Ever since instant messaging was invented, group chats have become an important function. Everyone needs at least one unless you’re living in a cave. Group chats solve the need for more than two people to communicate. This would be a great feature if people have self-discipline.

But most people don’t.

I have numerous group chats across various IM apps. For example, I have nearly 50 groups for work and socializing. Could have been even more with my insatiable need for social interaction. It is no doubt that group chats are an unintended drain on my time and attention. Everyone has a scarcity brain. Sometimes I group chat during breaks at work, but it reduces the efficience of productivity. It even harmed my relationship with my partner, causing them immense sadness and leaving me with regrets.

So I started quitting a lot of groups that I didn’t really need. This had two benefits: it better protected my time and attention, it took up less space on my phone. If anyone needs to reach me, they could just text or call. Nothing was ever particularly urgent.

After a few years of quitting, I feel my mind is cleaner as well as my phone. The earth remains the same whether join those groups or not (for the most part). But the difference is still in my thinking and life, because I still can feel the huge change after quitting.