Digital Principles
My Digital Principles keep my digital life organized. They help me to stay productive and reduce the clutter.
These rules come from decades of experience with computer systems and electronic devices. At first glance, they may sound like constraints, but the effect of following them is quite the opposite — I get more freedom and less stress.
Noneheless, I’m not obliging myself to follow them stricly. I just try my best and observe positive outcomes with a feel of joy.
I review this list from time to time and keep my principles evolving with me.
Software
- Use free open-source software
- Uninstall apps that aren’t often used
- Be independent from specific operating systems
- Replace GUI apps with CLI options1
- Avoid services that don’t export/delete user data
Finances
- Cancel unnecessary subscriptions
- Avoid subscription-based software
- Donate to developers and artists directly
Hardware
- Get rid of devices which are not used frequently
- Use wireless connections
- Reduce the number of cables
- Use one standard for cables (USB-C)
Productivity
- Track time for all work processes
- Manage tasks with a single system or a single tool
- Automate with scripting and shortcuts
- Keep hands over the keyboard
- Work some time without a computer
- Work some time in offline mode
- Don’t use phone when bored2
- Turn off all notifications
- Honor the Digital Sabbath day
Data and formats
- Name and organize files and folders with a system
- Don’t keep all data in one place
- Use ISO 8601 for time and date format, e.g. 2023-08-27 18:30:24
- Use plain text for documents and emails
- Keep updated local copies of user data for most used services
- Do regular data backups
- Avoid proprietary formats
- Leave less digital fingerprints
- Don’t share more information than required
How to make your phone boring: www.autodidacts.io/how-to-make-your-smartphone-boring ↩︎