Last month, I did something radical: I deleted every app I hadn't used in 30 days.
That was 35 apps. Project managers. Note-takers. Habit trackers. Three different calendar apps. Two email clients. A meditation app I'd opened once.
The anxiety was immediate. What if I need that? What if there's an emergency? What if I forget something important?
Here's what actually happened: nothing. Absolutely nothing bad happened.
I still get my work done. I still remember important things. I still manage projects—just with fewer tools and less cognitive overhead.
The apps weren't helping me. They were giving me the illusion of control while actually fragmenting my attention across dozens of interfaces.
Now I have 12 apps. Phone, messages, camera, browser, email, calendar, maps, music, podcast, bank, and two social apps I actually enjoy.
My phone battery lasts two days. My mind feels clearer. And I haven't missed a single deadline.
