This past week I disconnected from all types of media. I didn’t tune in to the news on television, radio, or online. I didn’t engage or surf social media platforms. Why did I decide to do so? I noticed the increasing impact all these forms of media had on my levels of anxiety and apathy when it comes to engaging in the public forum. The idea came to me after watching a Halloween episode of the Simpsons where all the media mascots came to life and terrorized the town. The solution turned out to be merely avoiding looking. While I was avoiding “looking” this past week, several things became clear.
Power
It was apparent after a few days that the constant turmoil of news reporting, Facebook debates, and Twitter wars had a more significant impact on my daily life than I had anticipated. The withdrawal symptoms were mild, and I settled into the latter part of the week quite content not to be in the thick of things. As such, I questioned just how far these supplemental aspects of my life had found their way into a position of prominence. How much power had I afforded them? How idolatrous had they become? The answers to those questions were a humbling realization.
Productivity
One of the practical aspects of unplugging was that I was much more productive. Time to focus on school, projects for work, and just reading for personal edification was available when it had not been before. You may be wondering just how much time I spent watching the news or interacting on social media, but the small windows every day do add up. Ten minutes in the morning, twenty minutes during lunch, and an hour in the evening all lead to about 10.5 hours a week. To use one of Solomon’s analogies, “the little foxes spoil the vineyards.”
Priorities
Time away from social media and the news also helped me understand that some of my priorities are misplaced. Growing digital empires supplanted seeking meaningful relationships. Staying current replaced finding true meaning. However, media blackout week was not and is not about legalism. It was merely a way for me to take a step back and reassess while also encouraging others to join me. You may find a better balance for yourself as well. When I initially started promoting media blackout week, I hoped that it would trend and that thousands would see the benefit and join me. I do hope that others will join me next year, but only if they deem it a worthy endeavor for themselves.
I was able to catch up and stream the latest episode of Last Man Standing recently and had a similar experience as when I saw the Simpsons episode a year or so back. Mike’s son-in-law was sitting in front of the television and lamenting the stress, anxiety, and frustration at the constant chaos he was experiencing with the news cycles. In a profound moment, Mike took the remote and turned off the television making the point that much of the anxiety caused along those lines was within our power to manage. It was another moment where I was watching something silly but mentally said, “aha…that’s the point of media blackout week.” I learned a lot and see the benefit of doing it again. So, I’m planning to do so during the same time frame next year. I hope you’ll consider joining me.