Are you Consuming Content Mindfully?
- Rhucha Kulkarni
- Mar 3
- 4 min read
Earlier we reflected on mindful consumption – a way of consumption which is better for all – for us, for society, for planet. But materials are not the only thing we consume these days ! In fact, content consumption is one of the larger waves of consumption, with the rise of social media and media-first communication !
In 2023, there was an estimated 4.9 billion social media users worldwide. The average person spends 145 minutes on social media every day.*1
In today’s age of hyper-connectedness, viewing content as it comes, is a natural “pull”. However, with loads of content and different types of content available out there, what is right and how much is too much?
How Content Affects our Mental State
Social media and other contemporary content is designed to be addictive. Why do we feel great when someone likes or comments on our posts? Humans have a natural need to feel “liked” or “important”. Getting such validation activates the brain's reward centre by releasing dopamine - the "feel-good chemical" linked to “pleasure” and “sense of high”. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true - when we don't get that boost or approval, it can impact our sense of self and adequacy, creating a feeling of “not good enough”. Avoiding this may be difficult because of FOMO = Fear of Missing Out.
Award-winning psychologist Don Grant, PhD, of Newport Academy has seen a rise in how much stress teens and young adults are experiencing through their social media and news consumption — or as he calls it, “media saturation overload.” *2
Popular communication today is all about “sensationalizing”, “eyeball-grabbing” and “unrealistic standards”. If you scroll the newspaper or news channel, much of the news is negative – designed to elicit strong reactions – a hallmark way of increasing TRPs. Social Media Filters often propagate unrealistic or narrow notions of “good looks”, putting pressure on teens and young adults. Social Media works on the concept of “highlight reels”, which portray the best part of a person’s life, not necessarily a realistic view of all that is happening in life! Commercialization of almost every aspect of today’s life has touched upon what content we consume as well, be it social media, news channels, or even the neighbourhood gossip! This is aggravated by the fact that content is now literally at our fingertips, on our mobiles, accessible anytime-anywhere. As a result, we are seeing the effects of pervasive undesirable content not only in adults, but in children as well…
“Too much screen time”
“Doom scrolling wasted my 2 hours”
“I cannot sleep after seeing this violent web-series”
And so on…
Mindful content consumption is not just important to prevent time and energy wastage, but to preserve our overall mental health and emotional wellbeing.
How to Consume Content Mindfully
Some small steps can help us move from mindless content consumption to conscious content consumption:
· Set an INTENTION: What is your intent for consuming content? Are you looking at Social Media to stay updated on latest trends in your business, or are you looking for Entertainment? Reflect on the “Why” of your content consumption and “How” it is serving you. Set your Intent for consuming content, write it down, and remind yourself regularly of it.
· Before opening a Content Source, PAUSE: Ask a simple question, ”Do I really need to consume this content?”. Taking a brief step back, a Pause, can help tune in with oneself and prevent the first step towards mindless doom scrolling.
· After consuming a content, REFLECT: Ask a simple question, “How am I feeling now?” after consuming content – it will help check-in with one’s emotions. Reflecting will help understand how the content is serving us – is content making us feel more anxious, depressed, uneasy? Studies have shown that extensive viewing of violence can make people desensitized and more prone to acting out aggressively. *2. Definitely no one wishes to be left with negative emotions – this small action will help us understand ourselves better and tweak our content-consumption for better mental outcomes.
· Genuinely Engage with People: We are more connected than ever, but not truly connected! Ask yourself, “Am I feeling genuine, authentic sense of connectedness the way I am current consuming content?”. Changing the “How” – focusing on building community, engaging from the heart with people and causes that truly matter can bring a positive shift in What content we consume and How.
· Set time limits for content consumption: Logistical measures can help put a physical or mental blockage to mindless content consumption - putting screen-blockers, consumption alerts, putting time-boxes to limit consumption within time limits, are some ways to avoid addiction.
· Focus on consuming “good content”: Not all content is bad, in fact, the right content, consumed correctly can have profound positive impacts on our mental wellbeing. Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, author of “Happier” and co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy recommends, “We can actively choose to consume media to reinforce the good. Watch, read, play things that will cultivate ease and bring joy. Before consuming something ask: Is this nourishing me? If not, perhaps re-consider”*2. Indian spirituality Guru, BrahmaKumari Shivani also suggests that consuming the right content has the power to change our thoughts, aiding us in our journeys of becoming a “Powerful Peaceful Soul” – a higher self of being that serves us well.
In a Nutshell…
With so much content being bombarded at us every second, it may feel impossible to resist the urge to keep consuming content. But let’s take a minute to think…
How is Content impacting our Happiness and Joy?
Choosing what Content we consume on a daily basis can make a huge difference in our wellbeing.
We always have a CHOICE – Are you making the right one?
Connect with us @ mojomantra.coaching@gmail.com to build better habits around content consumption!
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