The Three Pillars of a Healthy Information Diet

I have been working on my information diet for a while now and have taken steps to reduce my intake of (what I've heard many people refer to as) "ultra-processed content". For example, I deleted my X account and unsubscribed from several email newsletters that no longer meet my needs. I have even hidden my email app on my phone and may delete it soon to ensure I only check messages on my computer.

However, I have started to realise that there is more to maintaining a healthy information diet than just cutting things out.

Inspired by Hana Lee Goldin’s recent article on Card Catalog about the need for an "information village", I have visualised her approach as the three legs of a stool. Each leg is necessary for the structure to remain upright. Hana recommends a combination of reduction, curation, and protection for a healthy information diet.

• Reduction: In other words, consuming less overall (which is where I have been focused). The sheer volume of information we encounter often leads to cognitive overload.

• Curation: As Hana puts it, we need to "consume better". This involves choosing high-quality sources over clickbait and not letting an algorithm decide what we see. Periodic auditing is essential for maintaining a carefully curated feed of information.

• Protection: This is about boundaries and, I'll be honest, it is still a work in progress for me. While I have very few notifications now, I still need more screen-free time.

When these three elements work together, they provide a solid foundation for your wellbeing.

I would be interested to hear which of these areas you find the most challenging to maintain.