How to Consume Less Information
10 Lessons from Food & Nutrition
You are hyper-connected. The constant stream of information is overwhelming you. Under the pretext of “staying informed”, you’re consuming too much information, stressing yourself out, experiencing anxiety attacks, and decision fatigue.
What can you do about this crisis?
Information is like food, and you probably need to go on a diet.
Here are some ideas, inspired by food and nutrition, to help you reduce your information consumption.
1. “The Main” vs. “Dessert”
There are only two reasons you should consume information: either A) because it’s useful, or B) because it’s fun— like a healthy main course and a less-healthy dessert.
Too often, you confuse the two, consuming too much “dessert” and ending up with a mental indigestion or a migraine. Be clear about which information is which, and you’ll find yourself consuming far less.
2. Fast
Both modern physicians and ancient religions agree: fasting is good for you.
The same applies to information. Just as a healthy person eats during specific time windows, you should consume information only at set times and “information-fast” at all other times.
3. Don’t Buy Unhealthy Food
One of the easiest ways to avoid junk food is to not buy it. If it’s not in the house, you can’t eat it.
Similarly, if you don’t have an account on a website that produces garbage content, you won’t be tempted. Unsubscribe, unfollow, or delete what you don’t need.
4. Don’t Eat in Bed
If you only eat at the dinner table, you’ll avoid mindless snacking while watching TV or reading.
In the same way, consume information only in designated spaces. Your bedroom, bathroom, living room, or car could be information-free zones — no phones, no TV.
5. Eat Mindfully
Just as you should eat food mindfully, you should consume information with awareness.
Can you recall the last thing you ate? Probably. But can you name the last piece of information you consumed? If not, you’re likely consuming mindlessly.
Pay attention to what you take in.
6. Carb Count
You might use an app to count calories or track your nutrition. Why not use the same approach for information?
Track how much time you spend on information-heavy apps. Once you measure it, you can control it. And once you control it, you can reduce or eliminate unnecessary consumption.
7. The “One In, One Out” Rule
If you decide to indulge in an unhealthy snack, you might skip another treat to keep balance.
Use the same principle with information. If you consume a new piece of information, consider cutting something else out.
8. Quality Over Quantity
You may have once eaten red meat several times a week, but cutting back has made those rare steaks more enjoyable and allowed you to focus on quality.
Think of information the same way — less quantity, more quality.
9. Create a “To Read/Watch Later” List
When you hear about a new restaurant, do you drop everything and go? Probably not. Instead, you make a note to visit later.
Do the same with information. If something seems interesting, add it to “Watch Later” or bookmark it. Often, what seemed tempting in the moment loses its appeal.
10. Exercise
It’s not just about consuming fewer calories but also burning them through exercise.
For information, the equivalent of exercise is creativity. Whether through a hobby or creative outlet, you can “burn” excess information by producing something of your own.
11. Bonus: Rest
Even with good nutrition and regular exercise, lack of sleep will eventually catch up with you.
The same goes for information. Just taking in and putting out information isn’t enough — you need rest.
But rest for your mind is tricky. Even when you sleep, your brain is often still active. The only way to truly rest is through meditation, where there’s neither input nor output.
Did you find these ideas useful? What else can you think of to consume less information? Let me know your thoughts.
