Media Diet

Modern life has a way of bombarding us with endless news, social media, and entertainment options. That’s why I’m indulging in a “media diet”. I’m massively restricting all media I consume, so I can enjoy the silence and have more “juice” for my creative endeavors.

I’m limiting my media consumption, because I’m working on several big, challenging projects, all at once: book creation, expanded work duties, toddler motherhood. I need all the energy and mental space I can get. I also like to protect my sunny state of mind.

The media diet concept isn’t my original idea. I’m borrowing it from Julia Cameron, author of “The Artist’s Way”. She suggests a media diet to artists who want to tap into a vast inner well of energy, inspiration, and focus. The point is to limit the noise and see your creativity flourish.

I’ll admit the news, social media, and entertainment can all be valuable, enjoyable, and wonderful. I enjoy them all in many ways. But they can also be negative, unbalanced, and time-consuming too. That’s why I’m on a media diet. The media is still a part of my life, but I’m consuming media with what I consider extreme moderation and choosiness.

I’m pretty sure this is just a season of my life. For now, it just feels good to block out most of the noise and focus on my creative work. The media diet feels necessary. I love having the extra time and the extra focus. It’s been resulting in better progress than usual.

Have you ever done a media diet or something similar? Tell me about it. Also, I wish you an absolutely beautiful summer!