Take a moment to think about how much information you process each day. We are bombarded with information all the time, be it through web searches, the seemingly inescapable buzzing and beeping of text messages and cell phones, bottomless email inboxes, or the world’s ubiquitous televisions. With the development of new technology has come a new list of pathologies. For instance, social network site addiction has been discussed in recent literature,¹ as have Internet addiction,² Internet sex addiction,³ and Internet gaming disorder.⁴

Healthy surroundings include not only our physical environment, but our emotional context as well. One way to enhance health is simply to take periods of time away from information and, more specifically, away from negative information. What would happen if you simply “pulled the plug” on all the media sources in your life, even if just for a short time? (If you are feeling uncomfortable when considering doing this, it is worth reflecting on why that discomfort is arising.) 

A media/information fast involves phasing out one or all forms of media for a designated period of time. It can be done with a group of friends or colleagues to provide additional support. While it has not been extensively studied to date, many people find that this approach reduces stress, makes them more efficient, and allows them to focus better. This may be especially important as people are forced to shelter at home and are bombarded by negative political and pandemic-related information on a regular basis. 

It involves 5 steps, which you can easily discuss with patients during a Whole Health encounter:

1. Keep a media journal.

It works just like a food diary or a symptom diary. Determine how long you spend on media during the course of one typical day. You may want to compare weekend days and weekdays.

2. Determine how long your fast will be.

Start gently; some people find it quite difficult to be “unplugged” even for 30 minutes. Start by taking a break for one quarter of the time you logged when you followed step 1, and then build up gradually