Newsflash: We’re overwhelmed.
OK, that’s not news. You’ve probably had countless notifications urgently informing you about the rise of anxiety in adults, with more than 70% stating that current events and the economy are key stressors.
Said every Gen Xer ever: No duh.
But do we really need another book about how the attention economy is killing us (like this one)? Or a TikTok, YouTube rant, Facebook post… you get the picture. And if you don’t, here’s a reminder from modern Stoic and author Ryan Holiday:
There is almost nothing on the news or social media that is not intentionally designed to agitate and outrage… There are teams of designers, behavioral scientists, and engineers paid gobsmacking amounts of money to keep you watching and scrolling… posting and waiting for replies.
Meanwhile, you can’t afford to lose focus when you’ve got more pressing things to do, like planning your unretirement.
Time to ditch distractions and reclaim your precious attention.
Put It in Perspective
Sure, the 24/7 digital culture is unique to our times. But concern about information overload is ancient, as King Solomon cautioned in Ecclesiastes:
Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Similarly, Socrates warned about overusing technology with the advent of writing, saying it would make people forgetful.
Those two examples are relatively recent; the 5,000-year-old practice of meditation, as described in the Bhagavad Gita, is identified as the ultimate way to transcend the ever-shifting perspectives that influence your thoughts and take constructive action.
In other, more modern words, Holiday’s advises:
If you want to make a positive difference in the world — or simply maintain your sanity — you need to step back. You need to learn how to be more philosophical — which means being more discerning about what you let into your mind and learning how to see the big picture, calmly and with perspective.
Does that mean tuning out completely? No. But it does mean consciously reviewing your information diet and taking steps to improve it.
Breaking Views
Reading material isn’t created equal. So, for starters, Holiday says to skip the doomscrolling and get into the habit of reading books. Preferably, you’ll choose an older book that provides historical context or a philosophical work that helps strengthen your belief system.
Then, consider whether your time is best spent consuming or contributing. Holiday recommends the latter:
The time spent scrolling or reacting on social media could be spent engaging with your community, voting, attending a city council meeting, teaching your children, making ethical decisions in your own business, or simply having a meaningful conversation.
Such simple steps will help you beat the brain barrage and clear the space to make productive moves for yourself and others. And that’s all the news that’s fit to print!
This Habit Is Making You Miserable (And Driving You Insane) (Ryan Holiday)
