Low-info diet

[overtaxed]

I'm doing my best to follow this one.

Here is what I'm doing:

1. No news websites, news radio (except for a traffic and weather
so I can plan my driving routes and outdoor activities), or
newspapers.

2. Meditation music before going to sleep at night - no TV watching
or nonfiction.

3. If I do "surf" the web, it's for the purpose of finding information
that will help me be more successful, or a bit offluff stuff like
gadget sites or movie news sites like aintitcool.

Here is what it's done for me:

1. I feel better about the world - not hearing about wars, bombings, and other upsetting news keeps me in a better, saner mood.

2. I feel more in control - since so much that goes on is completely out of my hands, I don't waste energy getting upset about these things and instead focus on what I can change or accomplish.

[kingfu]

Good to hear someone else is having a similar experiance.

Getting off my news/information habit has had a huge impact on my life. I probably watched/read/listened to atleast a hours worth of news a day. 80% of which must of been negative. Its strange but i never realised how much people complained (and myself) about the world until you also unplug yourself from the negative stream of info you're bombarding your head with.

What meditation music do you listen to? might be something i might give a go.

[padma]

I have a different take on this...I don't think the low-info diet is supposed to be permanent. Instead, it is meant to be used as a retreat to help you refocus. I've even heard Tim talk about it, although I can't remember where.

If you examine his blog, you'll see he is involved in all sorts of things. So, don't see it as something you have to do always, see it as more of a pressure release valve.

[kingfu]

i think tims take on it from a video cast i watched is its about "just in time" information rather than "just incase" information.

i used to watch,read,listen to so much news, probably of which less than 1% had any impact on my life, while the other 99% no doubt unconsciously made me think the world is going to cave in, that its a very dangerous place. now if theres something news related i *really* need to know about then i log onto google news, do a quick search, get the information i need and get off the site. job done. otherwise i don't want to know about it, and as tim says in the book...if its *that* important the information will filter through to you via someone else anyway.

[Stallion]

Judging by your name, you're probably right into the politics. So am I. Or should I saw "was"? It feels good not to have to hear it, talk about it, debate it. I can't even watch the news anymore because it just sickens me.

I think the exercise is trying to illustrate the point that we really waste a lot of our time on petty crap.

[kamakiri]

... we really waste a lot of our time on petty crap.

I quit watching TV back in 2003, and haven't ever missed it. I do have some DVDs I watch on my TV, like Firefly, but I haven't watched the news in years. That is scarier than any rated R movie or adult video game in my opinion.

News itself really isn't bad though. I filter everything through google reader. I choose what I want to read, and look through the 40-50 titles once a day, and expand the ones that interest me.

My weakness is this forum and DIGG. I chuckle a bit when thinking about how we are all doing the opposite of Tim's advice by even being here, as evidenced by Tim not even posting on his own forums. I do get quite a bit out of reading people's posts here though, and as I am not yet on the 100% low-information diet, the time spent is well worth it. The nuggets (http://thegrowinglife.com/) I have found on DIGG are also well worth the time spent there. The entertainment value (http://www.veryfunnyads.com/index.html?id=24763) is also pretty good some days.

[ephigy]

I haven't had a TV in years. There's one at my apartment here and I never turn it on. I still need to curb my social media addiction (facebook in the lead) but this was one aspect on the book which I was already practicing. Another that I'm aready close to perfection with is the elimination principle. I dropped all my useless possessions off somewhere that I don't need to think about them since I was moving around a lot. I just need to focus on my priorities and get those muses set up (no small feat).

[JFrenzel]

I spend most of my time online rather than TV. I too have not watched TV for like 3 years. The only times I watch it is to see a Championship sporting event. The way the web is formulated, it is much quicker to get online and get your fix of whatever. Moreover, the key is not to copy Tim to the T. I am sure he has share of TV time or other such vices. Funny thing though, I bought a new plasma a month ago and only watched 3 movies on it(DVDS), so I sold it yesterday. I rather use the money in Russia this November : ) The key too is..... Actuallly i am going to post a thread on this thought right now...

To be continued......

[kingfu]

Completly agree with stallion. The low information diet and not watching the news was worth the price of the book alone.

Why spend our lives being a spectator.

ephigy heres a tip for your facebook problem. Promise yourself not to just randomly go on there just to *check* if theres any msgs. Instead only check messages when you recieve email notifications. This helped cut down my usage of facebook loads.

[dking]

I have been "ignoring the world" for the past few days - except for recruiters - and I have to say that the mind seems much more clear when you dont have the technical details of your job in the way.

My advice? Give up your TV. Listen to music *without* words in it. Or on a language you don't know.

[froldt]

I have never been a fan of the news. All I want is the weather, occasionally, and I can check that in a couple of minutes (on dialup) online.
My wife worked with her mother for a month or so this summer and they listened to the news every morning on the way to work (45 minutes). When she quit working there and stopped on the commute, she realized that she felt much better, less stressed out and depressed, just from not listening to all the negatives every day. Yes, she is still aware that gas prices are going up and other things that they discussed, but being aware and having it drilled into you are different things.

dking, I have an album by a Finnish band that I love. I can sing along with parts of it, but I have no idea what they're saying. One of my favorite CD's, because I don't get distracted by it!

[badhank]

hey overtaxed, any updates or is it working so well ur not even on here anymore?

[Revv23]

This is one thing I knew before reading Tim's book, though it did help me to refocus it.

Most news is so irrelevant and so negative that I started developing a cynical view of the world. Which I still have to an extent, but I don't dwell on it when I'm not constantly hearing about it haha. My current world view is that there are issues and most people are good and want to be good thus things will get better. No doomsday theory for me, hell even if there is a doomsday what difference does it make if I read about it coming every single day or not? None at all. So, why read the news?

Trade publications, most definetly; but just general world news? Nah, like Tim says, more fun, faster, and usually better reported by asking a few friends whats up with the world.

[cleverusername]

I too have a more positive outlook when I ignore the news. All the negativity and fear-mongering just make a subconscious part of my brain say 'why bother? why try? It's all going to hell anyway.' News outlets are out for ratings and fear sales. Remove a source of fear and worry and your left with this big gaping hole that can be filled with...optimism.

As for TV, I quit watching about 8 years ago. Never looked back. Still dig on good movies, but I am kind of picky, relying on recommendations and reviews.

Someone else mentioned digg, and yes, that can be a problem if I'm not careful. Something about the interface and all the comments.

It's all about some good tunes and good fiction.

[Crickwat]

Its nice to know that you are having a good time. I myself don't watch news channels much. Just hear the head lines, that's it. There is a lot of exaggeration in the media on any issue and it is a waste of time to think about it. I would prefer reading a good book or listening to music.

[Psytherium]

I quit watching TV back in 2003, and haven't ever missed it. I do have some DVDs I watch on my TV, like Firefly, but I haven't watched the news in years. That is scarier than any rated R movie or adult video game in my opinion.

News itself really isn't bad though. I filter everything through google reader. I choose what I want to read, and look through the 40-50 titles once a day, and expand the ones that interest me.

My weakness is this forum and DIGG. I chuckle a bit when thinking about how we are all doing the opposite of Tim's advice by even being here, as evidenced by Tim not even posting on his own forums. I do get quite a bit out of reading people's posts here though, and as I am not yet on the 100% low-information diet, the time spent is well worth it. The nuggets (http://thegrowinglife.com/) I have found on DIGG are also well worth the time spent there. The entertainment value (http://www.veryfunnyads.com/index.html?id=24763) is also pretty good some days.

Good to hear there's another digg fan out there. I find myself wasting sooo much time on digg. It's not even necessarily the items posted, but reading all of the comments. It can be severely addicting. This week I have been on a minimal digg diet. I'll scan front page items on my iphone in the morning on the bus in to work and on the bus on the way home from work (each way is only 20 minutes from the park-n-ride to the office, and only 5-10 minutes spent on digg).

[Free4Family&Community]

I don't watch the weather report. I just open the door in the morning.. feel the temperature and look at the clouds and I then let me know what to wear for the day. It has worked for me for years now.

I only check the weather if I am planning something in advance several days ahead and it is dependent on the weather. .. Eg. like a outdoor party or someother outdoor activity.