I've been reflecting lately, and I realized I've made quite a mistake. Looking back, I've spent an enormous amount of time trying to stay up-to-date with the news. And it wasn't without reason, mind you. There was a time when my side projects depended on my being in the thick of current affairs. I had to be on the pulse of news stories to comment on them, to create content about them.
However, things have changed now, and my obligations have shifted. I've realized that I've been caught in a loop of excessive news consumption, and it's no longer serving me as it once did. I've found that I can get about 80% of what I need to know by putting in just 20% of the effort that I used to pour into keeping up with the news.
Here's what I've observed: if there's something significant happening in the world, something that's important for you to know, your circle of friends will bring it up. They'll share their thoughts, kick around ideas in group chats, and ask for your opinion. That's one natural way of consuming news, even if it isn't your main intent.
Moreover, it's possible to grasp the essence of what's going on in the world with a relatively small amount of effort. By simply reading a few well-written analyses, especially ones with differing viewpoints, you can gain a solid understanding of the global landscape. For instance, take the Ukraine war. You'll get the dominant narrative, the opposing views, the potential motivations behind the actions, and the impact it has on all parties involved. It helps to form your perspective, linking the current event to your existing understanding of geopolitical dynamics.
Having a framework to understand these realities is crucial. It gives you a context to place new information into, helping to quickly make sense of things from just a few headlines. Of course, your understanding of reality should be constantly challenged and refined, but a good framework should aid you in quickly making sense of what's happening.
Most importantly, I've realized there are far more important things to focus on than constantly consuming news. After all, the news is a never-ending stream, and it can be easy to get lost in it. Balancing the effort you put into staying informed with the other aspects of your life is key.
So here I am, acknowledging my mistake and learning from it. Spending less effort on consuming news doesn't mean I'm less informed. Rather, it's about consuming wisely, ensuring that the information I gather is meaningful and helps me understand the world around me more effectively.