You’ll cut back and forth between lanes on the freeway to save a minute or two from your commute. You’ll analyze and obsess over choosing the shortest and fastest checkout line at your grocery store. And you probably even reply to emails while on conference calls. You do all of these things and more while telling yourself you need to use your other 8 hours as efficiently as possible. But there’s a HUGE difference between using your time productively and investing your time effectively.
Some activities are clear cut. Watching the same Seinfeld episode for the 15th time or playing online poker provides little growth or substance beyond adding entertainment and levity to the day, but what about all of those activities that trick us into thinking we’re using our time smartly when we’re really just wasting time?
One of the most egregious of these time and life suckers is information pornography. Information pornography is information in the form of books, magazines, newspapers, TV shows, and yes, even (and by some accounts, especially) websites and blogs that entice and promise us a good time, but in the end, just leave us feeling empty and used.
Information pornography has been around for years, but I’ve had to think a great deal about it since my post on Michael Jackson’s death. There were several readers who were offended by what I wrote. My point in that column was to question what’s meaningful and important and not to get sucked into what the media thinks is important. Breaking news isn’t the same thing as important, useful, or even relevant news.
Likewise, you (me, too) need to erect better barriers against information pornography. Be honest; you’re addicted to information. You must have the latest news, read the newest books, and peruse the most recent blog posts.
For a time, I was spending a great deal of time on productivity blogs (how’s that for an oxymoron?!). I love reading and learning about how to be more productive, but I found that I was spending a little too much time reading about productivity and not enough time doing anything else.
One of my favorite bloggers is Merlin Mann of 43folders. At one point it was a productivity blog, but after some soul searching, he too recognized the irony. Merlin has since shifted his focus away from productivity for productivity’s sake and now encourages 43folders’ readers to actually DO something.
So don’t make the same mistake I did. Create an information barrier. Don’t read this blog or anything else just because it’s in front of you. Really question why you’re reading, watching, or listening.
Here are three questions to ask yourself:
1. What’s the purpose? Unless you’re reading fiction for entertainment, there should be some goal for reading. What do you hope to learn? Ask that question up front — before you dig in — to set your expectations.
2. Am I satisfied? While reading, listening, or watching, continue to evaluate whether your needs are being met. If not, cut your losses and move on to something else.
3. What do I need to do now? This is one of the most important questions you can ask yourself. What action do you need to take now that you have this information? Remember, unless you’re reading/listening/watching for pleasure, there should be some tangible result. Is there an action you need to take? A change of behavior? Even if the information only produces a change in thought, by asking yourself this question you will hone in on the payoff from the information.
Information pornography is lurking everywhere — it’s not conveniently wrapped in a brown paper bag and, unfortunately, you often don’t know it when you see it. But once you get better at filtering the important from the immediate, you’ll have more time to invest in yourself and create something.
For a limited time, you can download several free resources (assessment, poster, audio interview, video, and more) at www.other8hours.com and learn more about my new book, The Other 8 Hours: Maximize Your Free Time to Create New Wealth and Purpose.
Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter!
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ahhh, I need a smoke.
Now pull up, I read (rss so not much time lost) this then get to the bottom, low and behold “follow me on twitter”
Now Robert, go and read what you just wrote, talk about oxy-morons…….
Wait, did you just call me a “moron?” In any case, defining what you consider “information pornography” is up to you. Certainly some Tweets are a waste, but certainly not anything from PickTheBrain!
Several points:
1) I think the above commenter is trying to tell you that Twitter is 99% information pornography (I’m inclined to agree). However, I had to read the comment three times before getting that. Also, looks like that Twitter feed is used as an RSS feed for the site, so I wouldn’t pass judgment, Stephen.
2) I had a laugh once I realized that you had coined ‘information porn’. The last time I remember something like this is ‘productivity porn’, which I believe was spawned on 43 Folders.
3) I went back and looked at the comments people posted on your Michael Jackson article. They sounded a lot like someone had come at them with a stick and then shoved it where the sun don’t shine.
4) I actually have a purpose while reading fiction: To learn from the writer’s mistakes and crib their technique. I’ve learned a good chunk about writing from reading other books (and another good chunk from TV Tropes, and another from having people edit my novels).
5) I’m very good at cutting out when I know I’m wasting my time. I wrote an entire post about it here:
http://homework.never-ends.net/?p=150
6) Your third point is one I need to internalize, especially since I’m trying to outline my next book and need a lot more material.
Good points. I got “information pornography” from “financial pornography” way back in the day. Financial pornography is the “10 Stocks You Need to Buy Now” type covers on popular personal finance mags.
Good tip re: #4 . . . let’s hope you’re not learning too much from my posts!
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
I tend to agree with your main points Robert. The only thing different for me is the focus of the information. In other words, we are constantly fed trash as news. Reality TV, Tiger’s affairs and so on. And at the end of the day, how many more people died in the wars in the Middle East and what are we going to do to stop it? Nothing, because we are not getting information for us to act on. All we get now is trash.
Darrell, I hear you. I reference another column I wrote titled “The Real Tragedy of M. Jackson’s Death.” Check it out here: http://bit.ly/9zrztC
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
Indeed too much information overwhelms us. We jump into the sea of information hoping to gain some nice treasures. But when information floods, better stay conscious and choose the right time to swim away, then we will avoid from drowning
We don’t need any more information . . . what we need is some knowledge.
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
Nice topic, some programs even ones that appear unsuccessful can direct your brain to think into different topics and can make you more creative while some are really destructive (mostly news)
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement [...]
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
Is it information we’re addicted to, or distraction?
Beth – It’s information that looks enticing, sexy, and worthwhile, but is actually destructive or simply a waste of time. It definitely can be addicting and is always a distraction from what’s really important.
It is most difficult to let go of the “addiction” when you’ve defined it as research. Guilty.
[...] How to Avoid Information Pornography – PickTheBrain | Motivation … [...]
Good information, thanks for posting that.