A digital detox—as in, ridding ourselves of all the gadgets and gizmos that rule our lives—is a very comforting thought. There are endless notifications to keep on top of, countless new apps to master at work, and new memes to despair at (we don’t know what “67” is, either).
Whether it’s apps, accessories, or the tech itself, accumulating all this stuff is draining our mental energy. Adopting a selective mindset is key and will set us all in good standing for the coming year. And, crucially, digital detoxes don’t have to mean going full burner phone mode. From inbox management to limiting screen time, recycling old gadgets, and forming effective tab-closing habits, digital wellbeing comes in all shapes and sizes.
Vogue enlisted wellbeing coach Adrienne Adhami and lifestyle physician Dr Aileen Alexander to explain exactly how we can detox from and declutter our digital spaces in 2026.
Are cluttered digital spaces a common issue?
The need for a digital reset is more common than you might think and, according to Adhami, is an issue that many overlook. “The challenge is that digital mess doesn’t stare you in the face the way physical clutter does,” she explains. “You can ignore it for longer, but it still drains your mental energy.” This goes for chaotic inboxes, unread messages, and endless tabs, which create low-level cognitive noise. “Because we can’t physically see it, we underestimate how much it affects our focus, mood, and decision-making.”
Alexander agrees, adding that we should all be talking about it more. “Cluttered digital spaces are a huge issue that has insidiously crept up on us and hasn’t been seen or recognised as a real problem,” she says. “We spend so much of our lives online on multiple devices—I have witnessed it and experienced it personally. Being at home with a small baby… stuff just piles up.”
Is it difficult to organize digital spaces?
This is a very individual concern. Some feel fine with 3,254 unread emails, while others can keep on top of it. “Everyone is different, and some of us are visual learners,” Alexander says. “I think that we can get lost and distracted in digital spaces, which makes organisation really difficult.” Another hurdle to jump over is that “when we organize digital spaces, the clutter is created as quickly as we clean things up.”
Adhami resonates with this, sharing that “organizing a digital space is harder [than the physical] precisely because it’s intangible.” It makes sense, then, that trying to manage infinite amounts of information with no visual cues or physical boundaries can be overwhelming. “Our brains have evolved to respond to objects in front of us—not invisible folders and virtual chats.”
How can you combat being overwhelmed by digital spaces?
The good news is that there are practical steps to help declutter your digital space. Adhami suggests doing a big cull rather than zoning in on organization. “You don’t need to color-code or create micro-segments.” Instead, she says, “start by turning off non-essential notifications and delete the apps you haven’t used in months, unsubscribe from anything you rarely open.” Digital clarity isn’t about organisation, per se—it’s about elimination.
#Supercharge #Digital #Wellbeing
