"Digital minimalism is a philosophy that helps you question what digital communication tools (and behaviors surrounding these tools) add the most value to your life. It is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away low-value digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life."
– Cal Newport
“The days are long but the years are short.” Wise words, but they didn’t originate from the pen of the ancient Roman sage of Stoicism, Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BC- AD 65). A modern-day American author, Gretchen Rubin, coined the meme-ready phrase in her bestseller “The Happiness Project” to remind young, sleep-deprived, exhausted parents that…
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When my children were young, I consulted a lot of parenting books and magazines looking for help. On the subject of character building, I latched onto a particularly useful and memorable piece of advice. “Try to do a good deed every day,” I instructed Lilly and her younger brother Jay, parroting an article I’d read…
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“Why the fuck are you being so nice to everyone?” The normally calm Maple Bear CEO was shouting at me. “Tell them you need something else to eat!” I burst into tears. It had been a very long day. It started out well. Only smiles on the first school tour. It deteriorated from there. Five…
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Technology writer Nicholas Carr is a fellow Cassandra. For those not up on their Greek mythology, Cassandra was the original #metoo victim who spurned the sexual overtures of Apollo. In return, he cursed her to become a prophetess whom no one would ever believe. I’ve been channelling my inner Cassandra for over twenty years, issuing stark warnings…
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We accepted the invitation in a flash. Who wouldn’t want to attend a destination Indian wedding? The venue was the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Muscat, Oman. Every room was reserved for the guests of our South Asian Maple Bear partner in the UAE and his bride. I immediately nixed the idea of wearing Indian formal wear.…
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Like everyone else on the planet, I need a respite from the noise of the Internet. What if digital technology offered a path to tranquility? Would I be violating my commitment to digital minimalism? Not if it adds value to my life. Not everything about technology is necessarily negative. There can be positives too. The…
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