Heard about the Covington Catholic boys? I didn’t learn about the story until a coworker asked me about it last Wednesday, some three or four days after it broke. That’s because I don’t check the news (daily), I quit Twitter, and often forget to dip into Facebook for days or weeks at a time. As my colleague continued about the event, I began asking myself, “what am I actually missing?” Or, rather, “what am I gaining?
After the mid-term elections, I stopped religiously checking the news and curbed my social media intake. I’ve felt a significant decrease in my anxiety without the weight the headline dramas (which was the goal in the first place). Win.
Tim Ferris, in his famous book “The 4-Hour Work Week”, made a call for people to quit consuming the news. It went something like: Step 1. Quit reading the news. Step 2. Ask your barista what’s happening in the world. Step 3. Come to the conclusion that you’re not missing anything at all.
It occurred to me that I was having a step three experience as my office mate informed me of the Covington Catholic boys. I realized hadn’t missed anything at all. No news is good news.
In light of this “ah ha” moment, I’ve gathered a few articles that encourage a daily diet of less news. Enjoy.
Note: I do realize there’s many great reason to read the news. I just haven’t found a way to do so while self-differentiating myself from the drama. Hopefully you can!
