I have a new practice that I’m trying out. When I see a link that I want to click on and read the article (or meme, or post) I pause and close my eyes for a moment to consider the following:
Do I really need this information, or am I just chasing input (IE Doomscrolling)
Will reading this thing add value to my day
Am I reading simply to confirm an opinion I already have, to gather evidence for “my side.”
Are there better, non-clickbait, ways for me to learn about this topic
A dozen times today I did the pause and decided not to read the thing. At least a dozen times more I forgot to pause, or I read the thing anyway despite the pause, which is why I deliberately chose the word “practice” to describe this new behavior I’m trying to teach myself. I’m not good at it yet. But I do think that working on this practice, like a meditation practice, will help my brain be less full of noise. It is worth trying.