How I Stopped Overconsuming Content

Recently, I shared some of the top thoughts on the internet that changed my life.

This week’s edition is the complete opposite—a reflection on how consuming too much information can sometimes feel like a burden rather than a blessing.

All the information we need is always a tap away.

But the constant barrage of content leads to decision fatigue, analysis paralysis, and even difficulty recalling where you read what.

Having studied journalism and completed an internship around the same, I realized early on that keeping up with the constant flow of news and media wasn’t for me.

and this is not just an observation, many articles online suggest the same:

“With digital news media now attainable through devices we can carry in our pocket or wear on our wrists, and “breaking news” headlines emerging every hour from around the globe, people are becoming more susceptible to the negative impacts of their media consumption”

A study conducted in the spring of 2020, involving 2,251 adults, revealed that individuals who frequently sought information about Covid-19 through multiple sources—such as television, newspapers, and social media—were more likely to experience emotional distress.

Coming from a place where content is all that truly matters, I find it difficult to stop myself from ever thinking about it.

How I’m Changing My Media Habits

Here are some patterns I noticed in my content consumption, along with the changes I’ve made to navigate this overwhelming landscape:

1. On Short-Form Content

Short-form content, like Instagram Reels often scratch the surface of topics and are designed to trigger emotions—especially negative ones, as they drive higher engagement. It’s no wonder we rarely feel great after scrolling.

What I Changed:

I periodically uninstall Instagram from my phone and occasionally use it on the web. This simple step has drastically reduced the mindless scrolling habit.

2. Knowledge Rabbit Holes

I’ve always loved diving deep into topics, but internet rabbit holes can easily lead to having 20 open tabs (both on your browser and in your brain).

What I Changed:

I now balance internet reading with books. Books offer focused, cohesive narratives, helping me stay grounded in one source of information instead of jumping between countless disconnected ones.

That said, the internet is still full of gems. Grouping tabs in Google Chrome has been a lifesaver—it helps me stay organized and prioritize without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Conversations with People

I believe the best conversations are about ideas, not just updates on global events. When I meet people, I usually don’t tend to talk about what’s happening around the world but rather more about them. As they say, be interested, not interesting.

What I Changed:

I try to steer conversations toward thought-provoking topics, moving away from rehashing the noise of the daily news cycle. Not only all these, but I also feel that the overconsumption of media leads to overconsumption in life. This quote from Fight Club really resonates with me.

We might not need 10 pairs of shoes, 2 cars, and a billion dollars in our bank account to be truly happy. (ofc it is good to have).

How often does this happen: you see a reel about pizza, and 10 minutes later, you’re craving one? It’s easy to fall into the “wanting more” loop, but harder to pause and ask, Do I really need this?

Recently, a friend suggested I go for a walk without my phone—for the first time ever. I know it sounds dramatic, but it genuinely changed my perspective. That one moment of unplugged clarity felt life-changing.

I didn’t think about taking a sunset photo, writing down my thoughts, or worrying about calls or work texts. It was just pure, uninterrupted peace.

I also feel it is better to create than to consume. Even if there might be ideas out there that people have talked enough about - they still haven’t heard of your thoughts on those.

We all have different stories to share and just being a consumer always makes me feel like settling for less.

To stop overconsuming, I think it’s important to create—anything, really. Whether it’s for others or just for yourself.

What I am Currently Reading

“Fearful, frantic thinking takes an enormous amount of energy and drains the creativity and motivation from our lives.”

As someone constantly focused on the next thing, this book has challenged me to see life differently.

The title itself is a reminder I often turn to when I catch myself overanalyzing—it really is all small stuff.

Put your head down, do what needs to be done, and let life unfold. Let it surprise you, and figure things out as they come. It’s that simple.

Hence the newsletter and being so chronically online.

That’s all for this week!

Keep slaying :)

PS - If you aren’t already, you can follow me on Twitter (X) where I share more of these thoughts.