The goal here is not to hide from all new technology, it's to set up your apps, tech and information sources so you can own your time and make space for your own thoughts.
The end results is that you have space to think.
#1 Turn Off The Noise →
#2 Decide What To Turn On →
#3 Ask, "Where did my/that idea come from?" →
Last: Start Conversation →
#1 Turn Off The Noise →
While it's tempting to be prescriptive and say delete all news, social media and remove all notifications from your phone, this is not always easy or possible.
Instead, you have to start with the general idea that there is more information than you could ever consume, and your goal is to turn off as much as you can to make space for what you want to turn on.
IF YOU DO ONE THING :
If you do ONE thing change the default on your phone so that you NEVER get any notifications. Then turn on the ones you want like for text messaging and leave the rest off. This allows you to decide when to pick up your fog machine instead of being told.
Two resources to reduce your time on apps:
1 ) If you want tactics and specifics on how to take control of your digital life, The Center for Humane Technology has a great simple how-to you can follow.
Take Control →
2 ) If you want to go deeper, check out Cal Newport book Digital Minimalism.
Note: being a digital minimalist is NOT the end goal of an Illuminated Citizen.
#2 Decide What To Turn On →
Hiding is not the answer; instead, be intentional about the information you let in.
What you watch quickly becomes what you believe.
Choose local news, professional circles and content sources you can have a conversation with.
#3 Ask, "Where did my/that idea come from?" →
If you hear someone else share something sensational or you listen to yourself make a statement ask, "Where did that idea come from?"
By making this a habit, you will switch from a default mode of consuming content to starting conversations.
Last: Start Conversation
We have a mantra, "Less Propaganda, More Conversation."
What is the opposite of propaganda? It is not the truth. The point of propaganda is not about truth or untruth; it's about bypassing our thinking and moving us directly to action. The opposite of propaganda is delayed action.
To delay action start more conversations.
Ask "where does that idea come from?", "why is this idea in our culture at this time?". And ground yourself in your own experience of the world, do not get lost in the digital fog.