You’ve probably heard about digital minimalism by now. It’s been a hot topic for years, and we’ve covered it quite a bit here on the blog, too.

In case you’re unfamiliar with it, the basic gist of it is this: minimalism is about knowing how much is enough, and stopping there. As with the physical world, it’s easy to fill our digital world with clutter. This clutter not only doesn’t add things to our lives, but can be actively harmful. In the case of our digital lives, it can cause distraction at work and at home, interrupt special moments with loved ones, and even have addictive tendencies.

This philosophy has been our guiding light for quite a while now, but thanks to Nina Hersher and our friends over at the Digital Wellness Collective, we’ve started rethinking a bit.

See, they’ve introduced us to the concept of digital flourishing, and we gotta say: we’re intrigued.

What is Digital Flourishing?

The Digital Wellness Collective envisions digital wellness as existing along a continuum, from absolutely no engagement with tech, to minimalism, to digital flourishing, to overuse, to dependence or addiction. In this framework, digital flourishing is the sweet spot right in the middle, where you are content and comfortable with your devices, online platforms, and amount of time devoted to them, and where you can perform your personal and professional roles optimally. It allows you to be a good community member while still having time and resources for yourself, too.

How is Digital Flourishing Different from Digital Minimalism?

Digital minimalism focuses on keeping only the tech that is essential to your life, and no more. It’s a very pared-down approach, and its focus on necessity and firm boundaries can be very appealing. Digital minimalism is also focused quite intensely (and not without reason) on the negative effects of technology, from distraction to sleep disruption to mental health effects.

Digital flourishing leaves room for the idea that some tech tools might not be strictly necessary, but they bring joy or make life easier and don’t cause any harm. If these additional tech tools bring some good into your life and don’t have negative effects, then digital flourishing embraces them. Where digital minimalism focuses primarily on the negative effects of technology, digital flourishing looks at both the good and bad effects and balances them in the context of your entire technological ecosystem.

How do I Choose Which Philosophy is Right for Me?

As with any philosophy, your best bet is to know yourself, first. There is almost never a one-size-fits-all approach, so you’ll need to take a look at yourself and ask some questions. Here are some ideas.

• Do I struggle with setting and maintaining boundaries? If so, digital minimalism might be a better approach, because it has firmer guidance for when to say stop. If you’ve been exploring yourself and your boundaries for a while and feel comfortable with your ability to self-regulate, you might be ready for digital flourishing.

• Do I find great joy from interacting with technology, even if it’s not essential for my daily purposes? If so, you might be moving toward a place of digital flourishing. If technology is mostly a negative presence in your life, consider digital minimalism.

• Do I need clear rules from somebody else to follow? If so, you might be more drawn to digital minimalism. Digital flourishing gives you more space to create your own rules.

• Am I currently overwhelmed and struggling with my technology use? If so, either approach might work for you, because as we pointed out earlier, wellness exists on a continuum. Start with one, and if that approach feels too loose or too restrictive, slide on over to the other.

In the end, managing your digital wellness is all about knowing what works best for you, and what works best for you may not be what works best for your friend, parent, teacher, or accountability buddy. Luckily, there’s good news: once you pick a philosophy to try, you’re not stuck with it forever. Keep growing and exploring.

Digital wellness is a never-ending adventure, and we hope you have some fun on the journey.

Are you more drawn to digital minimalism or to digital flourishing? Why? Drop us a comment below!

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