How to Declutter Your Media and Do a Digital Detox in January
(Without Losing Your Sanity)
Ah, January. The month where we all pretend to be organised, inspired, and ready to conquer the world.
While most people are busy trying to eat kale and meditate, let’s be honest: we’re drowning in digital chaos.
You’ve got inboxes full of newsletters you never read, photos from 2014 that you swore you’d delete, and social media accounts that are collecting more dust than your gym membership.
But don’t worry! It’s time to declutter your media and embark on a digital detox. Here’s how to do it without wanting to throw your phone out the window.
1) Unsubscribe from Newsletter you don’t read
Let’s face it: We’ve all subscribed to a million newsletters out of some weird sense of future me will totally read this.
Guess what? Future you is not reading them. It’s time to cut the clutter.
Go through your inbox and start unsubscribing from every email that’s not bringing you joy or at least helping you save 30% on some skincare product.
You’ll be amazed at how many times you’ve given your email address to a random website offering “exclusive offers.”
Bye-bye, random brand updates!
2. Delete Those Photos (And Backup the Ones You Actually Like)
You know the ones: blurry selfies, photos of your lunch, and that time you took 17 pictures of your cat just to capture the perfect angle.
Let’s be honest, you’ve got thousands of photos on your phone and you’re not going to look at any of them again. Time for a photo purge!
Then, back up the good ones.
And by “good ones,” we mean the photos that are actually worth saving—like the ones of your dog dressed as a taco or that one vacation photo where you don’t look like you’ve been run over by a bus.
Back them up to cloud storage or an external hard drive because apparently tech experts say you should never just “trust your phone.”
3. Clean Up Your Social Media Friends List
If you’re still following your middle school gym teacher or that guy from college who keeps posting conspiracy theories, it might be time for a little social media spring cleaning.
Ask yourself: Do you need to be keeping tabs on people who haven’t been relevant to your life since 2009? Probably not.
Hit unfollow with reckless abandon. Keep the friends that make you laugh, the influencers that provide value, and that one high school buddy who always shares adorable cat videos. Everyone else? Buh-bye.
4. Digital Detox: Turn Off the Notifications (And Maybe Your Phone Too)
Okay, so this one’s a little harder.
We’ve all got that one app that just won’t let go—whether it’s the ding of a new email or that annoying red bubble that constantly taunts you to open Instagram. It’s time to take back control!
Start by turning off your notifications. Trust us, you don’t need to know that someone liked your picture five seconds ago. Also, try setting designated “no phone” times. For instance, no phones during meals.
If you’re really brave, try a full-on weekend detox. Don’t touch your phone for a couple of days and see how quickly you start to lose it.
5. Password Management
Raise your hand if you’ve used “password123” for at least one of your accounts.
You’re not alone, but it’s time to change that. Use a password manager to securely store and organise your passwords. Consider enabling two-factor authentication for extra security, and avoid reusing passwords across different accounts to protect your personal information (no, you don’t have to write them down on a post-it note anymore).
Your social media accounts will thank you.
Final Thoughts: You’re Going to Survive This. Probably
Decluttering your digital life is like spring cleaning your home: it can be hard work but ultimately, you’ll feel 100% better when it’s done.
Happy January, digital declutterers!
May your inbox be empty and your social media feeds be full of Dishmatic meme!.
Would you like to extend the effects of your digital detox and win a Virgin Experience Gift Card worth £250?
Then Enter our January competition now!
