It is International Self-Care month and this guest post by Peter Lantry, Managing Director for Equinix in Ireland is rather apt.
An interesting conversation started at work recently as we looked at the number of photos we have stored on our phones. Some of us had tens of thousands – this was deemed reasonable. Others had folders containing hundreds of thousands. One person had a mere 400, which was generally viewed as mind-blowing.
Regardless of how many photos we each had, one thing was common among us – even the person with 400 – they were unmanageable. There is a growing understanding that having excess, unmanaged digital files in any form can cause stress and anxiety. And, as a society which is increasingly focused on wellness, it is important – particularly during International Self-Care Month – that we consider our digital wellbeing as part of this.
We are constantly streaming, texting, searching, gaming and everything in between, with more and more of our lives existing online. This data boom is evidenced by the numbers: the amount of data generated worldwide increased exponentially from 2 zettabytes (ZB) in 2010 to 64.2 ZB in 2020, and is forecast to almost treble to 181 ZB by 2025 (according to the World Economic Forum). In 2024, on average, globally, we sent 16 million texts every minute and 361 billion emails every day.
Many have called data the most valuable resource in the world. But how many of us can say that about every single digital file we own and store?
If our home is in a state of chaos, most of us take steps to make it more presentable and manageable. And we know the impact of that on our mental health. Is there anything quite like sitting down with a cup of tea looking at a tidy home? Yet, we seem more comfortable with letting the virtual mess pile up.
I myself have personal and work email accounts totalling more than 30,000 emails extending back many years, while my personal cloud storage application is almost full, and my mobile phone is teeming with photos, videos, and apps – most of which I do not actively use or have any interest in. And I know I’m not the only one. This dormant data serves no other purpose than to take up space on our devices.
Meanwhile, it is also having an impact on our own headspace. As the boundaries between our digital and physical lives continue to blur and we learn more about the impact of this delineation, experts say that storing too many items on our devices can cause anxiety and create a sense of being overwhelmed.
As Sarah Reynolds, Ireland’s premier organiser and founder of Organised Chaos, advises: make a list of target areas, sort everything into folders, delete or unsubscribe from what you don’t need, and then carry out regular audits to ensure your devices are a stress-free zone.
These tips will help us to begin our digital wellbeing journeys, which will be of increasing importance as technology continues to advance. Where those technologies take us remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: we are going to keep producing bytes and bytes of information.
We all know the value of data. For individuals, it can mean holding onto precious memories or creating libraries of files that support our lifestyles. At Equinix, data enables us to support healthcare diagnoses and innovations, assist in drug discovery, and drive innovation in quantum computing and sustainability. At its physical home in data centres, we are seeing how data is driving a healthier, more sustainable future; how it is connecting us to the people, things and solutions that matter to us.
Today, we all want – and need – data. Dormant data, however, serves no one. By being proactive and regularly maintaining order in our digital lives, we can stay on top of our data and free up our minds to concentrate on other areas of our lives that need attention and nurturing. As we prepare for an even more digital future, let’s ensure we embrace it with wellbeing
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