We won’t be the first to tell you that we’re all spending more and more time online!
The average UK internet user spends around six hours and eight minutes online daily. Whether for work or leisure, it’s increasingly normal to scroll online for hours. And for most of us in the performing arts, the internet is a vital tool for creation, collaboration, promotion, scheduling, bookings, and learning.
However, evidence indicates a link between excessive internet usage and higher stress levels. If you’ve noticed yourself feeling anxious or down after a scrolling session, digital minimalism might be one way to improve your relationship with the net.
In this article, we’ll briefly explain digital minimalism and how performing arts professionals can embrace this concept to optimise their online work and achieve a positive relationship with the digital world.
What is Digital Minimalism?
Simply put, digital minimalism is about taking a mindful approach to technology.
It’s not about rejecting the internet or cutting yourself off from social media. Instead, it’s about determining which digital tools add to your life and which don’t.
After assessing your relationship with the internet, you can clear out anything you don’t need and silence some background noise. Think of it as decluttering your digital world.
For example, some performers might love Instagram for inspiration and booking gigs. These should keep the app. However, another group may find Instagram lowers their mood and isn’t necessary for their professional life. They may want to try deleting the app for a while.
There’s no hard and fast rule for digital minimalism. It’s all about what feels best for you.
Performing Arts & Online Work
Before jumping into tips for digital minimalism, we want to stress that some parts of life as a modern performing arts professional are likely to include online work. Online bookings and curating a social media identity might not be your favourite parts of the job, but practising an approach that works for you will certainly help.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the online admin and promo aspects of your work, the BAPAM managing social media resource could be a game-changer. It offers a fresh perspective that might help you approach these tasks with renewed energy and efficiency.
Read the advice and ten tips for managing social media as a creative artist here.
How You Can Try Digital Minimalism
Are you intrigued by digital minimalism? Here are a few ways to release digital stress without removing yourself from the net.
- Set specific times to be online – Screen-free time when you wake up and before bed can help decrease anxiety and improve your sleep quality.
- Declutter old apps and files – Keep your device organised! Remove old apps, photos, and files so it doesn’t become overwhelming.
- Schedule tasks by ‘category’ – Plan ahead and block out time for uncritical ‘free’ creativity, editing/redrafting, technical exercises, research or learning, admin, promo. Which of these activities can be done away from the screen?
- Unsubscribe from email lists – Promotional emails are annoying and distracting. So, don’t put up with them! Start unsubscribing from emails that you’re not interested in.
- Use social media intentionally – Do you often find yourself scrolling without thinking about it? Start questioning your social media use and who you follow.
- Silence non-essential notifications – We receive tens of notifications every day. Limiting non-essential ones will help you regain a bit of peace. ‘Do Not Disturb’ modes are a great place to start.
The Takeaway
Digital minimalism looks different for everyone. Explore what works best for your practice. If something doesn’t feel good, it’s a sign to try something different. At the end of the day, it’s all about feeling better and decreasing your stress levels!
Read more guides and articles for performing arts professionals on the BAPAM blog.