The terms mindfulness and ‘media consumption’ don’t really go together. At first, they seem like two different sides of a coin. Or even two different realms of a universe. Let me explain why that isn’t true.
So by this point in 2020, we all know that mindfulness is the ability to be present in the moment and accepting of things beyond our control; events and emotions alike. Mindfulness is about releasing the struggle of anything that is perceived as negative, and having a high enough level of self-awareness to see that we are consciously making that choice. Got it? Yes? Great, moving on.
What image comes to mind for you when you think of being consumed by media? Do you picture a teen avoiding homework to continue a snapchat streak? Do you see a family out to dinner with parents focusing more on their phone than their child? Do you see an anxious baby boomer obsessing over a coronavirus apocalypse and stockpiling canned goods?
Whatever image comes to mind, we’ve all been there in some way or another. Long gone are the days of having to wait until the 6pm news to see what’s going on in the world. Unfortunately we now live in a world where we have access to world events All. The. Time.
Yes I already predict the comments of “But Lindsey, it keeps me informed, it’s important”. Yes true, but at what cost? Have you noticed an increased sense of feeling on edge? What if-ing about the worst case scenarios of your future? Having trouble sleeping? Maybe you’re feeling anxious.
No I'm not about to go all Ryan Nicodemus (think minimalism documentary) on you. I’m not going to try and convince you to jump on board a drastic lifestyle change (p.s. I love minimalists and am one). One simple way to reduce some of your anxiety while being woke is through mindful media consumption.
Here are the key lessons that I’ve learned through my own experience of reducing my in-the-know anxiety through a mindful practice.
Use the screen and app timer on your smartphone. How much time are you spending on social media vs news outlets?
Choose one or two inbox newsletters to check on a daily basis. Unsubscribe from the rest.
Count how many social media platforms you use. Do you really get any substantial benefits from scrolling Twitter, Facebook, Insta, TikTok and Reddit for your news?
Start by deleting one platform and see if you miss it after a week. Then try another. This is an experiment. It’s not permanent, so you can always add it back if you desire.
Use these tips to find your sweet spot by noticing changes in your mental state. Maybe there will be less ‘what ifs?’. There’s only one way to find out.
Photo by Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash
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