<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nOver the period, we gradually keep losing our ability to make decisions based on facts that we have discovered ourselves. Today we want different information media, recommendation engines, AI algorithms to suggest us options and eventually make the decisions for us, as many at a time as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most common example of this includes Amazon, which recommends us products based on our searches and past purchases, Netflix that does the same with movies and TV shows, and Facebook which automatically fills our feeds with articles or web links based on our likes. All these algorithms ensure we find more of what we like and never have to come across what we don\u2019t like (or at least won\u2019t click).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The business of media depends on this. So they keep creating content that either makes us insecure, information could pass on as our own which is intended to influence others, and create information about ourselves that makes us believe that we have now etched our thoughts in the book of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why we Need Information Detox<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Information overload is making us so dependent and addicted to content \u2013 weather it\u2019s on demand or whether is pushed to us \u2013 that are losing our analytical and deductive skills. We have stopped questioning rationale and are judging based on shallow conclusions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Information is today being used to sedate ourselves, it\u2019s the new replacement for sleeping pills. We need to strain our eyes in front of a small screen before it puts us to sleep. Every moment we see a vivid image or read a sensational text, information is being absorbed. There\u2019s hardly any processing or reasoning. We are even sedating our kids, so that they don\u2019t bother us. Gone are the days when they would go out in the sun and hurt themselves and learn from real experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nToday, we are today confusing information with knowledge, and difference between them is extremely subjective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply said, information overload is an addictive poison for our brain, and that\u2019s why I call the abstinence from it \u201cinformation detox\u201d. So how do we detoxify ourselves with this information overload?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Do Information Detox?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Let’s go over a few ways on how to avoid information overload:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trick Your Brain to Crave Less Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n When our brain sees a colored video or image, compared to a monochrome video or image, it processes much more information. So try to cut down on watching color, and shift to monochrome or b\/w content. This will make information less appealing to our brains, and it\u2019ll start craving less and less of it.<\/p>\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThink of it like this: if suddenly fries and Coke started tasting worse and worse every time, you\u2019ll soon stop craving them, right? When you attempt this, you may have withdrawal symptoms in the beginning, so it\u2019s easier to migrate to image screens with low saturation. This method is called \u201cwean off\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Verify Information Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n Next is to verify information sources. We tend to believe content that is either shocking, or brings out a strong emotion, usually anger. Also, our brain loves to believe content that is structured or presented nicely and where delivery of content is crisp and short, as it\u2019s quickly absorbed by our brains. Be cautious of such content. If you are just taking content at its face value, it\u2019s most likely telling you half the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just like our bodies, we need to exercise our minds, too. Viral and short bursts of content are like fried food or soft drinks, they can easily absorb and thus are addictive in nature. Detailed content like text and reports are hard to process and digest, and making sense of them requires effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Find Out Who Monetarily Benefits from the Information You Consume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n How to deal with information overload? Information detox can further be done by questioning the basics and having the courage to diverge from the crowd. These are often difficult questions and where you won\u2019t find a straight. For example, I have been seeing this campaign which says \u201cMutual Fund Sahi Hai\u201d (gets translated in English to, \u201cMutual Funds are the right choice\u201d). It gets repeated so many times across all media channels, which makes me question the blatant claim. This excessive use of the claim makes me feel that somebody in some office is just trying to mass brainwash a whole generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, if you are a divergent in the crowd and question this, you may be laughed at, as people who may have invested in mutual funds would also want you to invest, so that they don\u2019t go down alone. If it would have been highly profitable, I doubt you be getting a lot of recommendations or someone wouldn\u2019t need to oversell it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the best idea is to always question whenever any information is presented to you, ask yourself who may be gaining from such a message. Most information that we receive is for somebody else\u2019s gain. It may not be easy to decipher who is benefiting the most from it, as most marketing is done in the form of viral or easily consumable content these content. But asking yourself that help you limiting the influence of it on your mind.<\/p>\n\n\n