Digital Decluttering Tips

Tomorrow is Digital Cleanup Day and many people still have no idea what it is. 🙈   I’ve been a Digital Sustainability Consultant for several years now and it’s a big passion of mine to help educate people around the impact of your digital footprint on the environment.    You may not realise, but things you’re doing every single day is harming the environment. 😢 Here are some ridiculous stats to put things into context: 🌎 90% of all data is never accessed 3 months after it is stored. 🌎 91% of web pages get no traffic from Google. 🌎 One email emits, on average, 4g of CO2 = the carbon footprint of a light bulb turned on for 6 minutes! So, the question is, do you REALLY need to send that extra email? Are you OOO replies to show off that you’re on holiday that necessary? Are your website pages that no one visits needed on the server? 🤔   Here’s what you can do tomorrow to help reduce your digital carbon footprint:    💡 Clean your email inbox and unsubscribe from newsletters you don’t want 💡 Remove apps/photos/videos etc you don’t use from your phone 💡 Do a website audit, delete unused pages and speed it up! 💡 Delete files from your computer & free up space   The best bit? All of these things actually help: 🔥  Declutter your life 🔥  Speed up your website 🔥  Improve your productivity A lot of people dismiss digital sustainability because they think it doesn\t have much of an impact compared to cars/planes etc., but the average business user emits the same amount of carbon through emails as they do driving 200 miles in their car. 🤯 So… are you going to take action tomorrow?! #sustainability #websites #productivity #ecofriendly #entrepreneurship

How I dramatically reduced my phone distraction in one step 👇 I switched my phone from colour 🌈 to greyscale ☁ . Honestly I wish I had done this years ago. I've been in a long-term battle for better quality and quantity of focus, in which my smartphone is one of my big enemies. And I have found some strategies that really help to limit distractions and create boundaries, including keeping work email and tools like Slack off my phone. But I've also found it harder over time, especially with the need to keep social media apps on my phone (our core marketing channels), and doing a lot of quickfire communications with our collaborators via WhatsApp and text. Once I pick up my phone for those, it's easy to switch from a quick work task to checking news apps, scrolling new bedside tables on marketplace (another long-term quest haha) or going down a social media rabbithole. So switching to greyscale has been an absolute game changer. It is terrifyingly effective at turning your phone from something you want to pick up constantly and keep engaging with, into a boring brick that hurts your brain. It essentially removes a big portion of the dopamine hits and positive reinforcement you get from engaging with your screen. It literally feels bleak and alienating, which is 100% perfect for my purposes. And realising how much a few pretty colours alter my level of focus also brought a healthy dose of humility and self-compassion. Because it turns out that for all of the complex cool things humans can do, we are basically just ancient mammalian brains trained to look for berries and fast-moving tigers, stumbling around in a modern world filled with devices designed to hold and monetise our attention 😂 If you'd like to try out greyscale, here's how (on an iPhone 13, may vary by model or O/S) 👇 Option 1: Go to Settings, Search "Colour", Click on "Colour Filters" and switch into greyscale. Option 2: Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size > Colour Filters, and then switch to greyscale. Cannot recommend highly enough 👌 Let me know how it goes if you try it - and also feel free to share your other tips in the comments!

Please stop pinging me on Teams… Then following up on WhatsApp… To check if I saw your email… From twenty minutes ago. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. We’re not in a crisis, we’re caught in a 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲. We’ve normalised hyper-responsiveness. We’re building work cultures on constant digital disruption. And it’s costing us: clarity, performance, and wellbeing. This is the urgency fallacy in action: the illusion that everything is both urgent and important. Why? We have Palaeolithic brains trying to navigate modern tech. Brains designed to hunt and forage at a natural cadence are now (constantly) bombarded by unsolicited alerts, red notification bubbles and digital noise that hijacks our attention. 🔴 Red = danger. Your brain doesn’t know it’s just another Teams ping. It reads it as a threat. It triggers the same stress response as if a tiger were chasing you. (Let’s be honest, some days…our Teams’ notifications feel like a tiger chasing us.) Here’s the truth: 🧠 Our Human Operating System (hOS) hasn’t evolved at the speed of our digital tools. We’re not wired to be always-on, nor are we designed to be distracted all day long. Every interruption drains cognitive energy (depletes our glucose), increases cortisol and fragments our focus. Boundaries aren’t resistance. They’re self-leadership. Let’s stop mistaking responsivity for value. Let’s stop confusing speed with impact. Your best work won’t come from urgency. It will come from clarity. Want to future-proof your team’s performance? Articulate your 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬 which are your team’s agreed digital norms, practices and principles that underpin hybrid work. Have clear “𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐡-𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬” about responsiveness and establish a communication escalation plan so when there are legitimate, urgent issues, there’s a clearly delineated and understood path for escalating them, if the situation arises (hint, in most instances if something is really urgent a good old-fashioned phone call is often best.) I teach this inside my keynotes, performance workshops and with my Executive Coaching. Ready to shift your culture? #Leadership #WorkplacePerformance #DigitalWellbeing #HumanOperatingSystem #NeuroLeadership #SpaciousSuccess

I’m a content creator. And yet, if I realise a social media app is eating into my productivity… I uninstall it in under a minute. People are often surprised when I say this. “But you create content for a living! How can you uninstall an app?” Exactly. That’s the point. Being a creator doesn’t mean being addicted to apps. It means controlling your time, energy, and focus. Here’s what actually works for me — and can work for you too: 1. Track your usage first Spend 3–5 days noting how much time you spend on apps. Seeing 2–3 hours vanish in random scrolling often makes the decision obvious. 2. Give every app a purpose Each app should serve a clear goal: learning, creating, networking. If it doesn’t, remove it. Ask yourself: “Is this helping me grow or just consuming me?” 3. Replace, don’t just remove Instead of scrolling out of habit, redirect that time to something meaningful: jot down ideas, read, practice a skill. Your brain still gets stimulation — but productive stimulation. 4. Schedule deep-focus blocks Block 90–120 minutes daily without your phone. Most of my best ideas happen here, not while scrolling. 5. Use micro-decisions to build discipline Deleting one app might feel small, but repeated conscious decisions train your mind to value focus over distraction. These micro-decisions compound over time. 6. Reflect weekly Ask yourself: “Which apps or habits helped me grow? Which distracted me?” This keeps your digital space curated and your attention sharp. The lesson? Productivity isn’t about being on every platform. It’s about consciously choosing what serves your goals — and ruthlessly letting go of what doesn’t. So today, ask yourself: Which apps, habits, or routines are quietly stealing your time? And what one micro-decision will you make to reclaim it?

Your phone is a threat to your brain. At least, your brain sees it that way. With all the notifications and constant pinging/tagging/DM’ing/emailing, your brain treats these technological interruptions as threats. Every notification, every loading screen, every "spinning wheel of death" on a webpage triggers your brain’s fight-or-flight response. With the average office worker checking their email up to every 6 minutes, that's 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆. And that’s just with your phone. Take in the commute, office politics, and other potential areas of stress, it’s no wonder you can’t seem to relax! The solution is a bit of tough-love, but I need to share it with you: create "notification-free zones." • Turn off all non-essential notifications after working hours • Use "focus mode" during deep work to keep notifications to a bare minimum • Check messages at designated times only • Have a “burner phone” that you use at home and on the weekend which does not have additional apps on it. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀: No notifications for the first hour after waking. Your brain deserves a calm start. (Even just start with 30-minutes if an hour is too much to consider at first.) Your attention is your most valuable asset. How are you protecting it? #DigitalWellness #Neuroscience #Productivity #Attention

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁? Cognitive overload happens when the mental effort required to use a system or process exceeds the user’s capacity. In Procurement, this happens when tools are overly complex or poorly designed. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 and range from a persistent operational inefficiency, more errors, low adoption of complex solutions and ultimately a risk for employee burnout. While some level of complexity is inevitable to support advanced functionality, the way tools and workflows are designed plays a crucial role for their usability, how effectively users can engage with them and the level of mental load they create. The Cognitive Load Theory (CLT), introduced by John Sweller in the 1980s, provides a framework for reducing mental strain by focusing on how users learn, process and retain information. The CLT identifies three types of cognitive load and offers insights into how Procurement Systems can be optimised for usability: 1️⃣ 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱 which arises from the inherent complexity of the task or information. In Procurement, examples include multi-dimensional RFP scoring or the authoring of complex contracts and their SLAs. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? Break down and simplify complex tasks into manageable steps using modular workflows, and provide pre-configured templates for common scenarios. 2️⃣ 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱 stemming from poor system design, irrelevant information or inefficient processes. For example, clunky interfaces, unnecessary workflow steps or dashboards that hide insights under excessive detail. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? Minimise Extraneous Load with a functional user interface design, using smart visualisations and streamlining workflows. 3️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗮𝗱 resulting from the cognitive effort that directly supports learning and mastery. Examples include tooltips, clear guidance, and onboarding processes that make systems easier to navigate. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀? Enhance Germane Load with role-specific training, embedded tool tips & intuitive help features accelerating user learning. All three types can lead to a reduced capacity of employees to be able to operate effectively and potential negative consequences and mental stress. 𝗖𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 and optimise their cognitive load levels by unveiling tasks step by-step, simplifying design and providing helpful learning features, 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿. ❓How do you think can solutions be humanised to reduce cognitive load. ❓What else helps to generate a good usability and user experience.

More Tools ≠ Better Productivity Are you juggling a plethora of #productivity tools, hoping they'll streamline your workflow? Let's debunk the myth that a multitude of tools automatically translates to enhanced productivity. 🚫🧰 While the allure of new apps and software is tempting, falling into the trap of tool overload can lead to more chaos than efficiency. Here's why: Complexity Overload: Managing multiple tools means navigating through various interfaces, learning curves, and updates. This complexity can overwhelm, consuming valuable time better spent on actual tasks. Data Disarray: Each tool becomes a silo of information, scattering your data across platforms. Finding what you need becomes a treasure hunt, wasting precious moments and hampering collaboration. Decision Dilemma: With an abundance of tools comes decision fatigue. Choosing which tool to use for each task becomes a mental hurdle, sapping your cognitive resources and slowing down progress. Instead of drowning in a sea of tools, adopt a minimalist approach to your toolkit. Here's how: Purposeful Selection: Identify your core needs and objectives, then select tools that directly address them. Quality over quantity reigns supreme in building your toolkit. Seamless Integration: Look for #tools that seamlessly integrate with each other, creating a harmonious workflow. A well-integrated toolkit reduces friction and boosts efficiency. Master the Essentials: #Focus on mastering a select few tools that offer essential features tailored to your workflow. Deep familiarity breeds proficiency and streamlines your processes. Centralization Strategy: Consolidate your tasks and data within a centralized platform wherever possible. A unified hub simplifies navigation, fosters collaboration, and declutters your digital workspace. Remember, productivity isn't about the number of tools at your disposal but how effectively you wield them to achieve your goals. Let's ditch the tool overload and embrace simplicity in pursuit of true efficiency. Are you ready to streamline your toolkit? Share your thoughts on productivity tools in the comments below! Follow Sagar Amlani

Every task that comes to me is urgent and important. Sound familiar? This is a challenge many of us face daily. Early in my career, prioritization was relatively straightforward—my manager told me what to focus on. But as I grew, the game changed. Suddenly, I was managing a flood of requests, far more than I could handle, and the signals from others weren’t helpful. Everything was “important.” Everything was “urgent.” Often, it was both. To handle this effectively, I realized I needed to develop an internal prioritization compass. It wasn’t easy, but it was transformative. Here are 6 strategies to help you build your own: 1/ Be crystal clear on key goals Start by understanding your organization’s goals—at the company, department, and team levels. Attend organizational forums, departmental reviews, or leadership updates to stay informed. When in doubt, use your 1:1s with leaders to ask: What does success look like? 2/ Deeply understand KPIs Metrics guide decision-making, but not all metrics are equally valuable. Take the time to understand your team's or function's key performance indicators (KPIs). Know what they measure, what they mean, and how to assess their impact. 3/ Be assertive to protect priorities Not every task deserves your attention. Practice saying “no” or deferring requests that don’t align with key goals or metrics. Assertiveness is not about being inflexible—it’s about protecting your capacity to focus on what truly matters. 4/ Set and reset expectations Priorities change, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is working on misaligned tasks. Keep open communication with your manager and stakeholders about evolving priorities. When new demands arise, clarify and reset expectations. 5/ Use 1:1s to align with your manager Leverage your 1:1s as a strategic tool. Share your current priorities, validate them against your manager’s expectations, and discuss any conflicts or challenges. 6/ Clarify the escalation process When priorities conflict, don’t let disagreements linger. If you can’t agree quickly, escalate the issue to your manager. This avoids unnecessary churn, ensures trust remains intact, and keeps momentum focused on results. PS: You won’t always get it right—and that’s okay. Treat each misstep as an opportunity to refine your compass. What’s one tip you’ve used to prioritize when everything feels urgent? --- Follow me, tap the (🔔) Omar Halabieh for daily Leadership and Career posts.

How much digital clutter are you holding onto and at what cost? ➤ It’s easy to overlook the carbon footprint of our digital lives. Sending emails, sharing photos, and saving files may seem harmless, but they produce CO₂, contributing to global warming. Small actions like sending fewer emails or clearing out old files can make a surprising impact. As a sustainability professional, I’ve started paying closer attention to my digital habits. ✔️I think twice before hitting “send,” compress attachments whenever possible, and unsubscribe from newsletters I no longer read. It’s not just about decluttering it’s about reducing unnecessary energy use. 💎 Did you know that a single email can generate up to 50 grams of CO₂? 💎 Multiply that by the billions sent daily, and the environmental toll adds up. 💎 According to a study by Shift Project, digital technologies now account for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions that’s nearly double the aviation industry! ➤ Here’s what I recommend: 1-Pause before you send. ⤷Could a phone call or an online collaboration tool replace that email chain? 2-Lighten your digital load. ⤷Use hyperlinks instead of bulky attachments and compress file sizes when sharing. 3-Delete the unnecessary. ⤷Old photos, documents, and apps take up space and energy. 4-Streamline subscriptions. ⤷Unsubscribe from emails that no longer serve you. 🚨 We don’t often think of deleting emails or files as climate action, but it’s a simple, accessible step everyone can take. Imagine the collective impact if each of us reduced our digital waste by just 10%. Today, I challenge you: how many emails, photos, or files will you delete? Let’s start small, but aim big. What’s your favourite tip for reducing your digital footprint?

Just like you, I am part of countless WhatsApp groups, bombarded by emails and calls. This never-ending digital whirlwind drains my energy faster than my phone's battery. We're part of an overcommunicated generation, always 'on.' But what if we could change that, at least at the start and end of our days? That's where 'The Rule of 30:30' comes into play. This simply means - no phone for the first and last 30 minutes of your day. I gave this a shot, and the results were remarkable. In the mornings, I do not pick up the phone and dive into the notifications. I now dedicate the first 30 minutes to stretching, planning my day, and enjoying a quiet cup of tea with my wife. This shift brought a sense of calm and clarity to my mornings. I typically work till late hours in the night. But once I am done, my nights are no longer about endless scrolling on social media. Instead, I unwind with a book. It helps me wake up feeling rejuvenated. Breaking up with your phone, even briefly, might seem daunting. We're so wired to stay connected. But the freedom and peace it brings are worth the effort. For me, cultivating a mindful start and end to my day has led to enhanced focus and presence. If you struggle to reclaim your time from the digital world, the Rule of 30:30 is worth trying. It will make a difference. Have you tried something similar? I’d love to hear how you manage a phone-free morning or evening. #mindfulness #unclutter #digitalwellbeing #productivity #digitaldetox