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43F Podcast: Goin' on a Media Diet

Merlin Mann | Oct 31 2005

Goin’ on a Media Diet (mp3)

43folders.com - Two simple things you can do this week to reclaim your attention and start enjoying the I/O in your life again.

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The podcast includes two diet tips for the week:

  • The Media Date - set aside a few contiguous hours to consume just one piece or type of media -- by itself. Read a book, watch a movie, or listen to your favorite record. Defy background noise by just focusing on that one thing for a while.
  • The Mindful Phonecall - Take 30 minutes to sit in a chair and talk to someone you love on the phone. No shopping, web surfing, or walking around allowed. Just you and them.

Any good media diet tips of your own to share? How do you limit your I/O?

21 Comments
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TOPICS: Crazy Modern Life, Podcasts, Tasks
Merlin's picture

What would happen if you...

Submitted by Merlin on November 1, 2005 - 7:29am.

What would happen if you were to spend at least one solid (waking) hour per day without any media engagement whatsoever?

Heh. Mine's called "meditation," and though I don't do it nearly as much as I'd like, it is, pound for pound, consistently the most useful and rewarding span of time in most any day I can work it in. And it is completely media free. :)

But just in general? I totally agree. I forget what my refrigerator, car tires, and the swing set at our little park sound like when they're each drowned out by NPR all day.

Great tip.

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