How I Failed My Low-Information Diet - Sunday Surprise [15-July-24]
Breaking the News Cycle is harder than it looks...
G’day!
Ever found yourself trapped in the endless loop of doom-scrolling, even after vowing to cut back? I recently embarked on a mission to adopt a "low-information diet," aiming to reduce my news intake and reclaim my peace of mind. Spoiler alert: it didn't go as planned.
It all began when I stumbled upon a thought-provoking video by Matt D’Avella, where he discussed how constant news exposure can heighten baseline anxiety- I wouldn’t call myself anxious, but it didn’t seem like a healthy habit to continue.
For the people in the past, staying informed meant purchasing a newspaper that remained unchanged throughout the day. Television introduced breaking news segments, but one still had to be actively watching to receive updates. Fast forward to today, and our digital platforms, initially designed for creativity and connection, are inundated with news clips, reactions, and commentary. The boundaries between staying informed, being entertained and being overwhelmed have all blurred.
This pervasive influx of information led me to question the true value of being perpetually updated. While being informed is essential, does knowing every tragic event across the globe in real-time serve us, or does it merely amplify our anxieties? Continuous exposure to unfolding tragedies, especially those beyond our control, can indeed elevate stress levels and foster a sense of helplessness.
So, I decided to go cold-turkey and limit my media consumption. However, I quickly encountered the formidable force of habitual behavior. Any moment of idleness saw me instinctively reaching for my phone, cycling through the same few news sites, social media feeds, and entertainment platforms. It was as if any spare moment needed to be filled with some irrelevant update that was seemingly “newsworthy”.
I began to think back to before the internet and smartphone revolution- what exactly did we all do when there was a bit of time with nothing clearly to do and no firehose of distractions an arm reach away? Delving into the past, several enriching activities emerged according to my reasearch (read: Googling):
Outdoor Adventures: People frequently engaged in activities like riding bikes, exploring nature, visiting the beach, and participating in sports. I personally was a big fan of going on long walks
Creative Pursuits: Time was devoted to reading, writing, crafting, and playing musical instruments, fostering creativity and personal growth. I was far less artistic and more nerdy, learning HTML and coding.
Social Interactions: Gathering with friends and family was central, whether it was hanging out, going to the movies, or attending social events. This was basically my school years. Though the internet was available, it was in the dial-up era so riding to a friend’s house was the optimal option.
Simple Pleasures: Activities like driving around town, listening to the radio, and playing board games were common ways to unwind and connect.
I thought back to the last time I TRULY disconnected for a long stretch of time and it must’ve been at the end of medical school. During a trip to Nepal, the frequent power outages and lack of connectivity meant that we just sat around by candlelight and played cards and chatted with friends. I used to think it was because it was a simpler time. Now I’m beginning to realise maybe it was because of the ability to disconnect…
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Matt D’Avella’s Video on Cutting Back on News – A great starting point if you’re curious about the impact of overconsumption.
Cal Newport on Digital Minimalism* – If you haven’t delved into this yet, it’s a game-changer for breaking digital addiction. I think I mentioned this book here many years ago. Just was reminded about it due to this week’s musings.
🔨Any tools you use?
I’m currently on a journey into the rabbit-hole of finding ways to limit distractions via different apps and tools. Do you have any favourite tools? If so, let me know!
I’ll test out a few and get back to you on a future update of the newsletter.
🎯Actionable insight
While I find and test some of the tools, here’s some simple strategies help if you’re in the same doom-scrolling situation as me…
✅ Set Boundaries – Limit news checks to specific times, such as once in the morning and once in the evening. Personally, I like to check during the day — first thing in the morning is nice and calm and I don’t want the news in my brain before bed.
✅ Mute & Unfollow – Curate your digital environment by muting or unfollowing accounts that contribute to information overload. Start small by just unsubscribing to emails you don’t want (including this newsletter!) if you’re not finding it useful.
✅ Have a Default – It’s not enough to just “stop” the bad habit — you need to have a default “new” habit to replace it with. I’m going to make a pile of photos that I can quickly edit in 5-10min chunks. It’s something I always say I have no time for, but maybe I reclaim my news time for something more enjoyable
💜 Ramadan Fundraiser – Matching Donations Up to $2500
For Ramadan, I’m once again raising funds for a great cause, and this year, I’m matching donations up to $2500. If you’d like to contribute, you can donate here. Let’s make a difference together - we’re about 10% of the way there!
🎙️Creative update
randInt podcast S05E02 - Tech fails that changed the world
This episode has us all nostalgic about tech failures that ultimately ended up shaping the world that we live in. From medical start-ups to the demise of once prominent companies, this episode takes a step back in time…
🗓️Weekly Update
It’s been a more relaxed week in terms of pace, but lots of paperwork, meetings and other things to fill the schedule. That said, it really hasn’t felt very stressful. This answers something I have been wondering for a while: is my schedule actually unsustainable? Or is it lacking autonomy? The answer seems closer to the latter…
Some highlights
It’s over halfway through Ramadan already!
Received a merch box from the Samsung AU team - thank you!
A friend/surgeon I work with went to help in Gaza. Thankfully, he’s safely back — he organised a lovely dinner to talk about his experiences.
Weather is slowly cooling down in Melbourne. It means more rain, but also some amazing sunsets!
My brother-in-law got married recently. Unsure of what to gift them, I decided to do some ad-hoc photography. Hopefully they like the outcome!
We recorded another episode of the podcast! Looks like we’ll be on track for another few weeks!
As always, photos and more details over on the blog…
💭Quote of the week
This week’s quote is from an ancient Greek philosopher…
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