Stopped reading/listening to the news: gained free time and lost stress

[Unionville]

The news was really starting to get me down, so I decided to stop watching it/reading it for my own mental health. Instead I started reading old newspapers (like 100 years old) and realized the news hasn't really changed much in a century. Now I feel like I have 20 extra hours a week and a clear head.

[stoaX]

The news was really starting to get me down, so I decided to stop watching it/reading it for my own mental health. Instead I started reading old newspapers (like 100 years old) and realized the news hasn't really changed much in a century. Now I feel like I have 20 extra hours a week and a clear head.

Funny stuff - especially the Amazon headline!  Conflict and hyperbole are nothing new.

[Parizade]

I haven't watched the news in years and don't miss it. When I want to catch up I listen to NPR so I can skip the horrifying images of death and disaster. I just don't need those in my brain anymore

[cincystache]

I have a compulsive habit of checking google news periodically throughout the day. And also google finance even though I am 100% passive index funds.

Any advice on HOW to avoid those sites? I usually go there out of habit, kind of like checking email when I'm bored.

[WhiteTrashCash]

Yeah, the world is constantly on the brink of absolute destruction or whatever. Yawn. I'm much more interested in the fact that my town is putting in a new stop light a couple of blocks from me. That's the kind of news that actually is worth my attention. People drive like crazy on that road.

[Unionville]

I have a compulsive habit of checking google news periodically throughout the day. And also google finance even though I am 100% passive index funds.

Any advice on HOW to avoid those sites? I usually go there out of habit, kind of like checking email when I'm bored.

I have the same tendencies.  Here is what I did so far to succeed:
-I removed all news apps from phone
-I removed all news bookmarks
-I cleared out all news google alerts
-I don't go to sites that have news reports on them
-I listen to non-news podcasts and audiobooks (not radio)
-I unfollowed all twitter news topics
-BIG ONE: I do a daily check-in by text with a support buddy for accountability.  We help each other with different goals.
-I started buying newspapers on Ebay that are 100+ years old and leave them on the kitchen table.  Puts life in perspective.  They don't have future weather reports, (only past ones- no meteorologists) and they still struggle with diseases that have been cured. But most of the rest of the news is the same: The world will end over taxes, politics and horrible other things (just different horrible), but the ads have a lot of cures for all kinds of ailments -- just 5 cents for a black bottle of it.

[Missy B]

I reduced news a couple of years ago and don't do social media. Most of it isn't intended to inform, but to provoke an emotional reaction.So I try to pay attention only to the stuff I need to know because it affects my local community, and stuff I can actually have an affect on.

I think news has a huge negative effect on our society. It consumes a lot of time to no purpose and makes people feel anxious, fearful, angry, and powerless. (Not advocating ignorance either, but the way our media is done isn't really helping us improve)
Social media is particularly dangerous because it gives people the feeling that they've 'done' something about a problem when they express an opinion, and their opinions have value.

In terms of concrete results, however, opinion has *no* value. An opinion itself is worthless, unless the holder of the opinion is motivated to act. To volunteer their time, to donate money, or any number of other acts that can help. Clicking 'like' doesn't put food on the table.

[Abe]

The old-time newspapers are awesome. Good call on reading those! I'm really more interested into the "everyday" history that occurred in between the giant slaughters on battlefields that most history classes focused on. I should look up archives of some local papers!

I don't use any social media, and it seems to have devolved, based on what information about it has percolated to me, into a giant cesspool of human depravity, plus some baby pictures. I wouldn't trust anyone's opinion on that any more than the crazy guy holding a sign about the End Times over by the CVS.

In terms of actual professional journalist news, I stick with two sources and leave it at that. I've determined the probability that both sources are trying to brainwash me to be sufficiently low as to not warrant the extra effort of wading through other, less-curated, firehoses of "news".

Oh, I also skip any articles about politics and politicians that don't involve an actual law being passed or rule being changed. It's basically high-brow celebrity gossip.

With those two steps, my news reading is only 10-15 minutes max per day. I've found that non-news podcasts are way more entertaining and educational.

[gooki]

Congrats. I’ve been on a low information diet for at least the last 5 years. I’m loving it.

[Linea_Norway]

Interesting idea, to stop following the news. But aren't you (whoever it applies to) concerned about being a less interting person to talk to for others?
I have in periods ignored the news mostly. But I notice that even my DH is baffled about the fact that I didn't hear about a thing. And the same thing has also happened with strangers, many years ago.

[MasterStache]

I have the local news on in the background on occasion. I have no social media accounts and rarely read the news on my phone. I think it's important to stay up to date with what's going on in the world without being outraged constantly. My son's school suffered 2 suicides within a week of each other so I have been trying to keep up with how our community and school are dealing with these horrible tragedies.

[marty998]

I like this, but my willpower isn't as strong as some of you. Every now and again I do try the low/no news diet but I yoyo straight back into consuming my daily morning news, especially if it is business related (so I'm not out of the loop for work).

Without wanted to thread hijack, but somewhat related, I've managed to cut football out of my life completely. We have 4 football codes down here that everyone follows (ok 3, nobody gives a fuck about rugby union anymore).

25 years I've been following every game, story, player, off field drama.... and then I said "fuck it"*. After scandal upon scandal these neanderthals are no longer worthy of my eyeballs, and the game/s is/are no longer worthy of me investing my time watching it. Went cold turkey a few weeks ago and life is so much better.

Only hitch so far was when I got together with a few mates yesterday and could not contribute to any conversation for 2 hours. That blows, but overall I think the time I've gotten back from no longer following it has been worth it.

*I was losing interest last year, but felt forced into keeping up with it because I was a chance of winning the work tipping comp. When your only interest is gambling, albeit playful gambling, in a sport, you know it's time to leave.

[Tyson]

I no longer watch the news or any sports.  Instead I read or spend time with my daughter.  By not watching news but rather spend time reading about things like history, science, political theory, etc... it gives me a different perspective on the world.  I no longer have a myopic view of things but rather I see where/how/why our current society fits within the broader human story.  It's pretty gratifying, actually.

Re: not being interesting to talk to, I think it's the opposite.  I can look at any current event story and talk about how it relates to (for example), the history of the 2 political parties within the US, how it's different now from back then, and how it might continue to evolve in the future.  That's pretty cool, I think.

[NorCal]

Good for you!  It's amazing how liberating it can be.

Some of my favorite examples of how times haven't changed come from revolutionary era news. 

If I remember correctly, a lot of Benjamin Franklin's political success came from the fact that he owned the local newspaper.  His newspaper actually made accusations of witchcraft against his opponents.

[Travis]

I have the local news on in the background on occasion. I have no social media accounts and rarely read the news on my phone. I think it's important to stay up to date with what's going on in the world without being outraged constantly. My son's school suffered 2 suicides within a week of each other so I have been trying to keep up with how our community and school are dealing with these horrible tragedies.

It's important to keep up with what's going on down the street. Once the "news" reaches out past your city, the noise to important information ratio skews considerably.

Interesting idea, to stop following the news. But aren't you (whoever it applies to) concerned about being a less interesting person to talk to for others?
I have in periods ignored the news mostly. But I notice that even my DH is baffled about the fact that I didn't hear about a thing. And the same thing has also happened with strangers, many years ago.

The key is to not give two shits whether someone's opinion of you is formed by how up to date you are on the latest "thing."  Regarding your husband's confusion: if it's that damned important for you to know, you're probably going to find out one way or another. 

[Trifle]

Congrats OP!  I agree.  I've been on the low information diet for many years now, and it's working for me.  Much more clear space in my head, and less stress.

[Monkey Uncle]

I put myself on a low information diet years ago, before I had ever heard the term.  I haven't watched any form of TV news in at least 15 years.  I go to an online news aggregator site once a day and pick the news stories that I want to read.  I only read articles; I don't watch any videos.  Generally I stick to articles written by reputable, main-line news organizations, and I tend to avoid outlets that have an obvious political bias (once in a while I'll read one of those just because they are the only ones covering a topic of interest - but I definitely have my bullshit detector on).  I also read my local small-town print newspaper so I'll know what's going on in my neighborhood.  No social media at all.

Using this strategy, I stay as well-informed on important current events as anyone (probably better than most social media denizens, who are fed a steady diet of "fake news").  It doesn't take up a huge amount of my time, and I avoid the stress of getting whipped into a frenzy by sensationalistic TV coverage.  Works for me.

[MasterStache]

I have the local news on in the background on occasion. I have no social media accounts and rarely read the news on my phone. I think it's important to stay up to date with what's going on in the world without being outraged constantly. My son's school suffered 2 suicides within a week of each other so I have been trying to keep up with how our community and school are dealing with these horrible tragedies.

It's important to keep up with what's going on down the street. Once the "news" reaches out past your city, the noise to important information ratio skews considerably.

Yep, that's why I try to focus more on the community and our local news.

[Tyson]

Oh and another thing to think about: ask yourself if the “news” that you’re getting is anything that is going to affect your life in a direct and personal way? I’ve found it to be unusual. Yeah, a hurricane is bearing down on my city is information I’d like to have. But you know what? I’m going to hear about that from my friends, neighbors, and associates anyway.

Hat tip to the poster who noted that the noise to information ratio goes way up once it gets off your street. That’s very true. 

Maybe we need a “throw down the gauntlet” challenge on news consumption?

Excellent idea!

[DadJokes]

My father-in-law asked me if I was keeping up with the Mueller Report findings. I said, "Nope, don't care."

And then we moved on to a more pleasant topic. I highly recommend that approach in life.

[Linea_Norway]

Last week, when we were at our cabin, or camping, we didn't watch the news at all. The week before that, DH was away for family affairs and didn't watch the news. I was home alone and didn't watch the news either. I really enjoyed that period of quietness. I much rather read books, or watch something on the internet TV, that I can choose myself (and free of commercials).

When we came back home, DH turned on the news after dinner. Of course, there was this terror action in Sri Lanka. But also lots of other stuff that was really not so relevant. I could have lived without listening to it. It made me a bit stressed.
Also, when I read the electronic news paper now in the morning, there is very little I want to click on at all.

[Linea_Norway]

Oh and another thing to think about: ask yourself if the “news” that you’re getting is anything that is going to affect your life in a direct and personal way? I’ve found it to be unusual. Yeah, a hurricane is bearing down on my city is information I’d like to have. But you know what? I’m going to hear about that from my friends, neighbors, and associates anyway.

Hat tip to the poster who noted that the noise to information ratio goes way up once it gets off your street. That’s very true. 

Maybe we need a “throw down the gauntlet” challenge on news consumption?

Excellent idea!

Done:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/throw-down-the-gauntlet/cut-back-on-following-the-news-and-watching-mindless-tv/