Less Information, More Life
A Small Experiment With Using Voluntary Constraints to Consume Less
My consumption of digital information has felt out of control for some time.
I’m endlessly curious, and learning is a core value. But frankly, absorbing information and ideas is often easier and more immediately gratifying than applying what I already know.
It’s time to use voluntary constraints not only to consume less information but also to increase the quality of what I do consume.
A helpful resource to me in the early stages of this commitment has been David Epstein’s Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better. Inside the Box is full of examples of how various types of boundaries can lead to more creativity and better outcomes.
When it came time to apply some real life constraints, I decided to focus on my podcast habit. Podcasts aren’t my biggest information time suck, but it felt like a manageable place to begin.
Here’s the challenge. I love podcasts and thoroughly value this medium, which connects me to experts in many fields at no cost. Generally speaking, I listen to learn or to improve a skill. Occasionally, I go for pure entertainment.
The Podcast Experiment
I have been subscribing to around 20–25 podcasts and spending around 30–60 minutes a day listening. The time fluctuated depending on the day and my level of interest in what had downloaded into my queue.
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To reduce the time spent listening while maintaining the quality of the listening experience, I chose to adopt four constraints:
- Limit the number of subscriptions
- Limit the time spent listening
- Limit the contexts in which I listened
- Limit the subscriptions in each type of area (e.g. health)
Limit the Number of Subscriptions: I capped the subscriptions to 10 with a preference for keeping it even lower, allowing some wiggle room for new podcasts.
Limit the Time Spent Listening: I adopted a daily listening “budget” of no more than 25–30 minutes. An app limit setting on the screen time function on my phone keeps me honest.
Limit the Listening Contexts: I decided to stop listening to podcasts while walking. I occasionally listen to podcasts while driving but am still working through this. Safe driving is my priority. My listening quality is best when I’m at home and 100% focused on the podcast.
Limit the Podcasts by Information Area: I also decided to limit each area (e.g., health, sports, politics, etc.) to one subscribed podcast. This forced me to be more discriminating about my subscription choices.
Less Time, Deeper Listening
The returns are early, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the results. I’ve reduced my podcast listening by around 30 minutes a day. Even better I am more discriminating about what I listen to and more focused when I am listening. Podcasts are now more like an information dessert. Limit what I can have of something I enjoy, and I’ll savor it more.
Another unanticipated benefit was that my decision to stop listening to podcasts while walking led to my walks being more enjoyable. My fear of being bored while walking was unfounded, and I’m comfortable with the company of my own thoughts.
These constraints are patently arbitrary and tailored to my lifestyle. I’ll review them monthly and keep iterating.
The Larger Experiment
Learning to voluntarily constrain my information consumption has emerged as an essential project for me, one key to the quality of my life. The goal is to consume less but go deeper with what remains. After all, Information is a means to an end: living a deeper and more meaningful life.
