The idea of taking a break from the endless treadmill of the 24-hour news cycle first struck me as the most absurd thing.  Working on an investment desk for years, we were expected to be at the nexus of information. When speaking to clients, we had better have something to say about almost any news item, debt payment, economic, or political situation they could be wondering about on any given country.  Whether it was relevant or not.

What on earth could possibly be the benefit of putting on blinders and sticking your head in the sand? Of turning the news off being ignorant of world events?

Well first of all, it’s not putting on blinders – at least for long. It’s about taking a break.  It’s about opening up more mental space and time for real exploration of the world.  To let other parts of our brain have some space to work.  To better connect with higher value information sources and ideas that have withstood the test of time.  About enriching our minds and experience in the present.

The science supports this, as does evidence from my own experience.  Khaneman in the Diamandis/Kotler book “Abundance” (chapter 3).  From the standpoint of the news, if it bleeds it leads.  There’s an illusion of validity given by just seeing something in print, or hearing a factoid, and hearing it repeated a few times. If it bleeds it leads,  Which in turn starts to bleed into “fact” in our own minds.

Another reason to take a break?  Confirmation bias.  We tend to gravitate towards news and information that already more or less corresponds to our worldview.  But how do we grow and consider other viewpoints if we’re just feeding our own heads, on just pumping more air into facts that we already believe are true?  The only practical way I’ve found if to take occasional breaks, and to choose our information sources much more carefully and consciously.

Also, likely for evolutionary reasons, we’re programmed to feed off of negativity.  We get a strong chemical response that can be addictive when viewing negative news.  If it bleeds, it leads.

The fix?  For one week, turn off all news sources.  If that’s not possible, set a strict parameter of no more than five minutes of news consumption per day.  Actually set a timer.

How do you feel after that week?  Are you worse off?

There’s a difference between being informed and becoming obsessed with the news.  Consider a News Diet and see how it goes.