MANMOHAN DHAR
As the clock struck midnight and we welcomed a brand-new year, many of us made resolutions to improve our lives in various ways. We vowed to eat healthier, hit the gym more, or maybe even learn a new language. But this year, how about a resolution that’s a little different-a digital one: No more WhatsApp images or “Good Morning” messages”.
At first glance, this may seem like a small and trivial goal, but let me tell you, it’s a major step toward reclaiming our mental space and digital health. Here’s why we need to chose this particular resolution and how to stick to it.
Why to do away with WhatsApp Images and “Good Morning” Messages is what may not sound so friendly to some hard core messages senders who are hell bend thinking that this is the only way to maintain relationships. But that is not what it actually works.
We are noticing a pattern in our daily WhatsApp activity. Every morning, without fail, we wake up to a flood of messages, mostly consisting of two things: 1. Random images, usually of flowers, sceneries, cute animals, or motivational quotes-and 2. “Good Morning” messages from our friends and family.
While the gestures are kind and thoughtful, but these messages and images drain the digital space in a way that any sensible person won’t appreciate.
Mental Clutter is what draws every prudent person’s attention towards the significance of these entirely useless engagements. Each image or message that comes through requires a small chunk of attention. And honestly , it’s not like we get ever truly engaged with these messages. IA smile, maybe a thumbs-up emoji can make one feel like we are clearing a mental to-do list of meaningless interactions. Sure, these messages are short and harmless, but they built up over time and contribute to a sense of mental clutter.
Digital Overload is yet another social media hazard we are facing in the contemporary social media scenario.
We often find ourselves scrolling through WhatsApp during the first moments of our day. Instead of enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee or setting an intention for the day, our cell phones get bombarded by endless images and texts. The notifications, the constant buzzing-it feels like our phones are demanding attention before we are even ready to start our day in the real sense of the term.
It is not like we are too busy for “Good Morning” messages. Far from it! We just realize that those few seconds of scrolling through endless image galleries or responding to endless “Good Morning” texts are eating up more time than we think. If we multiply that time by the hundreds of messages we get every year, we find that’s a lot of time spent on little digital gestures that we didn’t even truly need or want.
Once we resolve saying “NO” to these endless messages we can realise that the benefits of Saying No to Digital Small Talk are endless.
Taking a step back from these WhatsApp habits isn’t about rejecting the people who send them or coming off as rude. It’s about prioritizing our time, our mental health, and our focus. Here’s what we can hope to gain from this resolution:
More Time for What Matters to us a lot more then this waste of time.
By cutting out the endless scrolling and message-sending, we can have more time for the things that matter. Instead of spending the first 10 minutes of our day replying to dozens of messages, we can take that time for something more intentional-like reading a book, meditating, or planning our day for a constructive start.
Fewer Digital Interruptions can be yet another benefit of saying “NO”.
How soothing it can be while reclaiming our mornings. No more notifications the second we wake up. we’ll be able to start the day on our own terms, without the pressure of responding to messages or feeling like we need to check every single image. It’s about setting boundaries in a way that allows us to focus on our own well-being.
Digital Minimalism is something that takes us towards well being and constructive stance in our day to day routine. This is part of a larger trend and the one we need to embrace. Just as we clear physical clutter from our homes to create space for what matters, digital minimalism is about removing the noise from our online lives. It’s not about rejecting technology altogether; it’s about using it intentionally. Less clutter, more clarity.
Let’s be real: saying “no” to WhatsApp images and “Good Morning” messages is not going to be easy. It’s a cultural norm, especially in family circles, where these messages are a form of connection. So, how do we plan to make this resolution stick?
First of all, we need to set “Clear Boundaries” to start by gently setting expectations with our close friends and family. A simple message like: “Hey, I’m cutting back on WhatsApp messages and images this year to declutter my digital space. I’d love to catch up with you in person or over a call!” can do wonders. Most people will understand once they know it’s a personal boundary, not an attack on their affection.
For those messages that we don’t want to totally ignore but still don’t want cluttering the notifications, we can use the “mute” feature. This allows us to stay connected but without being constantly interrupted by unnecessary images or texts.
We also need to encourage Real Connections. Instead of sending the usual “Good Morning” images, we should encourage more meaningful communication. Why not pick up the phone and call someone? Or send a more thoughtful text, something personal, like asking how their day is going or sending a recommendation for something I know they’d enjoy. The first few days will probably feel strange. But as we get used to not having my mornings filled with dozens of images and generic messages, everyone would most likely feel more relaxed and grounded.
And for those friends and family members who send these messages out of love, we may still express gratitude and say to them that you would appreciate their understanding while you say to them, Hey! -it’s just that this year, I’m choosing to love myself a little differently by reclaiming my digital space.
As we step into the New Year, let’s think about the digital habits we want to leave behind. The world won’t end if we stop sending “Good Morning” messages, and our friendships won’t wither if we opt out of sharing random WhatsApp images. By creating healthier boundaries in our digital lives, we can actually create more meaningful space for connection in the real world.
So here’s to a year of less digital noise and more intentional moments. Cheers to simplifying, de-cluttering, and enjoying life-without the endless stream of WhatsApp images.