#048 — Escaping the News Trap: Redefining Connection and Curiosity
Learn how to nurture a healthy curiosity without getting caught in the noise.
Welcome back!
This week, we’re diving into a topic crucial for anyone seeking a slower, more intentional life: the impact of news on our well-being. In our hyper-connected world, the 24/7 news cycle can truly feel like a relentless assault on our senses, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and disconnected from what truly matters.
Inspired by Rolf Dobelli’s thought-provoking essay “Avoid News”, we’re exploring the concept of a news diet, and offering practical strategies for reclaiming your peace and focus while maintaining your curiosity, showing that disconnecting from the constant barrage of information can actually be a powerful path to a richer, more fulfilling life.
Speaking of that, as usual, we’ve also curated a collection of inspiring links, insightful articles, and calming resources to help you on your journey of life and self-improvement.
So get your favorite beverage ready, find a comfortable spot, and enjoy!
DISCOVER NEW STUFF
Your dose of curiosity
✻ Rolls-Royce unveiled their extraordinary Phantom Goldfinger, a masterpiece celebrating 60 years of the iconic Bond film. With its hidden 18-carat gold bar vault and Swiss mountain road artwork, it’s a testament to how luxury can merge with great storytelling.
✻ Scientists have mapped all 54,5 million connections in a fruit fly’s brain, revealing an intricate dance of neurons that makes life possible. In a brain smaller than a poppy seed, they found 149,2 meters of neural wiring – a reminder that wonder exists at every scale.
✻ Newly unredacted documents reveal that TikTok executives were well aware of the app’s negative impact on teens, as well of the fact that users can become addicted in just 35 minutes of using the app, showing the ever growing need for digital well-being awareness in our increasingly connected world.
✻ Check out this great tip about keeping one flower when buying flowers for someone to track when to buy new ones. This example shows how small, but thoughtful gestures can create long lasting joy.
✻ Some good news for gamers! Research reveals that gaming positively correlates with well-being, challenging long-held assumptions about video games and mental health. Perhaps it’s time to rethink how we view some of the digital leisure activities?
“We are drowning in information, while starving for wisdom.”
– E.O. Wilson, “Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge”
GET INSPIRED
Avoid News: Towards a Healthy News Diet
Have you ever felt overwhelmed after a session of scrolling through news headlines? You’re not alone.
In today’s world, we are in a constant state of sensory overload. Media platforms and news outlets fight for our attention every moment of the day, bombarding us with endless streams of information, notifications, and breaking news. The sheer volume of content pulls us in, urging us to always stay updated.
We willingly participate, spending countless hours staring at our phones and tablets, eager to know the latest updates, the reasons behind events, and how they unfold. In our relentless pursuit to fill every free moment with something to consume — whether it’s watching, listening, or learning — we’ve lost the ability to simply exist. We’ve forgotten the value of sitting still, letting our thoughts wander, embracing boredom, and daydreaming. Letting ourselves to just be.
The News Problem: When Information Overwhelms
Rolf Dobelli, an author and thinker, has referred to news as “mind junk food”. In his brilliant essay, “Avoid News”, he argues that the endless consumption of small, fragmented pieces of information — much like indulging in junk food — leads to poor mental health. Just as consuming sugar makes our bodies sluggish and unhealthy, the constant intake of shallow news makes our minds overstimulated and unfocused.
“News is to the mind what sugar is to the body: appetising, easily digestible, and extremely damaging. It’s high time we began a detox. You’ll be richly rewarded – with more time and fresh eyes for what truly matters.”
The problem with mainstream news consumption is that it’s designed to catch our attention with shock value, negativity, and sensationalism — drawing our focus away from what truly matters. Instead of leaving us more informed, it often leaves us anxious, reactive, and mentally drained. Just as we have become more conscious about the food we eat, it’s time to become equally intentional about the information we digest. Dobelli sees news consumption as a mental diet problem — something that, while easy to indulge in, often leads to negative consequences.
Because, you see, the mainstream news cycle doesn’t just inform us; it overwhelms us with a barrage of quick takes, emotionally charged headlines, and fleeting snippets that fail to provide real context or meaningful insight. The focus on breaking news, often filled with sensationalism, heightens our emotional response, but leaves us with very little practical or actionable knowledge. Much like the instant gratification of fast food, the constant flow of breaking news gives us an immediate hit, but lacks the substance we need for a balanced intellectual diet.
The Hidden Impacts of Constant News
The effects of excessive news consumption are not always obvious, but they significantly impact our mental and emotional health. Here are some of them:
Cognitive Overload:
The human brain is not equipped to process the sheer volume of information presented by the media today. Constant news notifications split our focus, preventing deep thinking and leading to information fatigue. Our ability to retain important information is compromised when we are bombarded with irrelevant snippets. This overload not only diminishes our capacity for critical thinking, but also affects our problem-solving abilities and overall productivity.
Emotional Effects:
Many news stories are crafted to evoke strong emotional responses — often leading to chronic stress. Consuming dramatic and negative news can trigger our fight-or-flight response, keeping us in a heightened state of alertness. Over time, this stress can build up, contributing to anxiety and even feelings of helplessness. Research shows that people who consume news excessively are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even burnout. It’s essential to recognize the impact of constant negativity on our emotional well-being and to take steps towards reducing this burden.
Misrepresentation of Reality:
The news media tends to focus on the most sensational topics because they draw the most attention. This can distort our understanding of what is actually important and relevant in the world. We end up fearing low-risk issues while ignoring significant but less flashy topics. The outcome is a skewed worldview — one that makes us feel more vulnerable and less empowered. For instance, the media may focus heavily on dramatic but rare events, like plane crashes, while underreporting slow, systemic issues such as climate change or public health challenges. As a result, we develop a skewed perception of risks and threats.
Addictive Nature of News:
News is designed to be addictive, drawing us back for more updates even if the information adds no real value to our lives. This endless loop of seeking and consuming quick news hits becomes a habit that is hard to break. Over time, this habit can steal time away from more fulfilling activities, such as reading, hobbies, or spending time with loved ones. Breaking the cycle of news addiction is an important part of reclaiming our time and mental space.
The Slow News Approach: Reclaiming Curiosity
It’s time to take a different approach to staying informed — one that values depth over speed, reflection over reaction, and curiosity over anxiety. This slow news approach is about nurturing your mind with information that truly matters, at a pace that allows for real understanding.
The goal is not to ignore the world but to engage with it more meaningfully. By carefully curating the information we consume, we can focus on topics that truly interest us and contribute to our personal growth. Slow news is not about limiting your awareness, but enhancing it through a more deliberate, discerning approach to information. Here’s how you can get started:
Read In-Depth Articles or Books:
Long-form content encourages deeper engagement with a topic, leading to better understanding and retention of information. Instead of consuming dozens of shallow headlines, try diving into a well-researched article or book to gain comprehensive insights. This approach not only provides a richer perspective, but also reduces the stress caused by rapid, fleeting updates. When we allow ourselves time to explore a topic thoroughly, we gain a more nuanced understanding that’s harder to achieve from fragmented headlines.
Seek Curated, Slow, and Meaningful Sources of Information:
Instead of relying on sensationalist news, find publications or newsletters (👀) that prioritize quality over quantity. Look for sources that focus on in-depth analysis rather than immediate, breaking updates. These sources help you gain a broader context, allowing you to understand the bigger picture without getting lost in the chaos of trivial details. Curated newsletters and long-form magazines often provide analysis that goes beyond the headline, giving you context, background, and thoughtful commentary that helps you see the issue from multiple angles.
Set Regular “News Breaks” to Prevent Overconsumption:
Just as fasting gives the body time to reset, news breaks can help the mind recalibrate. Dedicate specific times of the day to check the news rather than constantly grazing. Consider taking a day or weekend completely free from news to allow your mind some space to process and reflect. Giving yourself these breaks can help you reset your focus and engage with information on your own terms. Creating designated “news times” helps you avoid the urge to constantly refresh news feeds, leading to better emotional balance and mental clarity.
Engage in Meaningful Conversations:
Discussing relevant topics with friends or family can enrich your understanding of complex issues. Engaging in conversations allows different perspectives to emerge, reinforcing what you learn and bringing depth to your insights. Instead of passively consuming headlines alone, turn what you read into thoughtful dialogue. Conversations often reveal new insights, helping you form a more rounded perspective and better understanding of the issues that matter.
Practice Mindful Media Consumption:
Approach news reading as you would a mindful meal. Dedicate specific time to reading, put aside distractions, and allow yourself to fully absorb the material. When we treat media consumption with intention, we become less susceptible to sensationalism and better equipped to discern what truly matters.
Shifting your focus from constant updates to intentional learning may feel challenging at first, but it’s an incredibly rewarding process. The key is to cultivate curiosity in a way that is both deliberate and enjoyable.
Instead of being swept away by the latest headlines, develop a deeper connection with the subjects that genuinely interest you. This could mean setting aside dedicated time each week to explore a specific topic in-depth. For example, if you’re fascinated by history, commit to reading a history book each month, or following a podcast series on historical events. By channeling your curiosity in specific directions, your learning experiences will be more fulfilling. Setting specific learning goals helps structure your curiosity, transforming random thoughts into productive learning journeys, instead of being constantly bombarded with news.
While being intentional is crucial, there is also beauty in the unexpected. Allow yourself to explore tangents that genuinely pique your interest. The difference is in consciously choosing which rabbit holes to go down, rather than being swept away by algorithms or endless feeds. A slow news approach doesn’t mean avoiding new topics — it means choosing them on your own terms. Embrace serendipity as a source of joy and discovery, but stay mindful to avoid spiraling into mindless scrolling. It’s all about balance — letting yourself get curious but remaining anchored in your intentions.
Nothing in the News
In our exploration of news consumption, it’s worth mentioning an intriguing art project that provides a powerful visual commentary on our relationship with news. Nothing in the News by art director Joseph Ernst presents real-life renderings of world newspapers devoid of content. Ernst’s work is a response to our excessive consumption of news, capturing the emptiness of the information we often deem critical.
As Ernst says:
“We invest hours on end staring at our mobile devices. But in our perpetual quest to fill every spare minute of our time searching for something meaningful, we learn nothing.”
His work corresponds perfectly with Dobelli, who argues that when we stop reading the news, we find ourselves happier, healthier, and with more time to truly be informed about the world around us.
Yes, we live in sensitive times — times where the truth really matters, and where newspapers have a more important role to play in modern democracies than ever before. But for a society addicted to breaking news, gossip, celebrity status, social media trends, and trivial distractions, this cultural precipice calls for something drastic. Ernst offers the one thing we may need more than anything else: nothing.
The Slow Escape Philosophy
The broad mission of Slow Escape is to help you live a better, more focused life. Cutting down the news allows you to find meaning beyond the noise, while still maintaining curiosity, with the joy of learning and discovery, just at your own pace.
True awareness comes not from constant updates but from thoughtful engagement. By adopting a news diet, we can all become more intentional, reduce anxiety, and foster a deeper understanding of the world that enriches our lives rather than fragments our attention.
We truly encourage you to take the first steps toward this new way of engaging with information. Put aside the headlines for a moment and explore something that genuinely interests you. Ask questions, dive deeper, and enjoy the process of learning with intention. Because that’s the true pleasure of living, and living a good life.
Today, there is nothing in the news. Enjoy it while you can.
Stay curious (at your own pace).
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This resonates with me. I cannot go cold turkey sadly as staying abreast of current affairs is part of my job, but I certainly check the news apps more often than I need to.