We talk a lot about simplifying our lives but realized we were missing a big part. It was time to try for a minimalist electronic life.

Part of our goal to live with simplicity is using our free time for what matters most. We didn't notice that electronics we're taking up so much of this time.

For most of us, we spend a lot of our "off-time" in front of electronics like phones, tablets, computers, and TVs. This time can get away from you and almost begin to feel like a waste.

So we decided to set some ground rules that helped us get more control over our time spent on electronics. It was the change we needed and now we have more time for adventures.

If you're anything like us then your electronic life may need a minimalist overhaul too. These are easy ways to be more minimalist with your electronics. 

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Limit Time Spent on Electronics

Probably the first and most easy step to being more minimalist with your electronic life is to limit your time using these items. Come up with guidelines for time spent with your electronics and follow them.

An easy way to do this is to set a max time allotted such as 30 minutes or an hour. Make sure you set a watch or a timer so that you don’t forget to descramble your brain!

If you like to watch shows or movies, you could try to limit yourself to a certain episode limit. Don’t sit there for hours on end watching movie after movie or show after show without a break. Same with your phone.

We suggest trying to only use 30 minutes a day of unproductive electronic usage. This counts TV, phones, laptops, video games, etc. Sometimes with stressful workdays a little mindless decompressing is nice but over 30 minutes a day can become wasteful.

Limit Electronics You Own

It was easy for us to own fewer electronics since we live in a tiny home with limited space. As we made the cuts, a lot of electronics were the first to go.

Since we now have phones that perform the duties of several electronics in one, we were able to get rid of several items such as radio, alarm clock, and so-on.

We also suggest only having one for each type of item. Sharing is caring and for a lot of families, duplicates are just adding to the mess. You may only need one computer or one game console.

Get Rid of Your TV

TVs have become what most consider a "must-have" item but it may be the best electronic item to remove from your life. If someone asked the easiest way to be more minimalist in their electronic life, we would probably say ditch the TV ASAP.

The first big electronic item that we decided we didn't need was our TV. We didn't have room for it and it was taking up too much of our unproductive time.

It not only saved us a lot of space but it helped get back so much of our free time. If completely getting rid of your TV seems scary you could first try just getting rid of cable.

Use the 20-20-20 rule

There's a general rule about limiting your screen time. It is called the 20-20-20 rule. If you stare at a screen for 20 minutes, take a break and stare at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

This may sound a little silly but it's has been shown to give your eyes a little break which helps them in the long run. This not only goes for your TV but your phone screen as well.

Hopefully, this little rule will also end up limiting the overall amount of time you spend staring at a screen. You should probably try for more than 20 seconds to give your eyes a break but it's a good place to start.

Look at Your Phone

You need to address your phone when trying to be more minimalist with your electronic life. We spend a decent amount of time on our phones and they are a big part of our lives. You need to look through your phone for two reasons.

1. What am I spending too much time on
2. What is not being used

Try to limit the time you are spending on your phone and make sure to delete any unused apps that are just taking up space. Don't let your phone become areas of clutter and/or time-wasting.

Find Electronic Free Alternatives

One of the easiest ways to be an electronic minimalist is to find better ways to use your time and resources that do not involve electronics. Find something that interests you but doesn't require a TV, phone, or any kind of screen.

Read a Book

Reading books is a great option for an electronic-free hobby. We don't suggest going out and buying a bunch of books as that is not a good minimalist route.

Instead, you could rent or buy one book at a time and donate it once you are ready for the next one.

A Kindle may also be an option even though it is a screen and an electronic. It takes up very little space and the lighting is not as bad for your eyes as other screens.

If you like reading books on your phone, at least turn on the night time mode so that your screen produces less blue light and more orange light. If you have an iPhone, your phone can even do it for you without a new app download!

You can also pull a Kelsey and buy yourself some blue light blocking glasses to save your eyes and look stylish.

Get Outside

Do this at least twice a day. Even if you can’t go out for very long, even a 5 minute light walk can make a huge difference for your happiness and allow you to refocus. And while you are walking, stay off your phone!

These are easy ways to have a minimalist electronic life. We are still a work in progress on this one too so don’t feel discouraged.

Trust us though, as you continue to simplify your home life, it feels good to simplify your electronic life too. It gives you more chances to connect with people and to experience things like nature and new destinations in real life, not just on the screen in front of you!