My Content Fast Experiment

I realized at some point a couple weeks ago that I had become rather addicted to consuming content: news, books, audiobooks, articles, videos, etc. etc.

Not only was it entertaining and engaging, but it also frequently felt productive, especially when I was consuming nonfiction books or articles related to work, or keeping up with the news.

I noticed some bad aspects of that constant craving, though, so I decided to try an experiment: a "content fast". No content consumption of (almost) any kind, except for things directly related to work or things that I produced myself.

No news, no articles, no videos, no movies, no books, no audiobooks, no music.

So for the last 3 weeks, this is what I've been doing. And I have to say, it's been wonderful and illuminating.

Who am I when I'm not consuming content created by others? What do I do with my time? The options are limitless, but they're a very different type of option from content consumption.

I've become very consistent at journaling and meditating every morning and night for the last 3 weeks, for example. My free time skews more towards creativity, and I'm finally getting around to items on my todo list that I've ignored for months. I feel a bit more like the author of my life rather than moved about by the ebbs and flows of other people's content.

So if you find yourself like me, craving content consumption anytime there's empty space, consider trying a content fast for a while, to rediscover who you are and what you can do without all of that.

It's been one of the best life experiments I've done in a long time.