Going on an Information Diet

Apr 16, 07:16 PM by Eric Allen

How often do you read the newspaper? Slashdot? Digg? Reddit? Blogs? Twitter? None of them?

Today’s information worker (or children thereof) is inundated with information. This problem has not gone unnoticed. For the last couple of years I’ve been borderline addicted to “infoporn,” and this week I decided to do something about it. I re-configured my web browser’s ad-blocking software to block any addresses at the infoporn sites I visit regularly. I thought I could just exercise self-control, but until this week I kept going back!

What a feeling! Without the constant instant-gratification of new information, my brain is hungry again—remember, it’s only been two days! Suddenly I’ve ended up more productive, as my information-starved brain quests for something to do. When I do consume information, it’s in the form of books (both fiction and non-fiction) and (gasp!) school. I actually want to read my textbooks because I’m not letting myself read things that aren’t worth the mind-clutter.

I will see how this develops over a few more weeks, but so far it’s an amazing success! Just say “no” to useless information, kids!