Facebook pages followed years ago, hundreds of photos from restaurant hangouts, and countless group chats, from office updates to family memes. For many Dhaka-based professionals, managing digital chaos has become a full-time task in itself. A survey of RescueTime reveals that an average person checks their phone more than 58 times a day, spending nearly three hours on mobile devices outside of work. In Bangladesh, a recent BTRC report noted that active internet users crossed 13 crore, with social media taking up a large share of daily screen time. That means millions of people are juggling hundreds of micro-distractions every single day.

Why Constant Connectivity Drains Us

The human brain was never designed for endless streams of information. Each buzz, ping, or alert triggers a quick dopamine hit, keeping us locked in a loop of checking, scrolling, and reacting. Over time, this rewires our ability to focus deeply. Psychologists warn that young people in Bangladesh, especially students and entrepreneurs, are showing signs of “digital fatigue.” From TikTok trends to late-night scrolling on Facebook, constant exposure leaves many feeling anxious and restless. It’s no wonder that we often end our days exhausted, not from physical work, but from mental overstimulation.

The Rise of Digital Minimalism

In response, a quiet movement is taking shape globally and locally too: digital decluttering. The idea is simple: reduce digital excess, reclaim mental clarity. Popularised by author Cal Newport, “digital minimalism” encourages people to be intentional about their technology use. In Bangladesh, some entrepreneurs and creative people are embracing this mind-set; they are setting “no phone mornings,” keeping work and personal devices separate, or designating one day a week for social media detox.

You can follow five steps for digital decluttering. First, identify which apps, chats, and files truly add value, and delete the rest. For example, remove those e-commerce apps you installed for a one-time sale. Second, unsubscribe from online shopping alerts or random brand newsletters that fill your Gmail daily. Third, sort your photos, rename work documents, and clear your downloads folder. Fourth, follow accounts that inspire or educate, such as mental health advocates, local photographers, or start-up mentors, and unfollow those that drain energy. Fifth, turn off non-essential notifications and keep screen-free hours, especially before bed or during family meals.

Even a 10-minute daily decluttering can make a noticeable difference in productivity and peace of mind. Those who take the step to declutter often report feeling lighter, calmer, and more focused. A clean digital space brings a surprising sense of relief—similar to walking into a freshly organised room after cleaning day in a busy Dhaka apartment. Digital decluttering is not about disconnection; it is about reconnection: with yourself, your work, and the people around you. In a world that thrives on noise, choosing silence can be a radical act. So tonight, before you scroll one last time, pause for a moment and ask yourself, "What could you create, feel or dream, if the noise stopped for a while?”

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The writer is a journalist