art by fari

Decluttering your digital memories can be just as freeing as cleaning your home. Here’s why I spend 5 minutes each day deleting photos—and how it’s helping me reconnect with joy and presence.

Over the past few years, I noticed something subtle but impactful happening: I stopped taking photos. Even when I went out or experienced something beautiful, I rarely pulled out my phone to capture the moment. At first, I thought it was a sign of mindfulness—being more present. But over time, I realized it was something else. I was avoiding the Photos app entirely.

Why? Because every time I opened it, I was hit with an overwhelming flood of clutter: blurry shots, 2-second videos of nothing, 20 near-identical pictures of the same scene, and screenshots I didn’t even remember taking. With over 20,000 photos and videos stored in iCloud alone (and another 20,000+ in Google storage), even the thought of finding one meaningful memory felt exhausting.

I missed the days I used to post regularly to my Snapchat and Instagram stories. That habit of sharing used to nudge me to notice beauty, to pause and capture small joys. Without it, I slowly stopped documenting my life—not just for the world, but for myself.

So at the start of this year, I decided to do something simple: spend just five minutes a day decluttering my photos. No pressure, no big goals. Just open the app, scroll to a random day, and start deleting the digital junk. I let go of the blurry shots, the duplicates, the videos that captured nothing.

What I found was surprising. Those five minutes became a daily ritual of digital mindfulness. I began rediscovering forgotten moments that did spark joy—a sweet laugh, a sunset I hadn’t seen since, a quiet memory that reminded me why I used to love capturing my life in pixels.

This small practice has helped me reclaim my relationship with photography. I’m taking more pictures now—not to post, but to remember. My camera roll is slowly transforming into a place I enjoy visiting again. A space of intentional, joyful memories.

We spend so much time decluttering our homes, organizing closets, and making space in our physical lives. But what about our digital lives? What if your photos app could become a source of peace instead of stress?

Five minutes a day. That’s all it takes.