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Goodbye, Endless Scroll
Vicente Évora
April 11, 2025
In partnership with
In today’s email (892 Words | 3 Min 39 Sec read):
Today’s Read
Overview
We’re not addicted to our phones because we’re weak.
We’re addicted because tech was designed that way.
Newport opens with a brutal truth: “We didn't sign up for the digital chaos. It snuck in.”
You didn't wake up one day and decide to scroll Twitter for 3 hours a day. You just slowly drifted into it.
Tech companies optimize for attention, not well-being. The result?
Constant notifications
Shallow interactions
No time to think
A creeping feeling of dissatisfaction
And yet... it feels normal. Everyone’s doing it. Get the book here.
What’s Newport’s Solution?
It’s not about quitting everything.
It’s about being intentional.
Newport calls this philosophy Digital Minimalism:
"A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value."
So the goal is to use less tech—but better. Not to escape tech. But to make it serve you.
Step One: The Digital Declutter (30 Days)
Newport suggests a full reset.
Here's how:
30-day break from optional digital tools
(social media, streaming, news apps, etc.)
Not for detox—but to create space.Fill the void with meaningful activities
(reading, hobbies, deep work, real connection)After 30 days, reintroduce tech intentionally:
Ask: Does this support something I deeply value?
Ask: Is there a better way to support that value?
This part matters. It’s where most people mess up.
You’re not just removing. You’re rebuilding.
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Principle 1: Clutter is Costly
Even small digital distractions add up.
You might think, “What’s a 30-second Instagram check?”
But it’s not about the time—it’s about the attention switching.
Every app, ping, scroll fractures your focus.
It’s like trying to write a paper while someone pokes you every minute.
Principle 2: Optimization is Vital
Using tech isn’t enough. You must optimize it.
Example:
You use Facebook to message your cousin.
Do you really need the app on your phone?
Or could you check Facebook once a week from your laptop?
The goal: Keep the value. Kill the excess.
Principle 3: Intentionality is Satisfying
There’s real joy in being in control.
Doing things on purpose feels better than reacting all day.
Ever deleted an app and felt relief?
That’s what Newport wants you to feel all the time.
Why Solitude Matters
Here’s something we don’t talk about enough:
“Solitude is a crucial ingredient for a rich inner life.”
Solitude doesn’t mean loneliness. It means being alone with your thoughts.
But guess what? We’ve lost that.
Waiting in line? Check phone.
On the bus? Scroll.
Even walking? Podcasts or music.
We’re never alone. Our minds are always stimulated. And that’s a problem.
Without solitude, you can’t:
Think deeply
Reflect
Heal emotionally
Come up with original ideas
Newport says: you must practice solitude again.
Like:
Taking long walks without your phone
Journaling daily
Sitting quietly with your thoughts
It feels weird at first. Then, it feels like breathing again.
Low-Quality vs. High-Quality Leisure
If you remove digital clutter, what replaces it?
Answer: Real hobbies. Meaningful leisure.
Newport draws a line:
Low-quality leisure = scrolling, bingeing, passive consumption
High-quality leisure = creating, building, connecting, learning
The second category takes effort. But it feeds your soul.
Examples:
Building furniture
Learning guitar
Writing letters
Volunteering
Reading long books
It's not about going off-grid.
It’s about choosing what feeds you over what numbs you.
Newport is not saying “delete all your accounts.”
But he is saying stop treating social media like real connection.
A “like” isn’t a conversation.
Instead, try:
Phone calls
Face-to-face time
Letters, emails, meetups
Newport suggests something like "conversation office hours"—blocks of time where you talk to real people, deeply and intentionally.
Putting It All Together
At its core, this book is about depth.
It asks you:
What do you really value?
Is your tech use helping or hurting that?
Digital Minimalism is a mindset. A practice. A way of saying: “I won’t live distracted. I’ll live deliberately.”
Happy reading and remember to TAKE ACTION! There’s more to learn in the next one! Same day, same time! See ya.
My Favorite Quotes
"Digital Minimalism A philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected and optimized activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else."
"Simply put, humans are not wired to be constantly wired."
"The urge to check Twitter or refresh Reddit becomes a nervous twitch that shatters uninterrupted time into shards too small to support the presence necessary for an intentional life."
"To be clear, conversation-centric communication requires sacrifices. If you adopt this philosophy, you’ll almost certainly reduce the number of people with whom you have an active relationship. Real conversation takes time, and the total number of people for which you can uphold this standard will be significantly less than the total number of people you can follow, retweet, “like,” and occasionally leave a comment for on social media, or ping with the occasional text. Once you no longer count the latter activities as meaningful interaction, your social circle will seem at first to contract."
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Who am I?
I'm Vicente from Portugal, a master's student in architecture with a passion for entrepreneurship. I share my journey, lessons, and monthly reports from my newsletter business on 𝕏. Follow me for valuable insights! Join me for insights and behind-the-scenes reports, and let’s chat there!
