I stared at my laptop screen with a growing sense of dread. 3,482 unread emails. 147 pending LinkedIn connection requests. Dozens of message threads buried under notifications from groups I didn't remember joining. My digital world had become a chaotic landscape of forgotten conversations and abandoned newsletters.

We absolutely underestimate how much stress digital clutter can put on us. Each notification, each unread message, each connection request sits in our subconscious, creating a subtle but persistent anxiety. As one digital minimalist aptly put it, "The more cluttered it is, the less I think we actually like to use and work with it." That was certainly true for me.

I knew something had to change, but I was dreading tackling it because there was such a huge amount to do. Then I remembered how Marie Kondo's method had transformed my physical space last year, and I wondered: could those same principles work for my digital life?

Spoiler alert: They did. And the process was surprisingly satisfying.

The KonMari Philosophy: A Digital Mindset Shift

Before diving into the tactical steps, I needed to adapt the KonMari philosophy to the digital world. If you're not familiar with Marie Kondo's approach, it centers around one question: "Does this item spark joy?" But how does that translate to emails and LinkedIn connections?

For digital tidying, I expanded this question: "Does this digital item spark joy, serve a necessary purpose, or contribute value to my life?" This slight adaptation worked perfectly.

The core KonMari principles that guided my digital decluttering journey were:

1. Commit to tidying up completely - This isn't about deleting a few emails each day; it's about a comprehensive overhaul.

2. Visualize your ideal digital lifestyle - Before starting, I wrote down what I wanted: an inbox that contained only actionable items, and a LinkedIn network of people I genuinely valued connecting with.

3. Tidy by category, not location - Instead of going through emails chronologically, I gathered similar types (newsletters, work projects, social notifications).

4. Thank and release - Before deleting or archiving, I practiced gratitude for what these digital connections had offered me.

5. Recognize that digital differs from physical - Unlike physical items that take up space even when stored, digital items can be archived rather than deleted, making the process less about permanent removal and more about intentional organization.

With these principles in mind, I blocked off a weekend, made a large pot of tea, and began my digital tidying festival.

Part 1: Tidying the Email Inbox - A Festival of Deletion

Step 1: Setting My Intention & Preparing My Tools

Before opening my inbox, I wrote down what I wanted to achieve: an inbox that contained only messages requiring action, with everything else neatly archived or deleted. I also wanted to reduce the daily influx of new emails.

To help with the process, I decided to use Clean Email, a tool that automatically categorizes emails and makes bulk actions easier. You could also use Gmail's built-in filters or similar features in your email client.

Step 2: Tidying by Category (The KonMari Way)

Instead of scrolling through my inbox chronologically (which would have taken forever), I used search filters to gather emails by category:

1. Newsletters & Promotions (search: "unsubscribe")

   This was my first target because it offered quick wins. I was shocked to discover I was subscribed to 89 different newsletters, most of which I never read. I asked myself: "Does this newsletter still provide value to me?" If not, I unsubscribed and then deleted all past issues in bulk.

   For the few newsletters I wanted to keep, I created a filter to automatically label them, allowing me to read them intentionally rather than having them clutter my inbox.

2. Social Notifications (search: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

   I realized I didn't need email notifications for most social platforms since I check them directly. I went to each platform and turned off all but the most essential email notifications. Then I selected all existing notification emails and deleted them in one satisfying swoop.

3. Work/Project Emails

   This category required more thought. For completed projects, I archived entire conversation threads. For ongoing projects, I kept only the most recent and relevant emails in my inbox and archived the rest.

4. Personal & Miscellaneous

   These were the hardest to categorize but often the most meaningful. I kept emails from close friends and family that sparked joy, archiving them in a special folder. Everything else that didn't require action got archived or deleted.

Step 3: The "Spark Joy" Check

For each category, I did a quick review rather than reading every single email. Subject lines and senders were usually enough to make a decision. I asked myself:

• "Does this email contain information I need to reference?"

• "Does this relationship add value to my life?"

• "Would I notice if I never saw this type of email again?"

My rule of thumb became: if I wouldn't miss it, it didn't need to stay.

Step 4: Thank, Release, and Organize

Following Marie Kondo's practice of thanking items before discarding them, I took a moment to appreciate what each digital relationship had offered me:

"Thank you, abandoned newsletter about artisanal cheese, for that one recipe I tried." "Thank you, LinkedIn notification emails, for once alerting me to a message from my now-boss."

This practice made letting go feel like a positive choice rather than a loss.

After deleting and unsubscribing, I created a simple folder structure for archiving:

• Work (with subfolders for major projects)

• Personal

• Finances

• Travel

• Reference

The key was not over-categorizing. As one Reddit user wisely noted: "start with an empty desktop and build the structure you want to work with." I applied this principle to my email organization.

Part 2: Curating My Professional Circle on LinkedIn

My LinkedIn inbox and connection list had become equally overwhelming. Connection requests from people I'd never met, messages from aggressive recruiters, and a feed dominated by content from people whose careers had little relevance to mine.

Step 1: Tidying My LinkedIn Messages

First, I tackled my LinkedIn inbox:

1. I archived all completed conversations.

2. I deleted generic sales pitches and recruiter messages that weren't relevant to my career goals.

3. I responded to messages that required action and were aligned with my professional interests.

I was surprised by how many messages I'd left hanging because they'd been buried under less important notifications. Clearing this backlog felt like paying off a social debt.

Step 2: Reviewing My Connections - The "Spark Joy" Litmus Test

Next came the challenging part: reviewing my connections. For each person, I asked myself questions inspired by Erin Schroeder's LinkedIn advice:

1. Do I know this person? I kept connections with known colleagues, classmates, and friends.

2. Is this person relevant to my industry or role? I maintained connections with professionals whose content and insights added value.

3. Does this connection add value or just noise? I removed connections whose updates felt like spam or who regularly posted content that wasn't useful.

4. Does this connection "spark joy" or professional respect? This was my ultimate test.

I removed about 30% of my connections, focusing on quality over quantity. The result was a feed filled with relevant content from people I genuinely wanted to hear from.

Step 3: Setting Boundaries Moving Forward

I also established new rules for my LinkedIn usage:

• I don't accept every connection request. I now ask: "Would I feel comfortable reaching out to this person for a professional favor?"

• When I connect with someone, I add a personalized note explaining why I want to connect.

• I regularly review new connections to ensure my network stays valuable and focused.

Maintaining Digital Joy: The Aftermath and a New Routine

After my digital tidying festival, both my email and LinkedIn felt remarkably different. Opening my inbox no longer filled me with dread, and scrolling through LinkedIn actually provided valuable industry insights rather than a random assortment of humble-brags and sales pitches.

But I knew that without maintenance, digital chaos would creep back in. As KonMari.com points out, tidying is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.

So I established a simple maintenance routine:

• Daily Check-in: I now check email and LinkedIn at specific times (10am and 4pm), rather than constantly throughout the day. This approach, inspired by Elizabeth Tai's digital decluttering method, has dramatically reduced digital distractions.

• Weekly Review: Every Friday afternoon, I spend 15 minutes (one "Pomodoro chunk") clearing out the week's digital build-up. This "nibble at it" approach prevents overwhelm from returning.

The benefits have been substantial:

• I respond more quickly to important messages because they're no longer buried under clutter.

• My LinkedIn has become a genuine professional resource rather than a source of FOMO.

• The mental clarity from having organized digital spaces has improved my focus and productivity.

As one Reddit user who undertook a similar process shared: "I deleted about 1/3 or 1/2 of my files. Felt great." I couldn't agree more. The relief of digital decluttering is powerful and immediate.

The KonMari method isn't just for physical spaces—it's a mindset that can transform our relationship with all our possessions, digital included. By keeping only what sparks joy or serves a genuine purpose, we can create digital environments that support rather than drain us.

So if you're staring at thousands of unread emails or a LinkedIn network full of strangers, remember: you have permission to curate your digital life with the same intentionality you bring to your physical space. Your future, less-stressed self will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you apply 'spark joy' to emails and LinkedIn connections?

Applying "spark joy" to digital items means asking if they serve a necessary purpose or add value to your life. For an email, this could mean it contains essential information or comes from a valued contact. For a LinkedIn connection, it means their updates are relevant and insightful, or you have a meaningful professional relationship with them. If an item is just digital noise, it doesn't spark joy.

What is the first step to decluttering your inbox with the KonMari method?

The first step is to tidy by category, not chronologically. Start with the easiest categories that offer quick wins, such as unsubscribing from newsletters and promotions you no longer read. This builds momentum and makes a significant impact on the volume of incoming mail immediately.

Why is it important to declutter your digital life?

Decluttering your digital life is important because digital clutter creates persistent, low-level stress and anxiety. An organized digital environment, like a tidy physical one, improves focus, increases productivity, and reduces the mental load of managing countless notifications, messages, and unread items.

How can I maintain a decluttered digital space after the initial tidying?

Maintain your decluttered space by establishing a simple routine. This includes checking emails and social media at specific times rather than constantly, and scheduling a short, weekly review (e.g., 15 minutes every Friday) to clear out new clutter before it builds up.

Is it okay to remove LinkedIn connections?

Yes, it is perfectly okay to remove LinkedIn connections as part of your digital tidying. The goal is to curate a professional network that provides quality and value, not just quantity. If a connection's content isn't relevant to your career or they don't represent a professional relationship you value, it's better to remove them to create a more focused and useful feed.

How long does a full digital declutter take?

The time required for a full digital declutter depends on the extent of the clutter, but it's best to commit to a dedicated block of time. As recommended in the article, setting aside a weekend or a few dedicated sessions allows you to complete the process fully, following the KonMari principle of a one-time "tidying festival" rather than chipping away at it indefinitely.