I Deleted 50 Apps and Now My Phone Actually Makes Calls Again

I used to be a digital hoarder. My phone had 14 screens of apps, most of which I hadn't opened since installing them during a "that might be useful someday" fever dream. My laptop had so many browser tabs open that the favicons had shrunk to microscopic dots. My digital life was the equivalent of those houses on hoarding shows where they find a cat skeleton under a stack of newspapers from 2007.

Then I snapped. After my phone took a full minute to open the camera app (causing me to miss my nephew's first steps), I embarked on a digital minimalism journey that has genuinely changed my relationship with technology.

Here's what happened when I deleted 50 apps and embraced tech minimalism:

1. My battery suddenly lasts all day - Turns out, 37 apps constantly tracking my location, listening for voice commands, and refreshing in the background consumed power. Who knew?

2. I can find things again - I no longer spend 10 minutes scrolling through endless screens trying to find my banking app, only to give up and use the search function.

3. I'm less anxious - Without 12 different messaging apps sending notifications, my cortisol levels have returned to those of a normal human instead of a squirrel that just drank espresso.

The most surprising outcome was rediscovering the original purpose of my devices. My phone can make calls! My laptop can run programs without sounding like it's about to achieve liftoff! My smartwatch actually shows the time when I look at it, instead of notification #147 from an app I downloaded for a one-time discount three years ago!

This isn't about rejecting technology—I'm still very much a tech enthusiast. It's about being intentional with the digital tools I invite into my life. Each app now needs to earn its place on my home screen by providing genuine value, not just occupying digital real estate.

The hardest part wasn't deleting apps—it was confronting the FOMO and sunk-cost fallacy that made me keep them in the first place. "But what if there's a zombie apocalypse and I need that survival guide app I've never opened?" or "I spent $2.99 on this in 2018, I can't just delete it!"

If you're drowning in digital clutter, I highly recommend the liberating experience of a tech purge. Start small—delete 10 apps you haven't used in the last month. Unsubscribe from 5 newsletters you never read. Close some browser tabs (I know, terrifying).

Your battery life, attention span, and possibly even your mental health will thank you. And yes, your phone will actually work as a phone again.

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