It is becoming easier and easier to get sucked into the routine distractions being placed all around us on a daily basis. Television, newspapers, the internet, books, social media. The cycle has formed.
When it comes to consumption in the present day we have to teach ourselves to be picky. Have you every wondered how some people can achieve incredible things, each and every day, whereas many others will simply fritter away their time with nothing to show for it?
How is it that an author can write a bestselling novel every six months, whereas others… well, others just sit around all day and never really move forward with their lives.
I believe excessive consumption has a lot to answer for.
Not too long ago I wrote about time, and how time should be perceived as our only real currency. Excessive consumption is the enemy of time.
I used to watch the news religiously. Every morning I’d watch it for at least half an hour before heading out to work. I’d then check it on my phone throughout the day, and I’d watch it over dinner in the evenings.
Same goes for newspapers. As soon as I reached the train platform each morning I’d pick up a free newspaper and read it cover to cover before reaching my destination.
The same goes for books, the internet, and social networking sites (which I’ll include separately, as it’s a huge beast to tame). I’d plow through them, wasting hours and hours of my time with absolutely nothing to show for it at the end.
I would read entire novels simply because I’d bought them several years earlier and couldn’t stand seeing them left unread. I’d spend hours pouring over useless nothingness on the internet, on Facebook, on Twitter, on news websites.
At the end of a long day I would collapse in front of the television and watch mindless rubbish I wasn’t even remotely interested in whilst reading through my RSS reader on my laptop. Reading content this way was by far my most time-consuming habit. Previously I’d had hundreds of different websites going through my reader each and every day. I saw it as my mission to read every post that passed through, no matter how little it related to my current situation.
One day, I decided enough was enough.
I could no longer be a passive consumer. I remember thinking to myself…
Somebody must be making everything I’m consuming – why can’t I be that person? Why can’t I be the person creating the content for other people to consume?
It started with the news. I completely cut out watching the news on television. Now, the only time you’ll find me sat in front of the news is during major events that affect me, or somebody I care about.
Next I cut out newspapers. I can’t even remember the last time I picked up a free newspaper at a train station, let alone a paid one.
Now I use my short commute to read books. I’ve become very picky about the books I read. I almost exclusively read non-fiction, and it’s sure as hell got to have some rave Amazon reviews before I even consider buying it (and that’s not even to suggest it would be read anytime soon).
I still check the news on my phone, but I’ve cut it down to once a day, if at all.
I unsubscribed to 80-90% of the websites in my reader, and significantly reduced the number of times a week I’d check up on them. With less to read, it didn’t matter that I’d only check by a couple of times a week.
When it comes to television viewing habits, it’s important to distinguish between watching television for the sake of watching television (lounging out on the sofa staring into the void) and having a genuine love of a couple of shows.
I’ve significantly reduced the amount of hours a week I spend sat in front of the television watching whatever rubbish I could find to keep me company for the next half hour.
What I’ve not reduced, however, is how much time I spent watching the few television shows I genuinely enjoy. If you work hard during the day, read a book on your commute to and from work (or in bed at night after a hard day), don’t berate yourself for enjoying a couple of TV shows. There’s noting wrong with that. I find time in my day to watch some shows I genuinely enjoy, therefore these are not included under a ‘mindless television viewing’ label.
Consumerism is at an all time high across the planet, but when it comes to taking in the best you can, the things that excite you, the things you live for; less really is more.
As with anything in life, you should be aiming for quality over quantity. Don’t let your most important messages be drowned out by a load of nonsense. Only take in what is truly necessary, and what you truly enjoy.
The rest is noise.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Ben, great post. Your body is a temple so you shouldn’t eat any old rubbish. Likewise, you mind is important so don’t feed it with meaningless drivel. My problem is Twitter and Google+ at the moment. I have learned lots from these services but I probably should restrict my usage of them! Nice one, mate!
I couldn’t agree more, Rob.
I’ve managed to get pretty good at limiting my time on social networking sites, but I’m sure your issue (as mine was) is a lot of the work I need to do relies on going to those sites to promote it.
It’s simply a case of making sure you close the tab once your work is done, or you’ll be sucked into it for an unforeseen number of hours!
I have been cutting down on all the excess consumption in my life lately too. I recently wrote about how I don’t want to be watching the news anymore and I can relate to the guilt you felt over having unread books.
Thanks for the reminder and giving us an insight into how you achieved such a significant reduction in the energy zappers of your day.
Thank you Mirella!
Watching the news is a horrible drain. I know i’ve had a good day when I realise I have no idea what’s going on in the world! It’s a great habit to keep. How else have you been reducing your energy zappers?