We are all fully aware after we eat too much, drink too much, sleep too much, work too much and so on. We know because our body tells us so.
However, our body never really sends us a signal to stop consuming information. We are bombarded with information from the time we get up until the time when we go to sleep. Information comes in a variety of flavors: news, movies, TV shows, blogs, magazines, weather, YouTube videos, advertising, e-mail and so on. Our brain is constantly stimulated with information throughout the day and rarely, if ever, it will tell us that it has had enough.
That is exactly why we have to become aware of how much information we are consuming.
Information Obesity
Chances are you never really sit down and think about consuming too much information. Do you really need to watch those TV shows; read, watch or listen to news; read and track every single blog out there? Probably not. Many of us are just information consuming machines, just like some people are food consuming machines: it’s just important to eat, does not really matter what. You could call the phenomenon of people consuming too much information the information obesity.
It is time to trim the fat!
Trim The Fat
The process is really simple and pain free if you answer the following questions:
- Does this information add any value to me?
- Can I use this information to achieve my goals?
- Is this information relevant to my life?
- Does this information help me make decisions in my life?
- Does this information have any long-term lasting value?
You could add a couple of additional questions, but you get the idea. You can do away with most of the information that you are currently consuming in your life. You have to become selective with what information you consume and eliminate the information that is irrelevant to you.
Why Do It?
There are a couple of reasons to limit your information consumption. First, the more information you consume the more value it losses. Your brain can only process so much information without starting to selectively ignore it. Moreover, think about the opportunity cost of mindlessly consuming the information you don’t need. You could instead be absorbing that what really matters to you. Also, over-consumption of information will cost you a lot of emotional energy because you will react to information that has little to do with your life. Over time that will cause you to become insensitive to the information that you see around yourself essentially numbing your brain.
Sure, many of you will say, but I need to know! I need to know what is going on the world, I need to know how the celebrities are doing, I must know about all the technology that is coming out, I must watch the favorite show and so on and so forth. However, if you really sit down ask yourself the questions listed above, you will realize that you only need so much information to get you closer to accomplishing your goals in life.
If you are able to do this and limit the information to what only matters to you, then many changes will take place in your life. You will have more time and energy. You will be able to focus more. Your day will seem less busy and much more calm. You will stop worrying about the things that you can do nothing about. You will feel happier. More importantly, you will free up your brain power so that you can use it towards things that matter and achieve results faster. Trust me! I have done it myself.
I did it!
I have not watched TV in months. Matter of fact, I do not even have cable TV at my home. I barely read news (if ever). I have blocked websites using LeechBlock which were sucking up a ton of my time: Hulu, Gmail, Facebook and so on. I have limited my access to those sites to only certain times and hours within the week. I read only the books and blogs that matter to me and that will help me accomplish my goals in life: become a financial planner/advisor, become independent, improve my spiritual well being and many others.
It’s easy – JUST TURN IT OFF.
15 Comments
I like this. There is wisdom in what you say. However, I am an information glutton. I like knowing what is going on in the world around me. I don’t watch that much t.v. but occasionally, I imbibe. I believe there needs to be a balance to our lives. I lived for awhile without much of any of this and it was a beautiful existence. But, it isolated me from the reality of the world around me. I would choose it again but not permanently. There’s a certain element of disengagement here but I do not see it as detachment. Reading the news and not reacting to it emotionally is detachment. Let’s face it, we live in challenging times and it’s important for each of us to stay informed. There’s a certain responsibility to being here in human form and it’s hard to make reliable decisions if we are operating in a vacumn. I understand your point, that we should limit our intake…hence the word gluttony. But, who is to define gluttony for the other?
Ignorance is equally dangerous. I see apathy all around me and that is reflected in such things as apathy, helplessness, anger, etc. In the end, I believe detachment from the ego is the key then glutton or not we can make better decisions.
Nancy:
I do not recommend completely isolating yourself from the society. Just like you said ignorance is just as bad as consuming anything and everything. Also, all I am saying is that we should consume the information with a purpose.
That is the exact reason why I provided those questions which you can use to guide yourself to making the appropriate choice. To each is own. But being aware of what you consume and why is the most important thing in order to make the choice.
Best,
Tomas
Actually, I understand your premise. However, I find that by obtaining information which may not be pertinent to me in the ways you describe, it informs me in a variety of ways. This is important in future decisions, reflecting on past decisions, and of course can alter the way I view present decisions. If I limit myself to what I am currently participating in, then I limit my growth.
I really do feel people need to broaden their knowledge base in order to understand the world around them and how they fit within it.
Interesting topic. You may be raising awareness in some minds. Of course if the government, with laws, political pressure, or other controls, were to limit one’s media choices in the marketplace of ideas — well that might be an undesirable limitation of information. Some government snoids could try to limit political opposition by reducing the availability of certain types of information.
Caution may be in order if Oprah begins a series of TV shows about “Information Obesity – How it must be Controlled”
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QwkDrw:
You raise a great point. Limiting information should occur at our end, not at the information producers end. If and when governments try to limit the amount of information that we receive, it should automatically raise an alarm as to what is going on.
We should set up conscious filters for ourselves to limit the information to which it really matters and even then take that information with a grain of salt.
It’s simple, yet powerful topic and it is essentially an individual choice.
Thanks for another great comment, QwkDrw (what does that mean by the way? :))
Best,
Tomas
Hey Tom,
Great point about becoming insensitive. We only have so much emotional energy. The more we expend, the less we have for each experience in our lives.
By reigning in the information intake, we can devote more genuine emotion to each experience and interaction. Less is more. We do less things throughout the day, but they’re of higher and more passionate quality.
The less info we have, the easier it is to take action as well.
For, information is useless without results.
The more views, thoughts, opinions, resources, and choices we have, the less likely we’ll do something – we’ll freeze up. And what do we do when presented with too much? We do nothing.
By limiting your info intake to what is truly important to you, like you mentioned, the easier it is to take action. We only have one or a small handful of resources, but it’s something incredibly useful, and it’s simple to use it to do something and get your desired results.
Here’s to a low-info diet,
Oleg
Here Here Oleg!
Love your to the point summaries of fairly complex ideas.
We are presented with a overwhelming amount of inputs in our lives and we have to be selective what we choose to consume if we want to create great output.
In the end, we are creators. We take what is around us and use to build something that was not there before. It’s a beautiful process. And if we want to create beautiful creations, we have to select relevant and quality components :)
But creativity is your department, Oleg, maybe you will have to say something about that!
Best,
Tomas
Love the questions you suggest asking. I tend to be on the low end of consuming information, but a huge amount still gets through. I notice the overload more when advertising is included as well.
Jackie:
Advertising is everywhere. I am trying to get away from it as much as possible. Yet it is still abundant.
Keeping that in mind it is important to maintain a questioning about the things we see and still do research before we make a decision to spend our resources to acquire a certain asset.
Best,
Tomas
Congrats for getting rid of television and newspapers. I personally don’t watch TV except at dinner with my family, but because they are watching it. I found that televisions reports negative and inaccurate news more often than not, and I don’t want to hear that :D
Hey Oscar:
Thanks! That is the exact reason why I stopped watching news – too much negativity and biased information. Even so, I cannot do anything about 99% of the information that I hear.
Like, I have read multiple times – if the news are truly significant, then I will hear about it no matter what!
Best,
Tomas
“… what does that mean by the way?”
The QwkDrw moniker is simply an abbreviation and combination of two words: “Quick” and “Draw”. Follow the link to “GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle” blog for more about the meaning (see the right side column or click on profile photo).
It is honor to be among the other great commenters on your blog. It was interesting to read that in your multidimensional life you are an explorer and athlete originally from Lithuania
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QwkDrw:
It is my honor and my pleasure to have such a great reader as yourself reading my humble blog :) This way, I know that my messages are reaching somebody!
Also, thank you for reading an about me in about me section! I am glad I made it :)
I am looking forward to more great interactions!
Best,
Tomas
A very thought provoking article Tomas. I am a freelance web designer and internet is my place. At certain times I too used to think it is my life but not any more. As per your another article it is just a mens to a greater end. I used to sit like zombie in front of computer and now I am only interested in sites or blogs that enhance my knowledge in web designing so I may know the latest or help me lead a meaningful life like your blog is doing. I have fixed Saturday to read tweets for the week and only guys I follow is master of their field. I used to check mail every half an hour and now it is thrice a day that too becuase clients expect response. No more bothered about this and that on Internet as I know it very well that it wont serve my purpose and I will be getting this disease you wrote ” Information Obesity”.
Thanks for these inputs of life and please keep up the good work. You are a rock star in what you are doing and nothing is more good than to be a tool of lord and write to improve lives of his children :)
Warm Regards
Jay Kaushal
Dear Jay:
I am indeed very humbled by the fact that my blog somehow is able to help you lead a more meaningful life. That statement alone makes every minute and every hour that I spend writing these articles worth it.
I am glad that you were able to cleanse your life and focus on things that enhance your life and add value to your activities. I applaud you doing that. That is what I would call purposeful engagement :)
Once again thank you for you warm words and I am just glad to improve your life in this small way that I can.
Sincerely,
Tomas
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