It is hardly a debate that what we eat plays a giant role in how we feel. Most people will agree (and the science has proven) that eating a steady diet of fast foods can be linked to higher risk of obesity, depression, digestive issues, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, cancer and even early death. We also know that the frequency that we consume these foods plays an important role on their impact to our health. So, the more we eat junk and the more often we eat it, the more damage it does. This all seems to be common knowledge at this point.
What seems to be lost of most of us though, is that what we watch and listen to on a daily basis is also a form of consumption. And while watching a stress-filled docu-drama on the petty arguments of a group of housewives won’t make you obese, it is probably safe to say that it probably won’t do anything to help you productively and proactively search for and remedy the problems in your own life. What we consume is what we digest. This means, the information and subjects that we are putting into our brains are triggering our subconscious minds to look for them throughout our day. If what you are filling your head with is dramatic and stressful, you may be adding to your own stress without realizing it.
Good news. You don’t need to completely abolish your viewing pleasures to stay sane. But, you should, as with your diet, maintain some sort of discipline as to what you consume. It’s okay to enjoy a guilty pleasure, but the vast majority of what you consume should be thought about. If it doesn’t make you feel fulfilled, insightful, more knowledgeable or inspired, you should recognize it for what it is. Entertainment. This goes for the news (probably the worst place to a get a non-biased, fact based representation of current events), music, TV, movies and even the people you talk to.
Here’s what helps me. I try to fill 80% of my consumption with podcasts, books and mentors. Most sports are neutral and don’t seem to negatively effect me (they don’t help me get better either). The remaining 20% I reserve for some news (very little news), movies (I love movies), music (usually in the background of some good company) and even some TV shows that my family loves to watch and refuses to compromise on. Of course, I’m not measuring out the percentages of consumption throughout the day, so what I rely on is the way I feel inside. If I start to feel negative or weighted down, I pull back on entertainment and double down on educating myself. This not only keeps me introspective but it also helps me to continuously set and accomplish goals. And I can see a strong argument for accomplishing goals as the reason we are all even here. The key is to sit down and think about how you feel. That is really important. Think about it, don’t just let your feelings control you.
I understand that this is my opinion and you may be offended by the idea that your favorite show is doing damage (there is a little science behind this by the way) but, step back a minute and ask what they’re really doing for you AND to you.