On this upcoming World Mental Health Day, on Oct. 10, it becomes important to understand how the extended use of technology can strain our mental well-being. For college students especially, this day serves as a reminder to unplug, unwind, and recharge.
When taking a look around our environment nowadays, we are often met with phones, tablets, laptops, computers, TVs – the list could go on. It might even outnumber the items on your grocery list these days. With access to all kinds of technological gadgets, social media platforms and apps right at our fingertips, it is easy to look down, drown and disconnect from the real world.
As college students, our lives revolve around technology — from receiving emails from our professors to endless scrolling on social media platforms such as TikTok. It is everywhere; we are stepping further into a screen-driven era, more immersed in the digital haze than ever before.
The importance of minimizing technology use
Psychologist Paula Durlofsky writes in “Logged In and Stressed Out” that “there might be some debate regarding the exact number of times on average we engage with our devices, one thing is for sure: we spend much of our existence glued to our screens.”
The truth is, it is not entirely our fault. In his book “Digital Minimalism: On Living Better with Less Technology,” author Cal Newport writes, “People don’t succumb to screens because they’re lazy, but instead because billions of dollars have been invested to make this outcome inevitable.”
So, we are not to blame for our spiked screen time sessions with our digital devices and the constantly developing software applications that keep drawing us in.
However, we can regain our sense of autonomy through a philosophy proposed by Cal Newport in his book “Digital Minimalism: On Living Better with Less Technology.” Digital minimalism is “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.”
Using this philosophy, Newport outlines three core principles in his book to live by: clutter is costly, optimization is important, and intentionality is satisfying.
Clutter is costly
Newport explains that filling our attention with too many digital tools leads to an overall negative cost that outweighs their individual benefits. Reducing the use of multiple devices, apps, and digital services decreases unnecessary drains on our time and attention.
For college students, this encourages us to recognize which digital tools truly add value and contribute to our academic and personal lives. It can be overwhelming to juggle multiple apps and constant notifications while trying to stay productive, whether in personal life or schoolwork. The nonstop digital haze can contribute to feelings of anxiety and difficulty focusing on what genuinely matters.
Optimization is important
Newport explains that choosing a technology that supports something we value is only the beginning. To experience its full benefits, we need to think carefully about how we use it and make adjustments that align with our goals.
For college students, this means optimizing the use of digital devices and apps by focusing on those that truly enhance learning and productivity. Redirecting our focus toward meaningful digital tools enables us to achieve better outcomes while minimizing unnecessary factors such as distractions.
Intentionality is satisfying
Newport explains that people experience genuine satisfaction when they are intentional about how they use technology. This fulfillment comes from the conscious effort to engage meaningfully, rather than from the specific choices themselves. Being deliberate about technology use brings a deeper sense of purpose and meaning to everyday life.
For college students, this means setting boundaries and being intentional with how we use technology, such as taking breaks between study sessions such as a nature walk in the park or a five-minute meditation in a quiet place.
By doing so, we can develop intentional and healthier patterns that protect our mental well-being and improve our focus in both academic tasks and everyday life.
Post reflection and takeaways
Something worth reflecting on this World Mental Health Day is that when we cut down on clutter, we become more selective about what we invest in, and there is less mental baggage or drainage.
After that, we can optimize our use of digital devices and apps that enhance our learning and productivity, remembering that caring for our minds begins with the choices we make in our everyday life. Especially, with how we interact with technology.
Lastly, when we do this intentionally and develop healthier patterns for our mental well-being, it can help us maintain steady productivity in our everyday lives as college students. As we observe World Mental Health Day, may this serve as a reminder that living with intentionality is one of the simplest yet most positive ways to care for our mental state.
