Curating Your Content - How to Protect Yourself in an Era of Unlimited Information
Why is it Important to Curate Content?
There are countless sources vying for our attention and if we are not careful we can get consumed by it. In this new age of people becoming “users” and the ultimate goal to get the highest views, ratings, or subscribers, we have become vulnerable to predatory practices that keep us glued to our screens and away from the things in our life that bring us value. How often have you found yourself in an infinite scroll or found yourself getting worked up about a topic that you actually did not care for or consider until your notification bell chimed? We are the culmination of our experiences and interactions. If we continue to take in content that darkens our worldview, then our outlook on life will understandably darken. If however, we take intentional steps to look for light in the world, we may notice our load getting a little lighter, or at least a bit more worthwhile.
Some Areas to Get Started
News
It is a long running joke that the news is too depressing. This unfortunately is by design. Which article do you think you would be most likely to click on if you could only choose either “Breaking News on the __ massacre” or “Recent Progress made in Affordable Housing” to read? We get inundated with articles and clips about people committing great acts of hate because they get higher ratings than people doing great acts of kindness. Although the hate is far less common in the world, we can get clouded into believing that these acts are the norm and to be expected in our life. If you take a moment to seek some good in the world, you may find some uplifting articles like the ones below.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/volunteer-knitters-are-finishing-craft-projects-for-loved-ones-whove-passed/
https://www.today.com/food/people/boy-raises-money-for-waffle-house-waiter-rcna73309
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/students-raise-more-than-270k-so-80-year-old-janitor-can-retire-from-texas-high-school/
https://www.sunnyskyz.com/good-news/4975/A-Cemetery-Placed-An-Ad-For-A-Lonely-Goose-And-Found-Her-A-Mate
Social Media
Social media was intended to bring us closer together but unfortunately it has been used far too often as a divisive tool. I could go into an entire post when it comes to social media and some of the truly eye-opening documentaries such as Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma”, but instead of focusing in on the bad, I will encourage you instead to try these two practices instead. The first would be to try and limit the amount of time you spend on these sites. They are designed specifically to keep users on as long as possible and can become a major time suck. I personally set app-limits on my phone for apps that I would like to use in moderation but I know can get the best of me. There are some that I do not keep on my phone so that it increases the barrier. Another practice would be to get very intentional about what you are looking for when you log-in. Are you wanting to catch-up with someone? Are you looking to kill some time? Any answer could be just fine, but it may be helpful to define your why before jumping on and then kicking yourself when an hour has passed and you do not feel any better or possibly worse than when you started.
Content - Shows/Movies/Music/Games/Books/Podcasts/etc.
One of the practices that I have begun working towards is to intentionally ask myself, “What am I looking for right now and what do I hope to gain from this ___?” Whether it is a movie, a video game, etc., I have been pushing myself to give an answer. This doesn’t necessarily mean that everything you consume needs to be educational or productive. The answer could be, “I am going to watch this episode of King of the Hill because I would like to laugh.” or “I have been feeling a bit down recently, do I really want to watch another episode of Euphoria or would it help me more to listen to an episode of The Happiness Lab podcast?” Having a more intentional approach to what you watch and why gives you the opportunity to offer yourself what you need.
People
I am a firm believer that we do better together. Having the opportunity to connect with others allows us to grow, gain support, and learn about the world. In the same way that people can be uplifting, some people can bring us further from where we want to be and how we want to feel. Take some time to consider who in your life brings you joy and take some time to invest in those people. Likewise, consider who in your life brings you hurt and consider if there are ways this can be mended or if there needs to be some distance introduced. It could be the case that you are obligated to individuals that are harmful to your well-being. If that is the case, what could be some cope ahead skills to plan out that could minimize the impact?
Thoughts
It may seem impossible at times to control our thoughts. We all know those intrusive thoughts that keep us worrying, reflecting on something that did not go how we had hoped, or that put us into a painful state of mind. Taking a moment to catch ourselves and notice a thought allows us to to recognize that it is simply that, a thought. Although some automatic thoughts may pop-up and get in our way, we can use our creativity to bring about new thoughts. For instance, I have a colleague who shared about a book they were reading that gave them a new tool to address thoughts that were bringing them down. They would close their eyes and say, (aloud or in their head) “Well, the important thing to remember is that I am a banana.” This would help them chuckle, get out of their thought loop, and remind them that they can think themselves a banana, but it doesn’t make it so. In the same way, a negative self thought does not define you.
Call-To-Action
What would be one way that you could intentionally curate your content this week to improve your well-being? And in case you forgot and need a reminder, you are one awesome banana!