Why It's Minimalist: Hey reimagines email around respect for your attention rather than maximizing engagement. It requires senders to request permission before entering your inbox and provides tools for batch processing rather than constant monitoring.
Key Features:
- The Screener: Only approved senders reach your inbox
- The Feed: Newsletter-style content separated from actionable emails
- Automatic contact management and thread organization
- Built-in privacy protection (no tracking pixels)
Minimalist Usage Tips:
- Be ruthless with the Screener; only approve senders who provide genuine value
- Process email in batches 2-3 times per day rather than checking constantly
- Use the Paper Trail feature for receipts and confirmations but don't feel obligated to read them all
- Set up forwarding for existing email addresses but don't give out your Hey address casually
Alternative Options:
- Apple Mail: With VIP settings and manual organization
- Thunderbird: Open-source with strong privacy controls
- Physical mail only: Some digital minimalists return to postal mail for non-urgent correspondence
Messaging: Signal
Why It's Minimalist: Signal focuses exclusively on secure, private messaging without the feature bloat, ads, or attention-grabbing elements found in mainstream messaging apps.
Key Features:
- End-to-end encryption for all communications
- Disappearing messages that automatically delete
- No ads, data collection, or algorithmic feeds
- Group messaging without the chaos of mainstream platforms
Minimalist Usage Tips:
- Use disappearing messages by default to prevent digital clutter accumulation
- Create groups only for specific purposes with clear endpoints
- Turn off read receipts to reduce social pressure and anxiety
- Use voice messages thoughtfully rather than as automatic replacements for calls
Alternative Options:
- iMessage: If you're in the Apple ecosystem and communicating primarily with other iPhone users
- Phone calls: Often more efficient than extended text conversations
- In-person conversation: Still the gold standard for meaningful communication
Video Calling: Around
Why It's Minimalist: Around focuses on natural video calling without the meeting fatigue caused by traditional platforms. Its innovative approach reduces the cognitive load of video calls.
Key Features:
- Floating video windows that don't dominate your entire screen
- Automatic muting that activates based on environmental noise
- Screen sharing that doesn't require complex setup
- No accounts required for participants
Minimalist Usage Tips:
- Use video calls only when they add genuine value over voice calls
- Keep calls focused with clear agendas and time limits
- Mute your camera during long meetings to reduce self-consciousness
- Position the camera at eye level to maintain natural posture
Alternative Options:
- Zoom: Reliable but can be overwhelming with features
- FaceTime: Simple and works well within the Apple ecosystem
- Phone calls: Often underestimated for their simplicity and effectiveness