The digital clutter you accumulate on your smartphone can have serious consequences for your mental health. Unfortunately, the new reality of our smartphones is unopened emails, text messages and the occasional notification that the storage is almost full.
In an interview with CNN, Dr. Susan Albers, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, said, “That’s what causes a lot of stress and anxiety, the collection of emails, pictures, open tabs — the overwhelming number of digital elements that cause overload.” Dr. Albers went on to point out that this is a problem specific to our generation and the next, unlike our ancestors.
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While everyone with digital devices can experience clutter issues at some point, it’s important to know when it can turn into a disorder – digital hoarding.
Digital Storage: What is it?
Dr. Albers noted that our brains are wired to prefer clarity and simplicity over chaos. That’s why when we have to wade through thousands of images, text, and information to find what we need, we can feel overwhelmed and exhausted.
Dr. Emanuel Meidenberg, clinical professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, told CNN, “Maybe you want to preserve memories with photos, or keep junk documents and files from college courses or old jobs. just in case. But sometimes when this behavior turns into storing a lot of information, it can be considered hoarding.’
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Dr. Sanjaya Saxena, a psychiatrist and director of clinical and research at the Boston International OCD Foundation, noted that approximately 8-12 million people in the United States suffer from hoarding disorder.
When digital clutter crosses the line into a disorder is often up to the individual, but it can have a serious impact on our mental health.
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How to reduce digital clutter?
Dr. Susan Albers shares several ways to reduce digital clutter and eliminate hoarding disorder:
Turn off unimportant notifications:
Turn off notifications from apps that aren’t urgent, and unsubscribe from ads and newsletters that aren’t important. In short, prioritize what you want to see on your phone.
Set boundaries:
Use silent mode and Do Not Disturb on your smartphone to set limits on your digital exposure. This will allow you to be more present in your life and not be overwhelmed by digital information throughout the day.
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Do a digital detox:
Take output from any kind of digital media. Use this day to detox and calm your nervous system from the constant noise of notifications. Make a clear plan on how to slowly clean up your digital space.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor for any health concerns.
