Set a realistic threat level that meets your balance of privacy/convienience and stick to it. I know it is easier said than done, but once you start to get used to it, then you can think about making slight adjustments to better your privacy here and there. If you try to go full privacy right off the bat, you are going to get frustrated.

Start with changing 1-2 things at a time and go from there. Perhaps just change your browser/settings and your email. Adjust from there after a few months

Do what you can. I use WhatsApp even though I despise it..why because I need to for elderly family and . I have signal also and will opt for that and use that where possible. Its a marathon not a sprint. If you need to use fb or instagram use the website with ublock for example.

Of course you can avoid them too but its not always realistic. Like some bank apps won't work without google play services for example. So make up a bullshit google account and use that. Then use your real email in k-9 mail for example.

Need to sign up for something use aliases such as mozmail duck.com or simplelogin.

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. We are social creatures by nature.

Using Linux with Firefox and ublock for example is a great start. Then work on limiting stuff you don't want out there, closing old accounts. Using a password manager for example keepass xc. Signal if you can.

I didn't have a reddit profile but in made one here as I'm OK with sharing stuff here on my terms. There is no trackers or corporation or nasty ads.

Not sure I have much of a solution, but if it makes you feel better you're not alone. I do the same thing. Right now I'm back on an "improving my privacy" kick, but I to tend to get burned out and get more lax.

Honestly it’s easy to turn good privacy hygiene into an unhealthy obsession and it can strain your relationships with friends and family. You have to be aware that things are going to change constantly and that’s ok. Your probably not using internet explorer anymore and you’re happier without it so switching to the new mullvad browser is no big deal. Your friends probably use Snapchat and WhatsApp but i bet a more of them are on signal than you think. It used to be enough to not give your phone number to websites and not have your name in your email address but threats have evolved and so have our protection tools. You are probably not on the run or in witness protection so a small leak with your info isn’t life threatening just take a deep breath and keep trying to make good choices.

Accept that privacy is important, but being able to live normally is more important. That means if you have to choose between the two, you compromise and do the not-really-privacy-friendly thing.

A common example might be WhatsApp. Depening on where you live and your circle of friends, not having it has serious real-world consequences - social exclusion, missing out on important information. If that's your situation, you get it. You can still use Signal with any contact that has it and ask "do you have Signal instead" if someone offers you their WhatsApp contact and explain why you prefer it, but absolutism doesn't work.

So many great comments here, from thinking people who often struggle with the same thing. I have my own story with its ups and downs.

My view of privacy these days for the most part is of owning my data. If my information is on my own server/devices and off the cloud then I have it private for the most part.

This can sound contradictory at times, for example: Signal is not private to me because my chats and data is still only available through their app and only their app, and a plain text file ilcan be more private if only stored locally. For the most part though, this model works and allows me to think id something is intended to be private or public.